Tools for Identifying, Validating, and Correcting Pollution Sources
Parcel Inspections (Sanitary Survey)
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Burley Lagoon, Filucy Bay, Rocky Bay SPDs / Pierce County PIC
Sanitary surveys are conducted every six years by Tacoma Pierce County Health Department (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 with high bacteria levels (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, the timeline and steps to correct the failure, and providing information on available repair grant and loan money.
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 Washington State Department of Ecology (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 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.
Henderson and Nisqually SPDs
OSSs are required to be inspected every three years in most cases. The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department (TPH&SSD) mails notices to the owner two months prior to the due date to let them know it is time for the inspection. They have up to four months beyond the due date to complete the inspections and any needed maintenance or repairs. If the work is not completed the system is in violation of the sanitary code and designated as “non-conforming”. Program details can be found in Article VI of the Thurston Sanitary Code.
Jefferson County CWD
Sanitary surveys of high priority (older or near surface water) OSSs are conducted in grant project areas. OSS O&M compliance is being implemented in stages. Sanitary surveys include educational information targeted to individuals.
Kitsap Public Health District
Kitsap Health conducts property inspections pursuant to the PIC Protocol. Parcel inspections include contacting the property owner/occupant to conduct an informational interview, and obtaining access and consent to perform a field inspection of the property. The inspection includes an assessment of OSS components and animal waste management practices; evaluating discharges leaving the property; making site-specific recommendations to reduce stress to the OSS; and dye testing the OSS if a problem is suspected.
Farm inspections and pollution corrections are conducted according to the following procedure:
- Ranked inventory: make visual inspection of farms from a vehicle. First priority sites are those with a high probability of pollution, second priority are those in poor condition. Create a list of potential sites.
- Initial investigation: look for potential fecal sources and surface water drainage.
- Parcel investigation: collect three to five sets of investigative water samples and photograph potential sources.
- Initial meeting: Kitsap Public Health meets with the property owner to alert them to the pollution source(s).
- Refer to Conservation District: water quality violations are referred to the Kitsap Conservation District (KCD) because they are experts at working with agricultural property owners. They may recommend BMPs that benefit both the environment and the landowner, including: Livestock exclusion fencing; Livestock waste transfer (for example, filter strips); Waste storage facility; Mud management (including gutters, downspouts, confinement fencing); Heavy use area protection; Diversion; Pasture renovation; Farm planning.
Kitsap County is currently not sampling for nitrogen or ammonia because urine isn't an issue of concern. Primarily the county uses setbacks and vegetative buffers to manage urine.
A considerable amount of project education and outreach is conducted during door-to-door parcel surveys. Kitsap Health uses a property inspection form as a checklist for water quality topics to cover. The topics presented are tailored to site-specific practices including: pet waste, natural landscaping, and diverting surface water away from OSS components. Project fact sheets, OSS permit records, informational brochures, certified pumper lists, are distributed during parcel surveys.
Oakland Bay CWD
Sanitary surveys are done as needed and are a routine part of complaint investigation of a failing OSS. O&M information is in a searchable database, which helps to see the success of the work. The county can easily get a report of who is current with maintenance, and do follow up visits to investigate cracked lids, baffles, etc.
Sequim Bay Dungeness Watershed CWD
Persistent notification is a good way to fix many pollution violations.
Skagit County CWP / The CSI / PIC Program
Owners of properties identified by evaluation/inspection and car were contacted via letter, with a follow up meeting between an inspector from Skagit County or Ecology and the landowner to discuss the property. The program is closely coordinated with Ecology and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). For more information, refer to the Integrated PIC Protocol for Site Inspections, which lays out County and Conservation District responsibilities and specific procedures followed for site visits with property owners.
South Holmes Harbor SPD
The SPD has partnered with the Conservation District to support on-site communications with property owners, which is an important element of ensuring compliance. The SPD conducted door to door outreach to property owners to identify people with on-site systems and provide resources to support compliance. Those efforts were recorded in a final report to Ecology.