Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Stories about Getting to Clean Water: Clallam County - Educating Homeowners About Their Septic Systems

By Diane Dent, Water Quality Stories Lead, Water Quality Program

Did you know you are now required to have your septic system inspected every one to three years, depending on what type of system you have?

The problem


When your septic system fails, it’s expensive to repair and a health hazard to you, your family, and your pets. Runoff from a failing septic system can carry untreated sewage across your yard, onto your neighbor’s property, or into surface waters.

Project highlights


The ultimate goal of this project was to improve water quality by improving management of home onsite septic systems. As part of the project the county piloted a “Do It Yourself” (DIY) inspection training program in 2011. The project was successful in educating home on-site septic system owners in the Marine Recovery Area of the Dungeness watershed about the why, when, and how to conduct septic system maintenance.
  • To learn more about what the results of the project were, read this full story online.
  • Story written by Tammy Riddell, Ecology Southwest Regional Office

Telling our success stories


Water quality success stories provide a wealth of information associated with novel project designs, funding ideas, and useful resource suggestions. Some are clear successes; others supply valuable lessons to help us grow in our understanding of water quality protection and restoration. Stories illustrate successes gained from cooperation among Washington’s citizens and organizations.

Read all of our Ecology's water quality success stories, and check out our complete catalog of stories.

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