Saves You Money Regular maintenance fees of a few hundred dollars every few years is a bargain compared to the cost of repairing or replacing a malfunctioning septic system, which can cost thousands. Poor landscaping can cause septic system problems, including premature failure of your septic system. 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. Install flow restrictors on all or select faucets. Hygienic practices mentioned here will help you protect yourself. Once you submit your quiz and contact information, we will have a record of you completing Septics 101. Many things you do in your yard or on your property can affect the systems function and performance. Please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. Please allow up to five business days for a response. Read the meter once all faucets are off, and then wait a few hours and check the meter again. It has been partially treated but still contains disease-causing bacteria and other pollutants. Thurston County also performs this service for a fee. Some tanks have smaller lids on each end of the tank to allow for inspection of inlet and outlet baffles. The lids on the tank are circular, 20"-24" in diameter and 5'-5 ' apart. Email Environmental Public Health . Grass may grow greener in these disturbed areas. How to take care of septic systems 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. Besides human poop and pee, toilet paper, and soap used for washing, not much else should be going down your drain. Learn the basics of septic system design, maintenance, and dos and donts to keep your septic system working well as long as possible. Concrete lids may become cemented into place due to the shrinking and swelling of concrete. 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. Previously, Craft3 offered Clean Water Loans on a more-limited basis in partnership with specific counties. 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. Make sure the nursery understands you need plants that are shallow rooted and require little watering. Sanitize: After thoroughly rinsing the tools, immerse the equipment in a sanitizer solution. If there is a slow leak, the food coloring will show up in the toilet bowl. Many of these products can clog your plumbing and septic system. Certifications 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. It is also wise to keep a record of maintenance on the system. The On-site System Maintainer (OSM) will inspect your system components: Septic and pump tanks. Simply take the rebar and pound it into the ground with a mallet. On-site Program staff review and comment on land development projects and activities such as Subdivisions, Special Use Permits, Boundary . Most household wastes, such as harsh chemicals, paints, and oils can be disposed of at your 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. As-built drawings can be obtained at the Skagit County Online Septic Search. Failing septic systems can result in sewage backing up in the home or entering local waterways and groundwater supplies posing a public health threat. Scaling, like on a map, allows you to find things accurately. Accessibility, View your Septic System Information Online, Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan, Children and youth w/special health care needs, Nurse-Family Partnership - helping first-time parents succeed, View your Drinking Water Information Online, Food worker testing & manager certification, FAQ's for farmers markets, bazaars & temporary events, Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences, Environmental health resources for schools, School Health and Safety Technical Advisory Group, View your operations and maintenance report on onlineRME, See if your septic system is documented appropriately, View inspection reports from November 2007 - Present, Get quick access to the same records our staff use: like as-built drawings or permits, As-built: shows location of on-site sewage system, Permit: documentation of permitted system, Previous Inspections: links to onlineRME.com to show recent operation and maintenance inspections. Be sure to: Complete additional routine maintenance that is required for some system types. Environmental Health 415 N. 6th Street Shelton, WA 98584. Our reply (from PAEGAT25) may go to your email's Spam folder. Fax: : 360-379-4487. Are you a robot? View Map 3020 Rucker Avenue Suite 104 Everett, WA 98201 Directions Phone: : 425-339-5250 Fax: : 425-339-5254 Hours Regular hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. If the as-built is accurate, this will allow you to find plumbing stubs, tank lids, distribution boxes, drainfield lines and observation ports. 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. On-site Sewage System (OSS) Program The Public Health On-site Sewage System (OSS) Program helps to ensure that over 85,000 septic systems including 192 septic systems in Seattle are safe. If documents are not available please contact Clark County Public Health at (360) 397-8428. The chemicals can alter the natural biological conditions found in your septic system. 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. Curtain drains may require some maintenance themselves. 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. They include both new construction and repairs to failing systems. Septic System Records Search; Septic System Maintenance Records Search; Contact. These materials do not decompose or breakdown easily, if at all. The next step required to maintain your system is to dig up and remove your septic tank lids. The septic tank will provide room for the solids to settle out and begin to decompose. Minor septic system issues can turn into big costly problems. 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.). Thank you for your patience as we continue to update our new website. Please note this is the number of our answering service, and you will receive a call back from Public Health. The drainfield is where effluent is discharged into the environment. Public Records Requests . If the meter has moved, yet you have used no water during that time, you may have a very slow leak. Flies, rats, and other vectors can encounter sewage from a failing septic system and subsequently pass the diseases found in sewage to humans or infect other animals at locations far from the failing system. Assemble the following items when decontaminating your equipment and tools: Decontamination of equipment or tools should include a four-step process. Privacy Policy If your system was installed before 1975 and no records are available, here are some tips to help you locate your system: Communicable Disease Prevention & Control, HIV Case Management and Prevention Services, Children & Youth with Special Healthcare Needs, School Inspection Guidelines and Resources, Community Health Needs Assessment & Improvement Plan, Sr. Now with statewide access, our Clean Water Loan is poised to support thousands of new households and contribute to improving shared water resources across the Evergreen State,. However, it can take up to 60 days to fulfill your request. Were you able to find what you were looking for today? At a minimum, wash your hands using soap and hot water. Protects the Environment Malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that eventually enter streams, rivers, lakes, Puget Sound, and the ocean. Green grass or depressions in your yard may be indications of where your tank is located. Providers 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. On 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. For this reason, equipment, clothing, and tools that have been splashed with or immersed in effluent or sewage, must be decontaminated. These inspections can identify small issues and fix them before they become big, costly repairs. coming into our offices, or calling us at 509.460.4205. Proper care and maintenance of your septic system also occurs around the area where your system is installed. For example, "the property is on 30th Avenue between Spruce and Verbena.". Remember, the soil where your drainfield is located, is capable of disposing of only so much liquid. Even latex paint waste should be minimized. Manager of Healthy People & Communities. Brochures Website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government. 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. This program has continued with funding from the Washington State Department of Health to perform public education and outreach activities, offer rebates to encourage septic system inspections, and improve tracking and reporting capabilities. Discharging effluent onto the ground's surface or into surface and ground water is against Washington State law. Septic Applications in 3 Easy Steps. 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. Common in rural areas without centralized sewer systems, septic systems are underground wastewater treatment structures that you own and operate. The bigger the tank, the more capacity it has to handle solids and water, which could allow for more time between pumpings. To search for septic or drinking water records, you'll need to enter your property ID number or GeoID or parcel number. 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. If heavy rains cause water to sit around your septic system, avoid putting water down your drains. The Snohomish County Health Department works to ensure that septic systems are located and installed correctly, and kept in good working condition. 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. If you cannot remove the lid, contact a licensed O&M Specialist. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. This does not mean that such a system is illegal or failed; it just means that a homeowner may have trouble conducting the evaluation. Septic systems treat wastewater when homes and buildings are not connected to public sewer systems. Septic system records can be requested for viewing during office hours at the Health Department from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Learn how to obtain sewage permit information. The descriptions below may also help you determine your system type. Subtract the smaller number from the larger; the difference is the amount of water you used since the previous time you read the meter. Environmental Health Services The environmentalists investigate complaints of septic system failures that contribute to land pollution. These gases can be odorless and may deprive you of oxygen. See Department of Health Gravity Septic System inspection guide for a complete checklist and necessary tools. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Not compatible with Internet Explorer.) While the Septics 201 online program provides the basic information necessary to operate and maintain most gravity septic systems, it cannot address every condition and situation that may be encountered. Birth & Death Certificates, Food Worker Cards, Public Records Request, Report a Complaint & Fees. 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. Public health licenses these professionals, and maintains a list of System Maintenance Providers. Soil over your system should be slightly mounded to help surface water runoff. It is imperative that you take all necessary precautions to minimize the risk of becoming sick or injured when conducting your inspection. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Don't select the large-load cycle if you're washing a small amount of laundry. Phone: : 360-385-9444. Keep vehicles, heavy equipment, and livestock off your septic tank, drainfield, and drainfield replacement area. Guidelines, Standards, Rules & Regulations Pumpers may charge you extra to locate and/or dig up the lids to the septic tank so that they are able to pump the septic tank. After reviewing this information and the training videos listed below, homeowners may evaluate their own on-site sewage system (OSS). Flushing them will increase the need to pump, maintain and repair your system. 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. There are many different types of systems. To assist in this process, please have your address and/or your parcel ID number available. Save you money and extend the life of your system. Face shields or goggles are recommended. Combined, these systems treat 154 million gallons of wastewater annually. Washington County Septic Systems The Environmental Health section issues permit for private sewage disposal systems and inspect new construction of private sewage septic disposal systems. You may be able to use a metal detector to help you locate the tanks as they are made of concrete with rebar, and the handles on the lids are usually made of metal wire. Environmental Health records (including on-site sewage records) are available online. A septic system is a huge property investment, so maintaining the one youve got is cheaper than replacing the entire system. Please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. Rinse: Start by rinsing the equipment and tools with water from your garden hose. Eliminate or limit the use of a garbage disposal. 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. OSS records. Most tanks are covered by 12 to 18" of soil. They protect your eyes and mouth from the liquids in your septic system. A hose with a nozzle can be used to pre-clean risers, plumbing, and inspection ports. 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. To learn more, check out our 3D septic system models. 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. Chelan-Douglas Health District200 Valley Mall ParkwayEast Wenatchee, WA 98802, Hours9AM - 5PM | Monday - Thursday9AM - 12PM | Friday, After HoursTo report an urgent public health concern call:(509) 886-6499. The pollutants harm local ecosystems by killing native plants, fish, and shellfish. Environmental Health Contact numbers: Shelton: 360-427-9670, Ext. Training of the homeowner by a Skagit County certified O&M provider or attendance at a Washington State On-Site Sewage Association (WOSSA) or similarly approved training class on pumps is required. If your system was installed before 1975, no records may be available. Septic tank size. A properly functioning septic system helps remove these pollutants so well water and nearby surface water doesn't get contaminated. Evaluating, maintaining, or troubleshooting your septic system can expose you to the many pathogens or disease causing organisms found in human waste. 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. Contact information; Hours & location 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. They store, treat and dispose of the things you flush or send down drains. For more information, click the buttons below. Well-functioning and properly maintained septic systems can effectively treat household wastewater for many years. The final step to evaluating your system is completing the appropriate Skagit County Health Department On-Site Sewage System (OSS) Homeowner Report. It is also recommended the first inspection of any OSS be done professionally.