A 2006 state law (RCW 70.118A) required Puget Sound counties (including King County) to designate MRAs where shellfish growing areas are closed due to bacterial pollution (or if closure is likely), or where bacteria or nitrogen are seriously affecting water quality. Probe suspected tank locations first, rather than digging up the soil only to find nothing. Fully immerse the tools and equipment in the solution as much as you can, let stand for 3 minutes or longer. Email Environmental Public Health . Common in rural areas without centralized sewer systems, septic systems are underground wastewater treatment structures that you own and operate. A property owner with a pump system must have additional training to demonstrate competency with pump systems. Some are simple, using only a tank and a drainfield. Use a brush to clean the hard to reach portions of the tools. Brochures, OSS records Please allow up to five business days for a response. Planning
Clean these tools in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. To assist in this process, please have your address and/or your parcel ID number available. Landscaping in and around your septic system is important. If your water meter has a counter, all you need to do is write the number down, along with the time and date and a few days later, look at the meter again. Environmental Health records (including on-site sewage records) are available online. Thank you for your patience as we continue to update our new website. The Drainfield The drainfield receives septic tank effluent. NOTE:Before 1975, permits were not required by law. Save you money and extend the life of your system. As-Built Records Northeast Tri County Health District maintains records of permits for completed on-site sewage systems. Failing septic systems can result in sewage backing up in the home or entering local waterways and groundwater supplies posing a public health threat. The newest counties to join the program are: Established in 2016, the Regional On-Site Sewage System Loan Program has helped nearly 1,200 homeowners repair or replace their septic systems, a value of $26.7 million. Shovels can be used to evaluate the depth of the scum and sludge found in your septic tank. Many of these products can clog your plumbing and septic system. NOTICE OF DATA SECURITY INCIDENT (SPANISH). We recommend searching by the 12-digit tax parcel number. A Pressure Distribution system will have all of the following major components, each of which should be thoroughly inspected: plumbing; septic tank(s); pump tank; and a drainfield. Well-functioning and properly maintained septic systems can effectively treat household wastewater for many years. Don't wait until you have a problem. Use water-saving devices such as faucet aerators and high-efficiency toilets, showerheads, dishwashers, and washing machines. Report. Environmental Health Code, Chapter 1, General Provisions, Environmental Health Code, Chapter 2, On-Site Sewage, Environmental Health Code, Chapter 3,Water Regulation, Appeals Process of Orders and Decisions of the Health Officer. The loan program is a partnership between the Department of Ecology, the Department of Health, local county and health departments, and Craft3, a nonprofit community lender. Be sure to: Complete additional routine maintenance that is required for some system types. Your septic system is not a trash can. Larger tools may require the use of a brush and a small rinse cup to completely clean areas that cannot be immersed in the bucket. There is a 25 gallon / household / month limit, for free! Thank you for your patience as we continue to update our new website. Are you a robot? Please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. Water from roofs drains, driveways, patios, or sump pumps should be diverted away from the septic tank and drainfield area. Thurston County also performs this service for a fee. Certifications Forms and photographs may be emailed to EH@co.skagit.wa.us or sent to 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. These materials do not decompose or breakdown easily, if at all. Food waste from garbage disposals fill the septic tank and can clog the drainfield. Caring for Your Septic System | Washington State Department of Health Caring for Your Septic System Inspect Your System If your system is only a septic tank and drainfield, commonly called a gravity system, you need to inspect it at least once every three years. Mailing Address 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA . Many things you do in your yard or on your property can affect the systems function and performance. Others are more complex, requiring pumps, filters, or specially designed materials. Many flow restrictors have no mechanical parts while others reduce flow based upon pressure. A septic system is a huge property investment, so maintaining the one youve got is cheaper than replacing the entire system. Port Townsend, WA 98368. In these cases, the owner will find it easier to utilize the services of a licensed O&M Specialist. Discharging effluent onto the ground's surface or into surface and ground water is against Washington State law. Birth & Death Certificates, Food Worker Cards, Public Records Request, Report a Complaint & Fees. Phone: : 360-385-9444. Reducing water use will limit the demand you place on your septic system. Total wastewater generated. Our reply (from PAEGAT25) may go to your email's Spam folder. Septic Resources The Purpose Of On-Site Septic System (OSS) Program Is To Ensure Proper Treatment And Disposal Of Wastewater To Protect Our Drinking Water And The Environment. While exposure to raw sewage is readily evident, exposure to residues from contaminated equipment or clothing may not be apparent, yet can still result in illness. The effluent is distributed via pressure throughout the drainfield by utilizing small diameter pipes with small holes to distribute the liquid throughout the drainfield. How would you like to receive your "as-built": Before 1975, permits were not required by law. A "how to" guide is available on the online permitting portal when applying for a septic permit. Most people perceive a slow dripping faucet as nothing more than a nuisance; however, a septic system will be burdened by additional water going down the drain. They allow for development in outlying communities, help protect groundwater and waterways, and reduce exposure to untreated sewage. Septic tank size. Most of the on-site sewage system (OSS) records including site designs, historic inspection reports, record drawings (also known as as-builts) in King County records are available online. To learn more, check out these 3D septic system models. This requirement went into effect September 1, 2010. Since 2008, Washington state law and Island County code have required that all septic systems be inspected at the time of property transfer. There is one for gravity systems and a different form for pump/pressure systems: Your form must be completed in its entirety. Eliminate or limit the use of a garbage disposal. Pouring toxins down your drain can kill these organisms and harm your septic system. Previously, Craft3 offered Clean Water Loans on a more-limited basis in partnership with specific counties. Food Safety, Land Development, Environmental Hazards, Water Recreation & Public Schools . If heavy rains cause water to sit around your septic system, avoid putting water down your drains. The online septic case records include, if available, the permit application, the approved permit and conditions, the asbuilt or record drawing and construction report, the approved design, the soil report, and letters from JCPH since septic system installation. Properly operating and maintaining your system is required by State and local regulations to ensure that our wastewater is not creating a source of pollution to local waterways or causing disease from contact with contaminated water. This document is called an "as-built," and it is a drawing of the location of your system when it was inspected by our office. Maintaining your system will require the use of your hands to do many things including lifting lids, operating sludge judges, lifting floats, pulling filters, and adjusting valves. Fixing minor problems and paying maintenance fees of a few hundred dollars every few years is a bargain compared to the cost of repairing or replacing a malfunctioning system, which can cost thousands of dollars. Protective clothing should be worn whenever you maintain your septic system. OSS records A septic system, also known as an on-site sewage system (OSS), stores, treats, and disposes of the things you flush and send down drains. A Marine Recovery Area (MRA) was established to protect especially sensitive marine waters from pollution from poorly functioning or failing on-site sewage systems (OSS). At a minimum, wash your hands using soap and hot water. An inspection report from a homeowner will only be accepted if the report is for that property owners OSS system. Think of inspections like oil changes and routine maintenance for your car, you do a little here and there to keep it running for as long as possible. If the label says, Danger, Warning or Caution bring it to the facility for proper disposal. Harsh chemicals including acids, bases, pesticides, herbicides, oils, paints, and varnishes should never be drained into any fixture that leads to your septic system. This does not mean that such a system is illegal or failed; it just means that a homeowner may have trouble conducting the evaluation. Departments / Elected . Get email alerts based on your topic preferences like news releases, job openings, emergency updates and more! Privacy Policy| Alternate Format Requests | Notice of Nondiscrimination, File Complaint About Provider or Facility, Healthcare Enforcement and Licensing Modernization Solution, Healthcare Professional Credentialing Requirements, Veterans, Service Members and their Families, Emergency Information for Specific Groups, For Public Health & Health Care Providers, Public Health System Resources and Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Local Health Jurisdictions and Tribal Directories, Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. . Washington Administrative Code chapter 246-272A and Clark County Code 24.17 requires homeowners whose property is not connected to a municipal sewer system to ensure that the property includes an approved, correctly functioning on-site septic system. Real estate professionals need to inform both the buyer and seller of this requirement. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Installers, Designers
Don't select the large-load cycle if you're washing a small amount of laundry. You must be able to observe the inlet and outlet of your septic tank. Some are simple, using only a tank and a drain field, and others are more complex, requiring pumps, filters, blowers, UV lights, or specially designed materials. They include both new construction and repairs to failing systems. Yakima. Minor septic system issues can turn into big costly problems. Health Programs, Healthy Communities, WIC, Nurse/Family Partnership. Avoid chemical drain openers for a clogged drain. To assist in this process, please have your address and/or your parcel ID number available. Due to differences in elevations, on some occasions, a pump is needed to get the sewage to the drainfield. Missing information, photographs, etc. Your groundwater and Puget Sound lakes, rivers, and beaches benefit, too! The rule of thumb for planting is to use only shallow-rooted plants such as grasses. Approximately a third of Washington homes use septic systems for wastewater treatment.
The system type will be noted in multiple places within the permit. 3020 Rucker AvenueEverett, WA 98201Phone: 425-339-5200. Directions. See Ecology's. Were you able to find what you were looking for today? Some gases found in properly functioning septic systems have different densities. The wastewater leaving the septic tank is a liquid called effluent. Regular evaluation of your On- Site Septic System (OSS) is required by State (WAC 246-272A-0270) and local (SCC 12.05.160) health regulations. Once these products congeal, they can cause blockages in your system. A leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day. Department of Ecology News Release - Sept. 21, 2021. After reviewing this information and the training videos listed below, homeowners may evaluate their own on-site sewage system (OSS). Adam Zimmerman, President and CEO of Craft3. It has been partially treated but still contains disease-causing bacteria and other pollutants. Your septic system contains a collection of living organisms that digest and treat household waste. Learn how to obtain sewage permit information. It The On-site Sewage Program is responsible for evaluating site conditions for onsite septic systems, characteristics of soil in test pits, setting permitting conditions, and issuing permits for septic systems. The pressure can compact the soil and damage pipes. After completing your inspection and necessary maintenance, you should shower or bathe, even if you dont feel like youve been exposed to sewage. Tools can be used to further minimize your exposure to the sewage contained in your septic system. A. If you prefer, download and print a paper application (PDF), and mail to: Washington County Government Center Public Health . The first step in maintaining your septic system is obtaining your septic permit. If documents are not available please contact Clark County Public Health at (360) 397-8428. Navigate to the Clark County PropertyInformation Center. In addition, the dirt used to cover the tank will settle over time, creating a shallow depression. If your system is only a septic tank and drainfield, commonly called a gravity system, you need to inspect it at least once every three years. What you flush, how much you flush, and how much water you run down the drain will affect the function and performance of your septic system. Search for records on any property. Please note this is the number of our answering service, and you will receive a call back from Public Health. By reducing and balancing your use, you can extend the life of your drainfield, decrease the possibility of system failure, and avoid costly repairs. Proper hygienic practices minimize the risk of exposure to disease causing agents that are found in sewage. Altering the biological balance may discourage the natural proliferation and growth of bacteria found in your system and will not allow for normal and productive decomposition of the wastes you put into your septic system. Regardless of the method you use to request this document, you will need to provide the following information: Physical address of the system or road name, Requestor phone number: (So we can call you if there is a question or need for more information.). Treatment component (if applicable) Distribution system. Learn more about water conservation and water recycling. It is also wise to keep a record of maintenance on the system. Protects Your Property Value An unusable septic system or one in disrepair will lower your property value and poses a potentially costly legal liability. Entry page for Thurston County Environmental Health Septic System Program: Permits, Operational Certificates, Septic System Operation and Maintenance, Septic System Evaluation of Properties for Sale, Rules and Regulations Enforcement, List of Certified Septic Contractors, Low-interest Loan Program . Garbage disposals are frequently installed in new homes. If at any time during the evaluation process you have questions, do not hesitate to call public health staff for assistance at (360) 416-1500 or e-mail eh@co.skagit.wa.us. Baby wipes, cleaning wipes, or any moist towelettes. You can hire a septic professional to do the inspection or, if your local health department allows it, you can do the inspection yourself. Concrete lids may become cemented into place due to the shrinking and swelling of concrete. Check the Washington Department of Labor and Industries to find information about electricians. Evaluating, maintaining, or troubleshooting your septic system can expose you to the many pathogens or disease causing organisms found in human waste. For example, "the property is on 30th Avenue between Spruce and Verbena.". Let the equipment soak as needed. During this time when many are staying at home, it is important to keep a careful eye on actions that may affect your sewer or septic system. Environmental Health Contact numbers: Shelton: 360-427-9670, Ext. If your system was installed before 1975, no records may be available. Using a garbage disposal on a septic system is not recommended.
. Public Records; Smoke-Free Housing Information; View. Tank lids come in different shapes and sizes. You may request a copy of your as-built by completing the downloadableAs-built Request Form (coming soon), coming into our offices, or calling us at 509.460.4205. Combined, these systems treat 154 million gallons of wastewater annually. Never pour oil-based paints, solvents, or large volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain. Anyone can access those records by searching our online records database. Brochures Privacy Policy Expanding the program statewide was made possible with funding support from the state legislature. Use approximately 1 cups of bleach per gallon of water (www.osha.gov) Other products, including peroxide sanitizers are effective too. List of certified septic pumpers, installers, and monitoring and maintenance professionals, List of designers and engineers certified to work in Snohomish County, Planning and Development Services Map Portal, Septic Contractors & Certification Services.