Septic System Maintenance
Please check your system as soon as possible :
Either call a County certified OSS professional to have your septic tank inspected and pumped if needed or learn how to inspect your tank yourself. If you have a non-complex septic system you can check it yourself. Read further to find out what type of system you have: most complex, complex, or non-complex.
Watch these videos for information and instructions on how to check your systems.
Click here Septic systems 101 to watch a 19 minute video which describes how a onsite septic system
Click here Septic systems 201 to watch a 24 minute video which describes how to determine if your tank needs to be pumped
Either call a County certified OSS professional to have your septic tank inspected and pumped if needed or learn how to inspect your tank yourself. If you have a non-complex septic system you can check it yourself. Read further to find out what type of system you have: most complex, complex, or non-complex.
Watch these videos for information and instructions on how to check your systems.
Click here Septic systems 101 to watch a 19 minute video which describes how a onsite septic system
Click here Septic systems 201 to watch a 24 minute video which describes how to determine if your tank needs to be pumped
Why should I maintain my septic system?
- Saves You Money – Regular maintenance fees of a few hundred dollars periodically, are a bargain compared to the thousands of dollars incurred to repair or replace a malfunctioning septic system. Clean, safe drinking water saves all of us money.
- Keeps You and Your Neighbors Healthy – Household wastewater is loaded with disease-causing bacteria and viruses, as well as high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. A properly functioning septic system helps remove these pollutants so well water and nearby surface water doesn't get contaminated.
- Protects the Environment – Malfunctioning septic systems can release toxins, pollutants and chemicals that eventually enter the lake, not only affecting our drinking water, but leaching into the the surrounding habitat.
- Protects Your Property Value – An unusable septic system or one in disrepair will lower your property value and could develop into a legal liability. Additionally, while your septic may be working well, we should be able to expect that everyone else is helping to protect all property values by ensuring that our Lake remains clean and safe, now and for the future.
Background - the last effort for 100% OSS testing at Summit Lake
In 1990, the County implemented a Summit Lake OSS testing program with a goal of testing all systems. All households were required to have their OSS system tested, many including a dye test, that detected if the OSS leached nutrients into the lake. The County followed through to assure all failing systems in1990 were fixed. Since then, there has been no requirement to test non-complex OSS systems unless a household changes ownership.
Current County OSS System Maintenance requirements:
In Thurston County the size, complexity and location of the septic system determine the monitoring and maintenance requirements.
In 1990, the County implemented a Summit Lake OSS testing program with a goal of testing all systems. All households were required to have their OSS system tested, many including a dye test, that detected if the OSS leached nutrients into the lake. The County followed through to assure all failing systems in1990 were fixed. Since then, there has been no requirement to test non-complex OSS systems unless a household changes ownership.
Current County OSS System Maintenance requirements:
In Thurston County the size, complexity and location of the septic system determine the monitoring and maintenance requirements.
- In the Henderson and Nisqually Marine Recovery Areas, all systems require renewable certificates. More complex systems must be monitored by a certified monitoring specialist
- For the remainder of the county monitoring requirements are determined by the size and complexity and location of the system
- The complex systems have a renewable certificate and require monitoring by a certified monitoring specialist or certified professional. The county tracks these systems, and sends reminders to owners when the certificates need to be renewed.
- The non-complex systems, like gravity systems, do not require certificates and receive little oversight from the county.
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These are general requirements for systems outside of Henderson and Nisqually. Full details are included in the County policy and septic system regulations.
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What type of septic system to I have?
Operational Certificate Categories/Type.
Operational Certificate Categories/Type.
- Monitored/Most Complex: These systems require a renewable operational certificate and must be monitored by a certified monitoring specialist. These systems include Certified Proprietary Treatment Products, drip line distribution systems, systems that include disinfection units, and community systems (those with flows between 1,000 and 3,500 gallons per day).
- Required / Complex: These require a renewable operational certificate. They can be monitored and maintained by certified pumpers, installers, monitoring specialists and responsible management entities (typically utilities). These include sand filters, mounds, Glendon systems, holding tanks, remediation technology, and community systems that do not include proprietary devices.
- Non Required/Non Complex: These do not require operational certificates. They receive little direct oversight by the county. Systems include gravity and single family pressure distribution.
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Refer to this file to see what type of system you have and when it was last maintained according to the county records.
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ATTENTION: The County records are not perfect. This file contains the address of Summit Lake households who have maintained their systems but county records do not show this. Please click here to be added to the SLWQ list. This helps us see progress !
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How many systems are currently maintained at Summit Lake?
Operational Certificate Renewals are required by the county for complex systems. Most operational certificates must be renewed every 3 years. The owner is responsible for renewal costs (currently $130) and monitoring and maintenance costs. The owner must provide documentation that their system was properly inspected and maintained, and that any deficiencies were corrected. There is no requirement by the county to maintain non-complex systems.
Summit Lake On-Site Septic System Maintenance statistics from the County are as follows:
Maintained Maintained Total
within 3 yrs within 6 yrs Systems
Most Complex 26 (90%) 27 (93%) 29 operational cert. renewal required
Complex 89 (77%) 102 (88%) 116 operational cert. renewal required
Non-Complex 82 (28%) 115 (40%) 288 operational certificate NOT required
Grand Total 197 (45%) 244 (56%) 433
The County is attempting to implement a plan for all Thurston County OSS systems (complex and non-complex) to be maintained starting in 2018. The plan was also proposed but not funded in 2016 and 2017. Click here to read the County OSS plan. If this plan is implemented all county residents will be required to maintain their OSS systems every three years.
Failing OSS systems could affect Summit Lake drinking water. Why wait for the county to mandate OSS maintenance ..... please keep our lake clean. Please maintain your systems.
Operational Certificate Renewals are required by the county for complex systems. Most operational certificates must be renewed every 3 years. The owner is responsible for renewal costs (currently $130) and monitoring and maintenance costs. The owner must provide documentation that their system was properly inspected and maintained, and that any deficiencies were corrected. There is no requirement by the county to maintain non-complex systems.
Summit Lake On-Site Septic System Maintenance statistics from the County are as follows:
Maintained Maintained Total
within 3 yrs within 6 yrs Systems
Most Complex 26 (90%) 27 (93%) 29 operational cert. renewal required
Complex 89 (77%) 102 (88%) 116 operational cert. renewal required
Non-Complex 82 (28%) 115 (40%) 288 operational certificate NOT required
Grand Total 197 (45%) 244 (56%) 433
The County is attempting to implement a plan for all Thurston County OSS systems (complex and non-complex) to be maintained starting in 2018. The plan was also proposed but not funded in 2016 and 2017. Click here to read the County OSS plan. If this plan is implemented all county residents will be required to maintain their OSS systems every three years.
Failing OSS systems could affect Summit Lake drinking water. Why wait for the county to mandate OSS maintenance ..... please keep our lake clean. Please maintain your systems.
Summit Lake Community Septic System Maintenance Plan
Next steps:
Next steps:
- On June 30, 2017, a letter was sent to the Thurston County Commissioners to request County resources for OSS reporting and OSS maintenance training .
- July 2017 - Community outreach to request all residents maintain their OSS systems
- Education on best practice for detergents and products that go into your septic systems
- Report progress throughout the year