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Inspections
All onsite sewage (septic) systems require inspection per Island County Code 8.07D. By having an inspection performed on your system, you will be able to detect problems before they become much more costly. Pumping the system is not an inspection meeting these requirements - rather it is an inspection of each and every component of the system.
Under state and county regulations every system requires reoccuring inspections depending on the system's type. They are follows:
Conventional Gravity (consisting of a septic and and disperal component only): Every 3 years.
All systems with a pump: Annual
First deadlines are as follows:
Conventional Gravity: July 1st, 2010
Pump systems: July 1st, 2009
You may be able to become certified to inspect your own septic system. For information about Island County's HomeOwner Septic Training (HOST) program - click here.
Otherwise, all inspections need to be performed by a licensed Maintenance Service Provider. These professionals have adequate experience and education to properly inspect your system as well as troubleshoot any problems of the system.
In some situations, homeowners may find that their systems are of older construction, or that their system is covered (buried) and lacks risers to facilitate easy checking; in these cases, they will likely need to first utilize the services of a qualified professional to get their system to the point that they can conduct their own inspections in the years to come.
In other cases, homeowners may not be familiar with the location of their septic system, and find that the County Public Health Department does not have a record of their system on file. In these cases, the homeowner may need to hire a licensed maintenance service provider to help locate their system, so that in the future they can conduct their own inspections.
Do not employ unlicensed service providers - your system is too important and costly to entrust its operation to someone who doesn't know how to properly care and inspect onsite sewage systems.
For a current list of licensed professionals, click here.
At Time of Sale Inspections
In addition, all properties being sold or transfered must have an inspection performed by a licensed professional if it is not in compliance.
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