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PEPIN COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

The Pepin County Environmental Health Program is a combined program by two county departments within the county (Pepin County Health Department and Land Management Department). By a combined effort between the departments the county is able to offer a number of services or reference to services to the citizens of the community through licensed and experienced professional staff.

Sue Kunferman, Masters of Science in Nursing, Director/Health Officer for Pepin County, serves as the lead contact for many of the Environmental Health programs such as Food and Vector Borne Disease Outbreaks, Rodent and Vector Rabies Control, Housing Inspections, and Radiation Protection.

John Egli, Registered Sanitarian, Director of the Land Management Office, serves as the lead contact for Environmental Health programs such as Private Sewage Disposal Systems, Solid Waste Management Hazards, Water Pollution Control, and Water Supply Testing and Protection.

Other listed programs are administered through a combined effort of both county departments and staff.

Food Protection

The Wisconsin Division of Health is responsible for the inspection of restaurants, public and private schools, taverns, bakeries, grocery stores, vending machines, and temporary food stands in Pepin County. Please contact the Wisconsin Division of Health at 715-579-9488 or click on the link above for further information regarding licensing and inspections.

Food-borne illness investigations are preformed by the Wisconsin Division of Health and Pepin County Health Department Staff.

Housing Inspections

Unsafe housing inspections are preformed on a complaint basis and remediation can be accomplished through enforcement of Section 10 of the Pepin County Codes.

Lead hazard inspections are done for child lead poisoning cases.

Hotels, Motels, and Mobile Home Parks

Hotels and Motels are licensed and inspection by the Wisconsin Division of Health.

Mobile Home Parks are licensed through Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

Issues regarding these facilities should be addressed to the agency responsible for the licensing of the facility.

Occupational Health/Air Quality

Staff of Pepin County can investigate odor and air pollution complaints
.
Indoor air quality problems, such as radon, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, can also be investigated.

Private Sewage Disposal Systems

Public health is protected by assuring proper disposal of sewage.

Inspections are done for new sewage system installations and enforcement of corrections of malfunctioning systems.

Wisconsin Fund - State grants are available to repair or replace failing sanitary systems. Click here for more information.

Sanitary Permit Application Procedures - Click here for more information on receiving a sanitary permit.

Radiation Protection

Pepin County is within the service area of the Eau Claire City- County Radon Information Center located in the Eau Claire County Government Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The center also serves as a resource for Eau Claire, Buffalo, Chippewa, Barron, Polk, Jackson, Trempealeau and Clark counties.
For more information contact at 715-839-4718 or at peggy.loken@co.eau-claire.wi.us.

Radon test kits are available through Eau Claire City-County Radon Information Center. Short term test is $5.00, plus $2.00 mailing cost. Long term test is $19.00, postage is included.

Solid Waste Management

Public health hazards caused by improper storage or disposal of waste are investigated.

Water Pollution Control

Instances of ground water and surface water contamination are investigated.

Parks and Campgrounds.

The Wisconsin Division of Health is responsible for the inspection of these facilities. Please contact the Wisconsin Division of Health at 715-579-9488 or click on the link above for further information regarding licensing and inspections.

Rodent and Vector/Rabies Control

Follow-up is done for cases of animal bites to humans by requiring a 10-day quarantine of the animal or laboratory testing to rule out rabies infection.

Private Water Well Testing

The Land Management Office offers water testing for a number of different parameters through a number of sources. Bacteria and nitrates are the two items most commonly sampled for in private wells.

Sanitized bacteria sampling bottles can be purchased from the Land Management Office for $15 and the bacteria sample can be mailed or delivered to the Eau Claire City-County Health Department for analysis.

Nitrate testing is done in the Land Management Office at no cost. Samples should be brought into the office during business hours in a small clean container (baby food size container).

Other private water well sampling resources are available through the Land Management Office.

Advice is provided on identifying and correcting drinking water quality problems.