Water usage is likely the biggest contributor to a failed septic system. Protect your system from damage. They store, treat and dispose of the things you flush or send down drains. Installers, Designers Properly built and maintained septic systems have many benefits. OSS evaluations must be performed and filed with the public health at least once every three years for all systems consisting solely of a septic tank and gravity drainfield, and annually for all other system types. With just a few simple steps, you can protect your septicand avoid costly repairs. Every drip, drop, sprinkle, or spray of water that goes down a shower, sink, toilet, or drain will end up being processed by your septic system. 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. An inspection report from a homeowner will only be accepted if the report is for that property owners OSS system. Skagit Countys Septics 201 Online Training program is designed to help property owners maintain and use their septic system, as well as conduct regular evaluations of their OSS. Clean these tools in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. In these cases, it may be increasingly difficult to maintain your septic system without a significant amount of effort. Failing septic systems can result in sewage backing up in the home or entering local waterways and groundwater supplies posing a public health threat. Learn more about water conservation and water recycling. You can hire a septic professional to do the inspection or, if your local health department allows it, you can do the inspection yourself. They allow for development in outlying communities, help protect groundwater and waterways, and reduce exposure to untreated sewage. 3020 Rucker Avenue Suite 104 Everett, WA 98201 Phone: : 425-339-5250 Fax: : 425-339-5254 Hours Regular hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Educate property owners to make sure their septic system gets proper maintenance. . WA 98368. 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). Additives and old cures such as using cabbage, hamburger, yeast, etc., have no beneficial effect on your septic system, but will lead to more frequent pumping of your septic system. Grease is a common household waste product that many people flush or rinse down the drain. Expanding the program statewide was made possible with funding support from the state legislature. Commercial properties and non-owner occupied properties may also qualify. Protects the Environment Malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that eventually enter streams, rivers, lakes, Puget Sound, and the ocean. While leaning over the system, be sure to recognize that gases may have accumulated around where you are breathing. It is up to you to use whatever techniques you feel necessary to adequately protect yourself from exposure to raw sewage, and to seek medical assistance if you are exposed. See Ecology's. Many of these products can clog your plumbing and septic system. Prescription medication. Don't avoid the signs of septic system failure. If the meter has moved, yet you have used no water during that time, you may have a very slow leak. Old homes may not have a septic permit or the as-built may be unreliable. The average size of a 1000 gallon tank is 5'x8'. It should be noted that at the time of a property transfer, a licensed O&M Specialist must conduct the inspection. Public Health continues to work with Vashon-Maury Island residents to document improvements to water quality, find sources of excessive bacteria, and, where possible, eliminate these sources. Department of Ecology News Release - Sept. 21, 2021. Care must be taken to properly clean electronic tools such as drills or screw drivers. In addition, some garbage disposals are capable of grinding or shredding material to a very fine size. Site Sewage Shovels can be used to evaluate the depth of the scum and sludge found in your septic tank. Public Records Requests Directing surface water away from your tanks and drainfield will help your drainfield function as well as possible. Learn the basics of septic system design, maintenance, and dos and donts to keep your septic system working well as long as possible. 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. There is one for gravity systems and a different form for pump/pressure systems: Your form must be completed in its entirety. Let it cool, harden, and then throw it away in the trash. Many flow restrictors have no mechanical parts while others reduce flow based upon pressure. Household Hazardous Waste Facility: 14104 Ovenell Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 It is likely that methane will also be found in your septic system. *: Regional On-Site Sewage System Loan Program, Copyright Washington State Department of Ecology. Protective clothing should be worn whenever you maintain your septic system. Please note- many other septic systems exist, we are only discussing those allowed to be inspected by homeowners through this course. Privacy Policy Soil over your system should be slightly mounded to help surface water runoff. Your septic system is not capable of handling many wastes that you may generate in your home. Your septic system contains a collection of living organisms that digest and treat household waste. A Conventional Gravity system will likely have all of the following major components, each of which should be thoroughly inspected: plumbing; septic tank(s); and a drainfield. Even latex paint waste should be minimized. Directory Septic Application Turnaround Times Septic Permitting Septic tanks are settling chambers that allow time for solids and scum to separate out from wastewater, so clear liquid can safely filter into the drainfield. It does not mean that you do not have a septic system or that it is failed or illegal. The bigger the tank, the more capacity it has to handle solids and water, which could allow for more time between pumpings. Grass is the best cover. If at any time you do not feel comfortable or confident in your ability to evaluate and maintain your septic system without the risk of becoming ill or injured, you should hire a licensed O&M Specialist to perform the work for you. There are a number of older homes where something was installed years ago that makes the wastewater go away but where it goes and how it functions is unknown. To learn more, check out our 3D septic system models. 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 [email protected]. Smaller problems can be fixed during the inspection. 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. The Snohomish County Health Department works to ensure that septic systems are located and installed correctly, and kept in good working condition. 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. 3020 Rucker AvenueEverett, WA 98201Phone: 425-339-5200. Are You Prepared, Severe Weather, Wildfires, Vulnerable Populations & Limited English Proficiency. 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. There are many different types of systems. For a typical household, septic tanks are usually pumped every three to five years. Proper hygienic practices minimize the risk of exposure to disease causing agents that are found in sewage. 311 Grand Avenue | Bellingham, WA 98225 | Phone: 360-778-5000 [] . A properly functioning septic system helps remove these pollutants so well water and nearby surface water doesn't get contaminated. 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. Before you plant a garden, landscape your yard, construct a building, or install a pool, check on the location of your septic system and replacement area. Combined, these systems treat 154 million gallons of wastewater annually. Reduce the risk of people getting sick from untreated sewage. Maintenance You may find junction boxes, wires, or other electrical connections in the pump chamber. Tacoma, WA 98418-6813 (253) 649-1500 (800) 330-1844 TDD (253) 649-1400. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. . Guidelines, Standards, Rules & Regulations Electrical connections are typically buried and run underground from the dwelling to the pump tank. View your operations and maintenance report on onlineRMEOn Site Septic formsReport a public health concern, 2023 Clark County Washington Please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. If youd like a reply, please provide an email address. Tools can be used to further minimize your exposure to the sewage contained in your septic system. Brush for cleaning grime and grit from tools with hard to reach places, 5 Gallon bucket containing water with a good splash of bleach, Plastic cup for rinsing large tools with the sanitizer. Proper care and maintenance of your septic system also occurs around the area where your system is installed. SepticSmart EPA offers advice on proper septic care and brochures and factsheets for homeowners. They protect your eyes and mouth from the liquids in your septic system. Due to differences in elevations, on some occasions, a pump is needed to get the sewage to the drainfield. Tanks installed after 1976 are two compartment tanks and both compartments will need to be pumped out. Sanitize: After thoroughly rinsing the tools, immerse the equipment in a sanitizer solution. Total wastewater generated. Minor septic system issues can turn into big costly problems. Once you submit your quiz and contact information, we will have a record of you completing Septics 101. Generally, the more people in the home, the more often you need to pump. These materials do not decompose or breakdown easily, if at all. If there is no record drawing for your septic system you will need to contact a certified O&M Provider to request a record drawing be completed and submitted to public health along with their inspection. If your system was installed before 1975, no records may be available. 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. Oftentimes, the metal handle used to remove the lid may become rotted, and will not support the weight of the lid, nor be usable for popping off the lid. After completing your inspection and necessary maintenance, you should shower or bathe, even if you dont feel like youve been exposed to sewage. Septic systems use a combination of nature and time-tested technology to treat wastewater from household plumbing produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains, and laundry. Use approximately 1 cups of bleach per gallon of water (www.osha.gov) Other products, including peroxide sanitizers are effective too. Please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. The On-Site Sewage Program provides educational, advisory and permitting services for owners of septic systems and certifications for septic system installers, operations and monitoring specialists and septic pumpers. . Check the Washington Department of Labor and Industries to find information about electricians. 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 . On What is a septic system? Tacoma, WA 98418-6813 (253) 649-1500 (800) 330-1844 TDD (253) 649-1400. County Code, The septic system is a conventional gravity septic system, The OSS is a conventional gravity, a pump to gravity, or conventional pressure system, The property is not immediately adjacent to a marine shoreline, The inspection is not for the purpose of a real estate transfer or sale, The homeowner has completed Skagit County Septics 101, The homeowner has completed a Septics 201 Field Training Class, The homeowner can supply an as-built of their septic system, The homeowner must agree to allow a possible follow-up quality assurance visit by public health staff at a mutually agreeable time. Directory Septic Application Turnaround Times See Department of Health Gravity Septic System inspection guide for a complete checklist and necessary tools. If you do not know where your system is located, you may be able to obtain this information from our offices. Every owner of an on-site sewage system needs to know where their on-site sewage system is located in order to properly maintain it. Bellevue, WA 98007, Phone: 206-477-8050 (answered until 3:00 pm), Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/oss, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, Private wells, plumbing and onsite sewage systems, Pollution Identification and Correction Program (PIC), On-site Sewage System Technical Advisory Committee Bylaws, On-site Sewage System Technical Advisory Committee Membership Application, Quarter 1 OSS TAC Meeting March 30, 2022, 9-11am on Zoom. Instead, use boiling water or a drain snake. Keep accurate records of your septic system. Repair leaky faucets and plumbing fixtures. Are you a robot? The term on-site sewage system is used in the state and county code, on permit application forms, and by industry professionals to refer to different types of septic systems. Thurston County also performs this service for a fee. Some gases found in properly functioning septic systems have different densities. A property owner with a pump system must have additional training to demonstrate competency with pump systems. Be aware that your meter readings may represent all of the water used, including irrigation. Use water-saving devices such as faucet aerators and high-efficiency toilets, showerheads, dishwashers, and washing machines. If not, please do not enter anything in this field. A person should never, for any reason, enter the confines of a septic system, especially tanks. System Summary 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. Landscape your system properly. Lids may be square, round or rectangular, and are typically large enough to allow for the tank to be pumped out. *: Which best describes your role in visiting our site today? Lids will likely be located near both ends of the tank. Any homeowner with a pump included in their system is required to obtain additional training with a certified Operations & Maintenance (O&M) provider to sign off on the additional training provided for these system types. As-built drawings can be obtained at the Skagit County Online Septic Search. If your washing machine has load settings, make sure you select the proper load size. Some tanks have smaller lids on each end of the tank to allow for inspection of inlet and outlet baffles. 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 . Household bleach is a very effective sanitizer for killing bacteria and viruses. NOTE:Before 1975, permits were not required by law. Many older systems may vary in their configuration and construction. A homeowner will become eligible to complete an evaluation of their own OSS only if the following conditions are met: Once all the above conditions are met, the homeowner is required to submit a completed On Site Sewage Summary Report form, provided by public health. To assist in this process, please have your address and/or your parcel ID number available. Sewage related records are typically marked with an "SWG". Keep water runoff away from your system. Then, they will submit a report to Public Health about the status of your system. The On-site System Maintainer (OSM) will inspect your system components: Septic and pump tanks. Oftentimes, when tanks are installed, the dirt used to cover them has a different texture than the surrounding area. Tank lids come in different shapes and sizes. Assemble the following items when decontaminating your equipment and tools: Decontamination of equipment or tools should include a four-step process. The Washington state well report (log) viewer, our most popular online resource, allows you to search for and view detailed records of the construction and subsurface characteristics of individual wells.
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