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About 35,000 homes and businesses in Clark County have septic systems designed to treat wastewater. Clark County Public Health works with certified professionals to ensure these systems work properly to protect surface and ground water.
[On Screen: Septic professionals inspecting a septic system.]
What we try to emphasize on the front end, on the site review and permitting, is making sure the system’s designed well, it's going to handle the wastewater that's coming to it from the home, and that the soils and that the surrounding topography of the land can support it. Under the O&M program, Operations and Maintenance, the inspections part, one of the big important parts of that is checking and ensuring those inspections are done on their schedule.
[On Screen: Clark County Public Health staff working with clients on septic system permitting, followed by a septic system being installed in the ground.]
A properly functioning septic system protects the property owner’s investment. Routine inspections can keep the system running effectively and identify minor problems before they become major ones. Depending on the complexity of the system, inspections cost between $200 and $500 every year to every three years. Repairing or replacing a system can cost thousands of dollars. A properly functioning septic system protects groundwater, which supplies about 98% of Clark County's drinking water.
[On Screen: Septic systems being inspected by a septic professional.]
One of the things about septic systems is to realize that it's much more than just tanks and pipes in the ground. It's a living, breathing environment that does the heavy lifting for us, as far as treatment of the wastewater and reintroducing that. So, things that you really want to avoid, you don't want to have a whole lot of bleach into your system. You don't want to use a lot of food scraps down the garbage disposal or just avoid it altogether. Composting is a much better idea for that. Paint thinners, other industrial hazardous waste that you'd want to avoid pouring that down the sink.
[On Screen: Sean Hawes at a property where a septic system is being installed.]
Keeping a septic system maintained and performing correctly protects your health and your family's health. Surfacing sewage from a failing septic system or sewage that leaches into drinking water can expose people and pets to a variety of disease-causing viruses and bacteria.
If there are deficiencies, we will follow up with homeowners and work with them to make repairs, updates, whatever. And in some cases, replacements, especially if there's been a failure. For more information about septic systems or to find certified inspectors, visit the Clark County Public Health webpage at clark.wa.gov/public-health/site-septic-systems.
[On Screen: Environmental Health staff talking to a homeowner on the phone.]
