Septic Solutions Committee

1
Septic Solutions Committee

• Presentation to Vashon Maury Island Community
  Council
• May 16, 2005

2
Scope of the Problem

• Fecal coliform
• Algal Blooms (Toxic Non-toxic)
• Anaerobic conditions Regulatory Action
  Looming

All Caused by Septic Failures
3
Washington State Department of Health Closes
areas to recreational shellfish harvesting based
on surveys of septic systems. 30 to 50 of the
septic systems in the east passage (400
inspections) are inadequate or failed Inner
Quartermaster Harbor is closed entirely, and all
of the island is closed to butter clam harvesting

4
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Relative intensity indexduration (days)
5
(No Transcript)
6
Hypoxia

• Quartermaster Harbor has relatively low oxygen lt
  5 mg/ml
• Low enough to affect some sea life, but not as
  bad as e.g. Hood Canal

7
Regulatory Structure
Current Proposed

• Design Approval
• Building Permits
• Construction Permits
• Repairs
• Operation and Maintenance
• 1995 Legislation

• Legislation HB 1458, SB State DOH and Regulatory
  Approach
• Both require
• Document problem
• Fix failed septics
• Neither offer aid to Vashon focus on Hood
  Canal

8
Current KC Processing Delays

• Site Applications
• Revisions
• Bldg Permits
• Operational Checks
• Complaints
• As Builts
• Plats and Boundaries
• Repair Proposals

• 15 wks
• 3 wks
• 6 wks
• 3 wks
• 4 wks
• 2 wks
• 10 wks
• 2 wks

9
Cove/Beulah Park
10
Bunker Trail
11
Paradise, CA

• Faced with 100M sewer system
• Taxpayers revolted septic approach adopted
• Local control and management
• Off the shelf, standardized solutions

12
Paradise, CA Budget

• Population 28,000
• 11,700 Septic Systems
• Annual monitoring fee - 14.40
• Total Annual Budget - 322,000
• 3.5 FTE
• 10 years operation

13
Action AlternativesNo Action KC Form PUD

• Fee-based
• 4000 permits
• 4000 different designs
• 9 months for approval
• County Control
• County Fees 148/hr
• Contractors jobs mostly on mainland
• Private maintenance
• Ship septage off-island

• Fee Based
• 1 permit w/State
• 6 designs
• 1 day for approval
• Local control
• Local PUD est. 75/hr
• Based on local contractors local jobs
• PUD manages maintenance
• Treat septage on-island

14
Public Utility District Basics

• Three commissioners
• Petition to 10 of Vashon Voters
• Voted in election 2006
• If it passes, we pay for election
• Simultaneously vote for commissioners by district

15
PUD Resolution

• Presented at VMICC
• Voted upon 1 month later
• Timing of process
• Summary

16
Web References

• http//www.metrokc.gov/health/wastewater/index.htm
  King County Wastewater
• www.wossa.org Onsite Septic Assoc
• www.wpuda.org PUD Association
• http//www.ecy.wa.gov/ecyhome.html Dept of
  Ecology