Center for Environmental Health Improvement (EHI)

The Center for Environmental Health improvement monitors, corrects, and prevents, environmental hazards that could impact health. The Center provides guidance on environmental health concerns, like controlling for mosquitoes or other vectors that may carry disease and preventing foodborne illness. The Center conducts inspections and provides education to establishments with public health impact such as restaurants, hotels, body art/tanning, and public pools. The Center also works with individuals to identify and control for health hazards such as lead, radon gas, and well and septic system issues. The Center for Environmental Health Improvement provides notification of public health concerns to the community and partners.

Programs

The Center for Environmental Health Improvement programs include:

1. Food Establishments

Permits, inspects, and regulates food establishments in Winnebago County
Receives foodborne and waterborne illness outbreak reports from Communicable Diseases and conducts environmental investigations
Issues annual and temporary permits
Provides consultation, plan review, and pre-operational inspections for new food establishment operators to ensure compliance with code.

2. Public Pools, Spas and Bathing Beaches

Permits, inspects, and regulates public pools, spas, and bathing beaches in Winnebago County

3. Body Art & Tanning Facilities

Inspects and regulates body art and tanning facilities in Winnebago County

4. Wells and Septic

Permits, inspects, and regulates private water well and sewage systems in Winnebago County.
- Inspections and permits are required for the construction of new systems or the modification of existing systems
- Provides inspections services related to construction and property sales/purchases.
Provides information to homeowners on how to manage their private water well and sewage systems

5. Vector Control & Surveillance

Monitors for and uses environmental controls to limit the spread of vectors that carry diseases such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease.
- Vectors that can spread disease include mosquitos, tick, rat, mouse, bird, or other insect or animal that can transmit organisms to humans.
Conducts seasonal tick drags and tick identification
Monitors mosquito and dead bird population for illness

6. Neighborhood Code Enforcement

Conducts inspections of properties to ensure compliance with the Winnebago County Property Maintenance Code.
Provides guidance to residents on how to maintain property in a safe and healthy way.

7. Lead Poisoning Prevention

Conducts inspections of homes of children with elevated blood lead levels to determine sources and works to eliminate the source
Provides opportunities for low income families with children under 6 years of age to make their homes safe from lead hazards.