Environmental Health

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Environmental Health staff are continuing to provide on-site inspection services for septic system installations and soil verifications as outlined in the following On-Site Wastewater Inspections during COVID-19 Outbreak document.

  1. On-Site Wastewater Inspections during COVID-19 Outbreak
A Note from Southeastern MN Water Analysis Laboratory:

The Environmental Health division administers the Rice County Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Ordinance, which involves reviewing individual and community wastewater treatment system designs, issuing permits for those systems and inspecting the installation of the systems to ensure code requirements are met. 

Other Responsibilities


The Environmental Health division also becomes involved in:
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Grant Programs
  • Public Health Nuisance Complaints
  • Solid Waste Issues, Air Quality Issues
  • Water Quality Issues

Rice County residents that are looking to obtain a water test kit are advised to order online directly from the Olmsted County website.

Please Note: There is an option to mail your sample back to the lab via UPS, but with COVID-19 there have been disruptions with shipping times, and if the kit is delayed it may exceed the required holding times and be rejected. It is important that samples are received within 28 hours of being collected. Because of this, the lab advises that collected samples be dropped off.

Please email the Southeastern Minnesota Water Analysis Laboratory at Email or call 507-328-7495 if you have questions regarding water testing, how to receive a kit, and/or how to return a test kit. 

The PDF in the section below explains the temporary changes of water testing procedures.

For questions or concerns relating to Environmental Health, please contact Marilee DeGroot, 507-332-6170 or by emailing rcplanningzoning@co.rice.mn.us.

Financial Assistance - Septic System Information 

  1. Septic Revolving Loan Program Information (PDF)
  2. Septic Revolving Loan Application (PDF)
  3. Septic Loan Program Brochure (PDF)
  4. Temporary Water Testing Procedures (PDF)
  5. Water Test Kits (PDF)
  6. When is a Septic Evaluation Required in Rice County

MPCA Licensed Professionals


  1. MPCA Septic Compliance Inspection Form (PDF)
  2. Holding Tank Pumping and Disposal Contract (PDF)
  3. MPCA Tank Integrity Form (PDF)
  4. Rice County (optional) Pumping Certificate Form (PDF)
  5. Septic Permit Application (PDF)
  6. Septic Setbacks Form (PDF)
  7. Septic Variance Packet (PDF)
  8. Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Ordinance (PDF)
  9. Soil Verification Form (PDF)
  10. Service Provider Report - Maintenance Monitoring (PDF)
  11. Septic System Abandonment Reporting Form (PDF)
  12. MPCA Sewage Tank Maintenance Form