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Jefferson County Public Health – Planned Performance Measures 2012
On- Site Sewage (OSS) & Septic Operations and Monitoring (O&M) Programs
MISSION: The mission of the Onsite Sewage Program is to minimize the threat of surface and ground water
contamination from failing or improperly designed, installed or maintained onsite sewage systems. The mission of the
Operation and Monitoring Program is to protect public health by ensuring onsite sewage systems are monitored,
identify failures, and items that may lead to costly premature failures of OSS that contaminate ground and surface
waters.
GOALS FOR FY 2012:
1. Educate homeowners, builders, real estate personnel, banks, installers, designers and onsite system
maintenance personnel in the proper operation and maintenance of onsite sewage systems.
2. Assure a high quality-onsite sewage system monitoring program.
3. Implement and enforce state and local rules and regulations governing the installation and use of onsite sewage
systems.
4. Investigate action requests and complaints in a timely manner to reduce the threat of human contact with
untreated wastewater.
5. Complete all state funded grant activities on-time and on-budget.
6. Assure high quality customer service.
7. Establish a Homeowner Inspection Program to comply with monitoring requirements under WAC 246-272A.
OBJECTIVES FOR FY 2012:
1. Develop written informational materials for public distribution and conduct workshops for community groups
addressing onsite sewage system operation and maintenance.
2. Provide training to community groups to increase awareness of regulatory requirements for onsite sewage
systems.
3. Review monitoring and inspection reports and provide timely follow up and coordinate with online submittal
program data.
4. Identify previously unknown onsite sewage systems.
5. Utilize existing data systems to track action requests and complaints.
6. Update Local Management Plan to reflect progress and necessary changes.
7. Assure communication with applicants regarding the status of onsite sewage permit applications.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:
2008
Actual
2009
Actual
2010
Actual
2011
Proposed
2012
Proposed
Number of systems repaired/upgraded 32 32 37 35 38
Percent of system failures less than 5 years in use 0 0 0 0 0
Number of complaints received 42 43 52 45 50
Number of complaints closed 24 19 33 25 32
Number of septic permit applications submitted 1 231 169 158 180 120
Number of evaluations of existing system (EES) 295 255 463 350 300
Percent of existing systems receiving regular 3rd party
monitoring. 2
2.2% 1.8% 3.4% 2.5% 2.8%
# of previously unknown systems having a monitoring
inspection
15 9 10+ 595 40 35
Percent of monitoring inspections resulting in some
maintenance needed.
29% 28% 56%4 29% 29%
Percent of monitoring inspections resulting in
required significant maintenance or repair.
12.5% 16% 18.7% 15% 15%
Percent of failures/major maintenance <2% <2% <2% <2% <2%
Number of educational workshops 6 5 19 20 15
Number of workshop participants 239 102 355 300 250
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1Number of applications does not equal approved permits
2 Based on estimated 13,500 systems in the County (from the Local Sewage Management Plan)
SUMMARY OF KEY FUNDING/SERVICE ISSUES: Tracking will be done with existing data systems
to evaluate effectiveness of permitting and monitoring programs. Ongoing O&M activities will be funded
through permit and inspections fees as well as the newly formed Clean Water District and state and federal
grants. Implementation will focus on developing and implementing a system to allow homeowners to be
trained, complete monitoring inspections and report results to meet state requirements for assurance that OSS
system are functioning properly. Follow-up with homeowners on inspection results is critical to the
understanding of how systems work and why maintenance and proper operation is important. A system for
correspondence and follow-up is under development. We will conduct community outreach to increase
awareness of the new requirements. An incentive program to assist homeowners in completing inspections
and install access risers and monitoring ports is in development for implementation in 2012-2013.
Identification of previously unknown onsite sewage systems is ongoing as part of a project in the Marine
Recovery Area (MRA) along the Hood Canal. The project will move forward the work identified in the
Local Onsite Sewage Management Plan that requires identification of all unknown systems by 2012.
The Local Management Plan will be reviewed and updated to identify successes and update information.
Onsite sewage permitting and staffing has declined due to the economic downturn of the past several years.
The number of permits received dropped significantly in 2011. The team continues to strive to maintain
effective communication with our clients and partners (other state and local departments) to effectively
manage workload and requests for information while diligently reviewing and enforcing county code and
policies.