Cecil County Health Department’s Environmental Health Services office is experiencing minimal staffing, causing delays in the Sewer Program, which serves all of Cecil County. There is currently one employee, a program supervisor, in the department. Recruiting efforts have been unsuccessful. As a result, there is a backlog of building permits, percolation testing requests, requests for information, sewage nuisance investigations, and subdivision plans review. Other programs within Environmental Health Services, as well as the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Cecil County Department of Land Use and Development, are assisting with the job duties of the Sewer Program as they are able; however, there remains a backlog of all types of projects requiring Sewer Program oversight. In addition, this assistance from other Environmental Health programs has pulled staff from their regular activities, which include Food Service Facility inspections.

At this time, projects requiring Sewer Program review take approximately 16-18 weeks to complete. This time frame has continued to increase as we receive more projects than we can process. We understand this delay is frustrating and stressful for all parties involved, and we are working through all job duties as quickly as possible with the resources available.

Please let us know if you have any questions. The best way to reach us is by emailing [email protected], which is monitored by multiple health specialists within Environmental Health Services. Due to the limited staffing, the response may still be delayed depending on the information requested.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.