Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) considering significant changes to Time of Sale or Transfer (TOST) program
The Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) started its Time of Sale or Transfer (TOST) program in 2007. The TOST program’s purpose is to make sure that homeowners with on-site drinking water wells and sewage systems have a safe and adequate supply of drinking water and a system that safely disposes of sewage. This, in turn, helps to ensure that everyone in the community has access to safe drinking and recreational waters. In the past 10 years, TOST has supported many activities aimed at keeping everyone’s water safe.
BEDHD has released a report detailing the TOST program’s findings for the first 10 years.
- This report is posted at https://goo.gl/ZUUHft.
- Additional information about the program can be found on the Environmental Health page, www.barryeatonhealth.org. The direct link is https://www.barryeatonhealth.org/time-sale-or-transfer-program.
- If you would like to contact BEDHD about the report or the TOST program, please contact Regina Young, Environmental Health Director, at ryoung@bedhd.org or 269-798-4103
Although these data demonstrate that TOST has been fulfilling its purpose, the program continues to create controversy in the community. Beginning November 13 and over the next several weeks, the Board of Health will be considering significant changes to the TOST regulation and may even consider ending the regulation completely. Your input on the regulation is important to us!
**Please consider sending an email or letter that can be shared with the Board of Health with your ideas, suggestions, or concerns. If you don’t have ideas, suggestions, or concerns, your letter of support would be appreciated! **
Time of Sale or Transfer is a program put in place to protect the health of our community and our environment. Having wells and sewage systems that are maintained properly helps prevent diseases in humans and the contamination of the environment, especially the ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes that we all share. TOST helps us to find wells and sewage systems that are failing or in need of maintenance (see "Case Study: How BEDHD Environmental Health Finds 'Hidden Dangers”).
Click here to view the TOST guide and here to view the TOST program brochure.