Title
A RESOLUTION supporting ongoing collaboration for the purpose of improving the health and well-being of King County residents by ensuring safe drinking and surface water in King County.
Body
WHEREAS, proper septic system use and routine maintenance are vital to protecting public health, preserving our highly valued groundwater, lakes, streams and Puget Sound and avoiding costly repairs that can result from neglect, and
WHEREAS, an estimated forty thousand to sixty thousand septic systems treat wastewater from homes and businesses, serving more than six percent of King County's developed properties, and
WHEREAS, while septic systems protect water quality when designed, installed and used correctly, it is estimated that more than twenty thousand septic systems in King County were installed before modern safety standards, potentially resulting in more than one billion gallons of insufficiently treated wastewater from inadequate septic systems each year posing a threat to human health, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound county boards of health are authorized by RCW 70.05.190 to impose and collect reasonable rates or charges sufficient to pay for the actual costs of administration and operation of the septic system program management plan and contract with the county treasurer to collect the rates or charges, and
WHEREAS, there is documented pollution from septic systems, agriculture, and other sources in one hundred ninety-two listed segments of rivers, streams and marine waters and eight hundred thirty-four acres of potential commercial shellfish beds in Puget Sound, and
WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle & King County is mandated by chapter 246-272A WAC to monitor and regulate septic systems and by chapter 70.118A RCW to implement a septic system program management plan to protect the public's health, and
WHEREAS, clean and healthy surface and groundwater in King County requires a collaborative approach from many King County agencies, including Public Health - Seattle & King County, the department of natural resources and parks, the department of information technology, the office of the county executive, the office of the county assessor, and those entities involved in waste water treatment, including local jurisdictions and sewer districts, and
WHEREAS, with the support of local partners, Public Health - Seattle & King County must develop a robust, sustainably funded system to identify and monitor septic systems, provide education to septic system owners and installation and maintenance professionals;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Health of King County:
The board calls for collaboration between partner agencies and local jurisdictions to address water pollution in King County and encourages action to:
A. Develop a list of all septic systems located in King County;
B. Update the King County On-site Septic System Management Plan, July 2007; and
C. Seek sustainable funding to support a countywide system to oversee the proper management of septic systems.