Water Quality Monitoring and Dye-testing
(Includes establishing water quality monitoring, ambient monitoring, targeted shoreline monitoring, storm/event sampling.)
The Pierce County program identifies potential sources of bacteria by sampling all tributaries to the shellfish bays that have a flow greater than one gallon per minute. If levels of fecal coliform bacteria are high (counts of 200 cfu/100 mL or greater), the flow is re-sampled as soon as possible. If the fecal coliform count is again 200 cfu/ 100 mL or greater, the site is generally referred to the Septic Repair Facilitator, an individual that investigates sources of pollution in Pierce County watersheds, for further investigation. The Septic Repair Facilitator (SRF) will send a letter to the property owner, notifying them that a water quality concern has been identified, and asking them to schedule a time for a site visit. The site visit may lead to a dye test of the OSS if the SRF suspects a failing on-site sewage system (OSS) is the bacteria source.
In general, site visits are voluntary. However, if the SRF suspects a problem exists and the bacteria counts are high, an administrative search warrant may be sought by the SRF to require an inspection.
For dye tests, if the OSS is a gross failure with obvious and continuously surfacing sewage, dye is added to a toilet and a sink and staff wait a period of time to see if dye is visible in the surfacing effluent. If dye is visible, this is considered to be a failing OSS.
For less obvious failures, charcoal packets are often used in addition to the dye. The charcoal packets are placed in seeps, pipes, streams, or pooled water where surfacing sewage is suspected. If dye is detected in one or more charcoal packets, a sample is collected from the water (seep, pipe, etc.) for fecal coliform analysis. If the fecal coliform count is 200 cfu/100mL or greater and there is a positive dye show using charcoal packets, the OSS is considered to be failing.
Office Evaluation
(Includes GIS and other existing data evaluation.)
Pierce County has the most complete and accurate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Puget Sound region. Additionally, it has a regular, funded and ongoing maintenance and update function of drainage system changes to ensure accuracy and completeness. The county uses GIS to provide context for a particular property or area. The water quality sampling locations (both shoreline tributaries and upland sampling locations) are mapped and the water quality results are available by clicking on the location marker. The county also routinely uses the parcel layer, the ortho layer, the hydro layer, and sometimes one of the topo layers to better understand the property or area.
Parcel Inspection (Sanitary Survey)
Sanitary surveys are conducted every six years by Tacoma-Pierce County Health District (TPCHD) for shoreline properties in the shellfish bays. These visits are voluntary unless there is probable cause to suspect there is a failing OSS on the property (such as a high fecal coliform count in a flow leaving the property). TPCHD sends letters to property owners where high bacteria levels have been detected (fecal coliform counts of 200 cfu/100mL or greater) requesting a site visit to investigate the source of the high counts.
If a failing OSS is identified, a letter is sent notifying the property owner of the failure, providing the timeline and steps to correct the failure, and information on grant and loan money available to help with repair costs.
If the high fecal coliform counts are due to poor animal keeping practices, TPCHD sends a letter to the property owner requesting them to contact Pierce Conservation District (PCD) for technical assistance. If the property owner does not contact PCD or correct the problem on their own, TPCHD requests assistance from Ecology to address the problem. Pierce County Surface Water Management (SWM) conducts annual O&M as source control inspections of private and public stormwater management systems in the region. Each site is rated on a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). Property owners receive letters documenting performance and intensive technical assistance is applied to attain compliance. SWM also hosts annual homeowners association workshops in the region for proper O&M and source control actions.
Visual Inspections from Vehicle
PCD conducts “windshield surveys” of the SPD areas on an irregular basis. Farms are assessed for their potential risk to water quality based on farm management practices. These maps are used to help advise outreach programs and focus resources for Best Management Practices (BMP) implementation.
Experimental Methods
Microbial Source Tracking (MST)
MST has been used by Kitsap County in their portion of the Burley Lagoon Watershed. The lack of quantification restricts the usefulness of MST work. In Burley Lagoon it is hard to track sources and a circulation study conducted by Health was more useful.
Plane Fly-Overs
The orthophotos of Pierce County's GIS are updated on a four year cycle and more frequently in some cases.
Incentives
The septic grant and loan program run through the county has been very effective in fixing failing OSS. SWM manages funds from Ecology. The program is limited to system failures that are surfacing and not to failures that are only backing up in the residence. Pierce Community Connections administers the loans. Administration of loans is a long term problem. TPCHD currently has an incentive program, where property owners can get up to $400 in funding: $100 for the installation of risers, $100 for septic tank pumping, and $200 for an O&M inspection. The incentives are provided through several federal grants, one administered by the EPA and the others administered by Health.
Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Fencing of Heavy Use Areas
If a landowner requests assistance or a Farm Management Plan recommends establishing heavy use areas, PCD will develop a site specific design indicating footing material, project location and a nutrient management plan. The plan will also include dates and conditions when the heavy use area should be utilized to reduce or eliminate impacts to natural resources.
Riparian Buffers
When livestock have been excluded from surface water and the associated riparian buffers with permanent fencing, the buffer may be replanted with native plants recommended in a critical areas planting plan. Buffers are expected to be at a minimum 35 feet from ordinary high water mark.
Farm Plans
District Farm Plans are developed by request and in cooperation with the landowner and/or farm manager (cooperator). These plans address at minimum: farm productivity including livestock density and waste balance, pasture management, nutrient management and natural resource protections. Farm Plans are signed by the cooperator, however they are not binding unless as a provision of a BMP cost share contract.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
SWM conducts 1,200 O&M inspections of stormwater management facilities annually. OSS professionals conduct routine O&M inspections of OSS as per TPCHD's requirements (Sections 37 through 44).
Other Tools
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