Enforcement
Letters to Property Owners
Mason County sends out a initial contact letter followed by a Notice and Order to properties with confirmed failing OSS. Letter templates are included as appendices to the Water Quality Standard Operating Procedure.
Regulations/Codes
The OSS Program is governed by the Washington State and Mason County Codes and Regulations. The balance between enforcement and incentives was an issue for the SPD in the early days of the committee. Ecology has been the enforcement arm of agricultural violations in the area. MCPH has posted a few residences for non-occupancy when a correction to a failing OSS was not immediately made by the property owner. Educating property owners has been important. The County has the capability to enforce action on properties that show contrubution of fecal contamination, and enforcement can include anything from fines to assessing liens on a property. The Conservation District does not tell Mason County about uncooperative landowners because of the confidential requirements of their work, and they can only work where they are funded to do so.
Education and Outreach
Programs (including community demonstrations and school programs)
MCPH co-presents at OSS with WSU Extension Mason County. The Oakland Bay CWDAC partners held informational meetings that have evolved into an annual Earth Day event. MCPH attends public events, like Oysterfest to talk to OSS owners and hand out educational information.
Mailings and General Outreach (including O&M manuals, guides)
Commissioners wrote a letter to the citizens of Oakland Bay in the very beginning of the process, which was well received. WSU-ext is contracted to do reporting in the form of an Annual Report to the citizens and Oakland Bay CWDAC Board of Directors. An effective tool for education in Oakland Bay is mailings to shoreline homeowners regarding OSS and other clean water activities. MCPH continues to use mailings including Every Door Direct Mailing through the United States Postal Service.
Sending mailed invitations to workshops was important to ensuring good attendance. Mason County also sends direct mailings (Every Door Direct Mailing based on mail routes) to remind people to think about their OSS. Mailings ask "Have you had your system serviced?", provide helpful hints, include Craft3 loan information, and provide information about upcoming workshops. After mailings are distributed, pumpers and O&M specialist report an uptick in calls regarding OSS O&M, as well as an increase in rates of O&M compliance six months later.
A septic system owner's manual booklet was created and given out to all homeowners and available free on the Mason County website. It is also provided to homeowners at the time of sale and upon installation of a new OSS.
Social Marketing and Behavior Change
Social marketing is a big part of the education and outreach activities in Oakland Bay. The County hired a social marketing contractor who prepared a market research report (PDF) at a cost of approximately $10,000. This work was completed under a grant secured by the Squaxin Island Tribe and was presented at a national conference.
Surveys
Oakland Bay CWDAC conducted a survey to learn more about what citizens in the CWD cared about. Out of 386 property owners screened for the survey, 126 OSS owners who were not following the recommended practices participated in a followup interview. 32 livestock owners participated in a followup interview. The survey found that single, older female property owners were more likely to be non-compliant. It also showed that immediate health impacts on family, pets and livestock were more motivating to citizens than general statements about the environment. Mason County has been focusing on getting people to understand that an OSS needs regular maintenance. WSU also performs regular six-month follow-up surveys. Mason County has completed surveys to ask property owners what is important to them about OSSs.
Mason County is now asking people to maintain their systems and is tracking that activity. Industry professional and homeowners who complete a service event have to report maintenance or pumping to Mason County via the Carmody O&M database or directly to Public Health staff. Mason County or WSU may or may not conduct a follow up survey.
Websites and Social Media
Mason County developed a website that is interactive and includes a septic system owner's manual booklet. The Oakland Bay CWD site is linked to the Mason County webpage.
Events (including workshops, open houses, and dinners)
Mason County partners with WSU and offers four or more homeowner OSS workshops per year, and offers discounts on pumping for class participants when available. Oakland Bay CWD partners attend fairs and events. The Oakland Bay CWD partners sponsor an event around Earth Day to bring as many partners together as possible. These events are very well attended. In Mason County, seafood “snacks” are provided at open houses.