Providing a safe and healthy environment is the primary goal of the environmental health program. The environmental health section inspects restaurants and food service establishments, provides beach and other water quality monitoring, sub-division and septic system inspection, investigation of foodborne illness and complaints,
inspects day-care and nursery school facilities, monitors recreational and commercial shellfishing areas as well as investigates general environmental health issues.
Food Establishments
Certified food inspectors are responsible for inspecting and licensing all food service operations within the city of Norwalk.
- Routinely inspect food service operations and establishments to protect against foodborne illnesses resulting from health code violations, contaminated food and improper food handling.
- Respond and address customer complaints regarding reports of food related violations.
- Conduct plan reviews for all new and renovated food-related facilities.
- Inspect and license all food-related activities at temporary food events and festivals.
- Assist establishment owners and operators in food safety training to become a qualified food operator.
Click here to get related Food Service applications and permits.
Septic Systems
Proper sewage treatment and disposal is essential to Public Health. Appropriate design, construction, and service of a subsurface sewage disposal system can provide long term domestic sewage treatment.
- Issues permits and supervises the installation of sewage disposal systems on new lots or existing properties.
- Conducts plan reviews and responds to requests for assistance and complaints.
- Reviews plans for new or improved buildings and site development to assure conformance with health and environmental regulations.
- Reviews applications for installation of subsurface sewage disposal systems and wells.
- Provide soil evaluations and perc tests.
Click here to get related Septic System and Services applications and permits.
Water Quality
Protection of potable water supplies has long been an important responsibility and priority for the environment section. Water quality monitoring helps protect the contamination of the groundwater supply in addition to resolving well water quality problems and cross connections. Sanitarians collect samples for chemical, microscopic, and bacteriologic tests to provide data for use in detecting and preventing disease. Public beaches, pools and recreational facilities are all inspected and tested for bacterial quality and compliance with safety guidelines and regulations.
Click here to get related Water Quality applications and permits.
Working closely with the Norwalk Shellfish Commission to monitor rainfall to open and close the conditionally approved shellfish harvesting areas to assure safety. Click here to get related Beach and Shellfish information.
Day Care and Nursery Schools
In conjunction with the State Department of Public Health, annual inspections are conducted at all child day care centers, nursery schools, and group day care homes to ensure compliance with health and safety guidelines, and to assure these facilities meet the health, educational and social needs of children.
