Our environmental health programs focus on preventing communicalbe disease and environmental conditions that could be harmful to your health.

Food Safety:
Regularly inspects restaurants and food service businesses to ensure food is prepared in safe, hygienic, properly equipped and well-maintained facilities.

Control of Disease-bearing Insects and Rodents (Vector Surveillance)
The purpose of this program is to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Hidalgo County
by monitoring the presence of disease bearing animals (vectors) and coordinating activities with
State Health officials, the Agriculture Commissioner, and the pest control industry.

Restaurant Inspections
We inspect over 300 restaurants and foodservice facilities every year, which benefits everyone in the region every single day. Our specialists educate employees and consumers about safe food handling procedures including proper temperatures for cooking, serving and refrigeration.
Diseases can be transmitted in packaged goods, in meat, on produce and through improper food handling, preparation and storage.
Consumer food safety education is also important since the majority of foodborne illnesses can be traced to improper food handling procedures in home kitchens.
Citizens can request an inspection report for specific restaurants in our Office.

Septic Systems - Onsite Wastewater Systems
The way our communities grow and develop can directly affect the health of current and future populations. Even small land use decisions can have widespread environmental impact.

For example, household sewage that is improperly disposed of may contaminate the groundwater, which could put the public at serious risk for disease.

Hidalgo Co. Health Department issued 900 septic system permits in the past year, as well as reviewing plans for new system installation and inspecting existing sites. These systems are known as an Onsite Wastewater System (OWS) or Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS).