Environmental Health

The Environmental Health Department is responsible for the environmental health for the citizens of Jefferson County.

NOTICE:

New Policy for Time of Transfer in Jefferson County as of 09-11-25
Jefferson County Board of Health has review and approved on 09-11-25

The sanitarian will perform a review of the Time of Transfer Form as provided by the contractors. In turn, the sanitarian will provide recommendation report for needed upgrades or replacement of said systems.

Setting a timetable for review

1. A completed time of transfer has been submitted to Iowa DNR, and the County Sanitarian has received it.
2. County Sanitarian will have up to ten business days to review time of transfer report and reply interested parties.
3. If the time of transfer form is incomplete and/or the Sanitarian needs to perform an on-site inspection, the ten business days will reset. The reset date will be calculated from the date Sanitarian provides notice of incomplete and/or necessity of inspection via email. In the case of a site visit being required, Sanitarian will have an additional ten days after inspection is completed. Completed report will then be forwarded to the interested parties.
   4. All alternative systems will be required to have a current maintenance agreement with certified maintenance contractor as required by the manufacturer at time of transfer.

Septic Duties

• Note: Septic permitting information and documents are currently being updated.  Please check back soon or call the office.

Document Downloads

(click to download/view PDF)

Well Duties

• Approve permits for new wells. 
• Oversee State Grant for old well reconstruction or plugging and filling cisterns. For information and to receive grant funds call 641-472-2561.
• Conducts (free) well-water testing. For well-water information, see the University of Iowa Well Testing Basics web page.

Radon Duties

• RADON - Provide information about radon.
  January of each year is Radon Action Month which is a good time to test your home for radon.
  Radon test kits can be purchased locally or by going to www.lchh.org.
  Go here for more information or here, or lung.org
  or call the Iowa Dept. of Public Health Radon Hot Line: 800-383-5992

Tanning / Tatoo / Pools

• Inspect tanning salons and provide owner/management testing. For information, see the Iowa Department of Public Health website
• Inspect tattoo establishments. For information, see the Iowa Department of Public Health website
• Public Pool Inspections info

Food Inspections

• Food inspections in Jefferson County are conducted by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. For information or an inspection, call 515-281-6538.   The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals is responsible for administering and enforcing the Iowa Food Code. (Updated 10/20/15)   Visit their website here
• Note: The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation provides on-line courses:
  For ServSafe Manager:
  For ServSafe Food Handler

Iowa Department of Public Health Website
For Healthy Homes, from the Iowa Dept of Health

Mold information

• Iowa Department of Public Health
• Iowa Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health. - FAQs about Mold (PDF).
• From the EPA Mold and Moisture website

Bed Bug information

• Iowa Dept of Public Health
• EPA - Bed Bugs-Get Them Out and Keep Them Out
• Illinois Dept of Public Health
• A Beyond Pesticides Factsheet
• Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force
• Vermont Dept of Health, about bedbugs

Other

New - Lyme Disease, from the Iowa Department of Health website

West Nile Virus, from the Iowa Department of Public Health

Zika Virus, from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Lead Poisoning: How to Protect Iowa Families, the brochure, has been updated and approved by EPA for continued use in Iowa -

Rabies information, from the Iowa Dept of Health

Asbestos, from a website from the United States Environmental Protection Agency where you can learn about Asbestos

Avian Influenza Information, from the CDC