The Ohio soil resource includes a number of wet, seasonally saturated soils. These soils, saturated for several months most years within 1 foot of the ground surface, are important to Ohio's natural environment. These soils provide habitat for wildlife and wetland plants. They buffer the movement of water through the landscape to mediate flooding, and they slow down the movement of water to reduce the amount of soil that can erode into Ohio's streams and lakes.
These wonderful soils, however are not at all suited to home construction and also are not suited to the onsite treatment and disposal of wastewater. Any homes or structures that absolutely must be built in these types of soils will require a sewer system to transport the wastewater to a location where it can be treated and safely disposed of. It is important for designers, planners, installers, and regulators to recognize these valuable soils and protect them from inappropriate construction.