washington state septic records

Some tanks have smaller lids on each end of the tank to allow for inspection of inlet and outlet baffles. Reducing water use will limit the demand you place on your septic system. Learn how to obtain sewage permit information. Your septic system is not a trash can. Contact us at ehsepticsystems@tpchd.orgor (253) 649-1925. Chronic Disease, Communicable Diseases, &Immunizations. On-site Program staff review and comment on land development projects and activities such as Subdivisions, Special Use Permits, Boundary . Greases can congeal anywhere in your plumbing or septic system. To learn more, check out these 3D septic system models. This is called vertical separation, and you can see in the figure how the vertical separation determines the type of system needed for a specific site. They include both new construction and repairs to failing systems. Discharging effluent onto the ground's surface or into surface and ground water is against Washington State law. No other OSS may be inspected by the homeowner. Brochures 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. Rakes, shovels, and poles can be used to reach components that are well below ground or out of reach. Department of Ecology News Release - Sept. 21, 2021. The average size of a 1000 gallon tank is 5'x8'. Our reply (from PAEGAT25) may go to your email's Spam folder. Septic systems treat wastewater when homes and buildings are not connected to public sewer systems. An O&M Specialist is going to inspect operational components such as a flow test, a drawdown to verify that timer settings are correct, and a pressure test if applicable. records on any property. Old homes may not have a septic permit or the as-built may be unreliable. 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. Probe suspected tank locations first, rather than digging up the soil only to find nothing. On In these cases, it may be increasingly difficult to maintain your septic system without a significant amount of effort. Green grass or depressions in your yard may be indications of where your tank is located. Rinse: Spraying down portions of your septic system may result in exposure to sewage. 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 If documents are not available please contact Clark County Public Health at (360) 397-8428. . 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. 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 . Let it cool, harden, and then throw it away in the trash. We Issue Septic Permits, Inspect Final Septic Installations, And Investigate Complaints Associated With On-Site Sewage Systems Septic System Failure Options for inspecting your system include: Pump out your septic tank when needed. 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. INFORMATIONAL 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). Directions. Manager of Healthy People & Communities. 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. Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry. Do-It-Yourself Septic System Inspection Video. Don't select the large-load cycle if you're washing a small amount of laundry. Forms and photographs may be emailed to EH@co.skagit.wa.us or sent to 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. There is a 25 gallon / household / month limit, for free! 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 . How would you like to receive your "as-built": Before 1975, permits were not required by law. The drainfield is where effluent is discharged into the environment. For more information, click the buttons below. This is a cheap and easy way of assessing your toilet for leaks, which may otherwise be difficult to detect visually. RSS Guidance for properties with multiple structures. Generally, the more people in the home, the more often you need to pump. Assemble the following items when decontaminating your equipment and tools: Decontamination of equipment or tools should include a four-step process. Keep water runoff away from your system. A system where there is no record drawing, no access, or if location is difficult to determine, may require a homeowner to hire a licensed O&M Specialist to assist them. Health Programs, Healthy Communities, WIC, Nurse/Family Partnership. 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. Avoid chemical drain openers for a clogged drain. (Not compatible with Internet Explorer.) We recommend searching by the 12-digit tax parcel number. 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. Prior to using any electrical device (screwdrivers, drills, flashlights, etc. Craft3's Clean Water Loans - Craft3 offers financing for replacement of septic systems in many areas of Washington. Maintenance These gases can be odorless and may deprive you of oxygen. All other types of systems are required to be inspected at least once every year. Financial assistance Older septic tanks might not be sized appropriately for your home, especially if your home has been remodeled and is now larger. 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. If you hear a hollow thud and the rebar stops going deeper, you may have found a tank. Garbage disposal and food waste going down the drain, and RV and boat waste dumped into your system, will fill the tank up quicker with solids. Thank you for your patience as we continue to update our new website. Fully immerse the tools and equipment in the solution as much as you can, let stand for 3 minutes or longer. 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. Proper care and maintenance of your septic system also occurs around the area where your system is installed. In the past there were no standards for septic systems and permits were not required. In addition, the dirt used to cover the tank will settle over time, creating a shallow depression. After completing your inspection and necessary maintenance, you should shower or bathe, even if you dont feel like youve been exposed to sewage. Protects Your Property Value An unusable septic system or one in disrepair will lower your property value and poses a potentially costly legal liability. 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. Wash: Next, immerse the equipment into the 5-gallon bucket containing a soap and water mixture. Everything you put down your drain or into the toilet will end up in your septic system. 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, Asking your local health department if they can inspect your system at a lower cost, Do-It-Yourself Septic System Inspection Video, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Local Health Jurisdictions and Tribal Directories, Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. Search for your record drawing using the following steps: Some common reasons that record drawings are not available online: If you do not find a record drawing, please send an email to as-built.help@kingcounty.gov. Wastewater Rules and Regulations | Washington State Department of Health Wastewater Rules and Regulations Fees Chapter 246-272 WAC, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Use Fees On-site Sewage Systems Chapter 246-272A WAC, On-Site Sewage Systems Chapter 246-273 WAC, On-Site Sewage Additives Minor septic system issues can turn into big costly problems. There is one for gravity systems and a different form for pump/pressure systems: Your form must be completed in its entirety. During the 2020-2022 Project, we are sampling water quality, performing visual surveys, and providing free technical assistance and rebates. Paper Application. . It is a 40 minute narrated presentation followed by a 20 question quiz on septic system basics. Lids will likely be located near both ends of the tank. Protect your system from damage. Report. Meet septic system requirements before you do. The descriptions below may also help you determine your system type. Face shields or goggles are recommended. Public Records; Smoke-Free Housing Information; View. Building remodel permits The chemicals can alter the natural biological conditions found in your septic system. Lids are heavy and may be difficult to remove. . If the meter has moved, yet you have used no water during that time, you may have a very slow leak. Some household products are advertised as septic safe. Additional water, clean or not, taxes your soils ability to accept all of the liquids landing on the soil. A "how to" guide is available on the online permitting portal when applying for a septic permit. Previously, Craft3 offered Clean Water Loans on a more-limited basis in partnership . Terms of Use Don't wait until you have a problem. Keeps You and Your Neighbors Healthy Household wastewater is loaded with disease-causing bacteria and viruses, as well as high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The pollutants harm local ecosystems by killing native plants, fish, and shellfish. Tacoma, WA 98418-6813 (253) 649-1500 (800) 330-1844 TDD (253) 649-1400. Smaller problems can be fixed during the inspection. Are You Prepared, Severe Weather, Wildfires, Vulnerable Populations & Limited English Proficiency. Local landscapers or nurseries can help you select plants that are appropriate for the areas around your septic system. To learn more, check out our 3D septic system models. They can be purchased at your local hardware store and are fairly easy to install in a typical faucet. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. Search for previous service and inspection reports online. Evaluating, maintaining, or troubleshooting your septic system can expose you to the many pathogens or disease causing organisms found in human waste. While trouble-shooting, water can be used to simulate normal water flow through the septic system. Household chemicals like gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint. Protective clothing should be worn whenever you maintain your septic system. Soil over your system should be slightly mounded to help surface water runoff. In these cases, the owner will find it easier to utilize the services of a licensed O&M Specialist. 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. For example, "the property is on 30th Avenue between Spruce and Verbena.". Don't put concrete or plastic over your septic system. Thank you for your patience as we continue to update our new website. The On-site System Maintainer (OSM) will inspect your system components: Septic and pump tanks. Guidelines, Standards, Rules & Regulations The probe can be used to identify the size and orientation of the tank (rectangle vs. round, 4 X 8 foot, etc). Approximately a third of Washington homes use septic systems for wastewater treatment. In addition, some garbage disposals are capable of grinding or shredding material to a very fine size. 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. Washington State Department of Health. Olympia, WA 98506-5132 Phone: 360-867-2500 Fax: 360-867-2601 Monday-Friday: 9:00 am-4:00 pm Phone Line Open Daily 8:00am-5:00pm. Septic systems lacking records are considered "suspected" o r "assumed" and are colored RED on the . In gravity plumbing, liquids will carry solid materials out of your dwelling towards downstream components. The scale should be described on your as-built. Faucets and toilets should be free of any leakage. Tacoma, WA 98418-6813 (253) 649-1500 (800) 330-1844 TDD (253) 649-1400. Household Hazardous Waste Facility: 14104 Ovenell Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Clean these tools in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. If youd like a reply, please provide an email address. As-Built Records Northeast Tri County Health District maintains records of permits for completed on-site sewage systems. Proper decontamination of equipment is an important task that will minimize your risk of becoming ill. Lids may be square, round or rectangular, and are typically large enough to allow for the tank to be pumped out. Food waste from garbage disposals fill the septic tank and can clog the drainfield. 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. Records of its size and location may be available at your local health department. Remove gross contamination from your equipment. Pouring toxins down your drain can kill these organisms and harm your septic system. 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. Public Records Requests LISTINGS, System Please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. 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. 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. Shovels can be used to evaluate the depth of the scum and sludge found in your septic tank. Adam Zimmerman, President and CEO of Craft3. Board of Health Meetings; Fee Schedule; . About us; Jobs - Work@Health; Public health connection blog; BienestarWA blog (espaol) Request public records; Rule Making; Topics A-Z; Ver contenido in Espaol; Browse publications; Contact Us. The septic tank will provide room for the solids to settle out and begin to decompose. These small bits of ground-up material are often difficult to settle out and these unsettled particles can pass through your septic tank, eventually damaging pumps or clogging the soil beneath your drainfield. For example, a scale of 1 = 20 means that every inch on the paper is equal to 20 feet in your yard. A long piece of rebar can be pounded into the ground to look for a tank. Be aware that your meter readings may represent all of the water used, including irrigation. Never mix sanitizers! A septic contractor installs a new drain field for a homeowner. If documents are not available please contact Clark County Public Health at (360) 397-8428. If your washing machine has load settings, make sure you select the proper load size. Only the liquid sewage without solids called effluent should flow out of your septic tank; this clear effluent will be conveyed by gravity to the drainfield. Concrete lids may become cemented into place due to the shrinking and swelling of concrete. You may find junction boxes, wires, or other electrical connections in the pump chamber. Think of them like a sewage treatment plant, only much smaller. Due to differences in elevations, on some occasions, a pump is needed to get the sewage to the drainfield. A properly functioning septic system helps remove these pollutants so well water and nearby surface water doesn't get contaminated. To search for septic or drinking water records, you'll need to enter your property ID number or GeoID or parcel number. Please note- many other septic systems exist, we are only discussing those allowed to be inspected by homeowners through this course. Never pour oil-based paints, solvents, or large volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain. Healthy septic systems are good for your family, your wallet and the environment. Fax: : 360-379-4487. A Sanitarian of the Day is available Monday through Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on a first come, first served basis either by . 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. The Washington State Legislature, Departments of Ecology and Health and many counties have put in significant and consistent work over past two decades to create this program. Be sure to: Complete additional routine maintenance that is required for some system types. These materials do not decompose or breakdown easily, if at all. Most tanks are covered by 12 to 18" of soil. Commercial properties and non-owner occupied properties may also qualify. 400 . Mailing Address 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA . See Department of Health Gravity Septic System inspection guide for a complete checklist and necessary tools. If you successfully locate your septic tank and remove its lids, the next step is to locate your drainfield. Once the sewage is at the drainfield, it is dispersed via gravity within the drainfield. Program Activities Certification program for all septic system installers, pumpers and operations and monitoring specialists Complaint investigation relating to septic systems Education for homeowners and other professionals interested in septic systems Enforcement of state and local codes Some plumbing (like toilets) can leak so slowly that it is difficult to hear or see signs of a leak. 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. 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. Search for records on any property. If you put a lot of water down the drain (from inefficient or leaky toilets, washers, showerheads, and sink faucets), the tank can't settle completely and you may need to pump more often. 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. 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 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. Since 2008, Washington state law and Island County code have required that all septic systems be inspected at the time of property transfer. Rakes can be used to lift floats and screens. The wastewater leaving the septic tank is a liquid called effluent. 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. Using a garbage disposal will increase the amount of solids entering the septic tank, requiring more frequent pumping. The system type will be noted in multiple places within the permit. It is likely that methane will also be found in your septic system. 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 a slow leak, the food coloring will show up in the toilet bowl. As-builts are drawings that oftentimes are drawn to scale or otherwise help describe the location of your septic system. Repair leaky faucets and plumbing fixtures. The final treatment occurs in the soil of your drainfield. It does not mean that you do not have a septic system or that it is failed or illegal. 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. A leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day. Poor landscaping can cause septic system problems, including premature failure of your septic system. Gloves are the first line of defense for the average do-it-yourselfer. Look for a medication take-back program in your area. ), all septic system parts should be vented thoroughly. It is important to keep the solids, called sludge, from building up and coming near the outlet baffles of the system if this happens, solids could plug the pipe to the drainfield, or even worse, clog the drainfield. The drainfield is the final and the most downstream component in your septic system. At a minimum, wash your hands using soap and hot water. 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. On-site Sewage Systems Chapter 246-272A WAC. Use a brush to clean the hard to reach portions of the tools. If your system was installed before 1975, no records may be available. Missing information, photographs, etc. Find a certified O&M provider. The bigger the tank, the more capacity it has to handle solids and water, which could allow for more time between pumpings. . If you have a water meter on your property, you can easily figure out how much water you and your family are using. The rule of thumb for planting is to use only shallow-rooted plants such as grasses. . Statewide access to this program is a win for homeowners, public health, and clean water. A. Once you submit your quiz and contact information, we will have a record of you completing Septics 101. If youd like us to call you, please provide a phone number. Grass may grow greener in these disturbed areas. Whitman. Combined, these systems treat 154 million gallons of wastewater annually. Methane gas is produced by decomposition of organic materials. 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.