Any applicant for a permit to construct, develop, install, or modify a private water system required by rules adopted by the director of health under section 3701.347 of the Revised Code may apply to the board of health of the city or general health district administering and enforcing the private water supply program in the health district in which the private water system is or is to be located or, if the health district is not administering and enforcing the program, may apply to the department of health for a variance from such rules governing the design, construction, development, installation, or modification of private water systems. The application for a variance shall be made in writing and shall include a statement of the particular rule or rules from which a variance is sought, a description of the proposed system or modification, and the necessity for the variance. The board of health or the department of health shall not grant a variance unless the applicant demonstrates that:
R.C. § 3701.345