Environmental Health

Environmental Health

Our environmental health program is committed to protecting the health of the public by evaluating, correcting, and preventing many risk factors in the environment which can adversely affect the health of our community. Responsibilities of this division include the on-site wastewater, private well, food safety, and rabies control programs. We coordinate environmental health programs to ensure sanitary requirements are followed in tourist establishment, lodging, campground, and migrant labor camp establishment, and work with many state and local agencies in order to better serve our community. The purpose and aim of all of these programs is disease prevention.

Services

  • Food Safety Program

 

 

 

Piedmont Health District is networking with State Food Safety to offer online food safety training and accredited food manager certification courses. Proctors employed with the district are available to offer a convenient exam location for local foodservice workers after completion of the online training. For additional information, visit the State Food Safety website. 

  • Rabies Control Program

The rabies control program involves us taking measures such as animal confinement and testing when necessary to control and prevent the spread of rabies. Visit the Rabies Control webpage.

  • Onsite Wastewater Program

The onsite wastewater program entails technical reviews of the natural soil and site conditions on a property parcel to determine a site effective in treating and disposing of sewage that will be generated by the intended development. This program is essential in protecting groundwater and surface water from contamination by disease-causing organisms and nutrients found in sewage. Visit the Onsite Wastewater webpage.

  • Milk/Dairy Program

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) oversees dairy producers and milk plants to ensure a safe, nutritious product is distributed to the people of the Commonwealth. Virginia dairy farmers produce approximately 240 million gallons of milk each year from over 700 dairy farms. This milk in its raw form has the potential to include dangerous germs, pathogens, bacteria, or contaminants that could harm a consumer. Once milk is processed (pasteurized) and quality checked for safety, it travels to your cup. The Piedmont Health District oversees and regulates the activities of a local dairy and creamery under the Virginia Grade A Milk Regulations which are based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.

  • Lodging Facilities

The Piedmont Health District permits and inspects hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfast facilities in the district. Tourist establishment regulations are enforced to ensure the quality of overall sanitation.

For more information, visit the VDH Tourist Lodging webpage.

 

CONTACT

Environmental Health Manager – David Waldrep, david.waldrep@vdh.virginia.gov, (434) 392-3984