By Melinda Smith-Pritt, LEHS
For the past twenty years, the Garrett County Health Department Office of Environmental Health has digitized all vital well and septic records into a database. This initiative enabled Environmental Health (EH) specialists to efficiently access property records without having to sift through thousands of paper files. Now, under the leadership of EH Director Craig Umbel, these records will be publicly accessible through Garrett County’s online web map.
Property owners and prospective buyers can now access over 20,000 public well and septic records with a few clicks. This service provides users with essential information for servicing their well or septic system, facilitating informed decision-making during property transfers.
“This enhancement provides faster, easier access to some environmental health records for homeowners, contractors, and real estate professionals,” said Siera Wigfield, Senior Planner, Garrett County Planning & Land Management. “By linking directly to scanned well and septic permits, we’re reducing the need for data requests and in-person visits—streamlining services and supporting more informed decision-making across the county.”
While documentation may be limited for properties dating back to the 1960s and earlier, newly generated records will be continuously uploaded.
Further collaboration between the Health Department’s IT staff and the County’s Planning and Land Management Senior Planner has streamlined this process, paving the way for future developments to improve access to public health services.
“The Health Department is very excited to partner with the County to offer these tools to the public,” said Jennifer Hare, Garrett County Health Officer. “We believe it will help the community, saving time and providing additional transparency.”
For more information about this new resource, including a step-by-step guide, please visit the Garrett County Health Department's website at https://garretthealth.org/property-maps-and-resources/.
