Island County will be sending us all a septic system checker in coming years.

This will be the biggest change in on-site sewage disposal since the septic tank replaced the outhouse. For generations inspecting septic systems and keeping them functioning properly has been the domain of the homeowner. The only exception has been when a malfunctioning system is detected by a neighbor’s nose. Then the Health Department would step in. But there has been no governmental role in day-to-day maintenance and operation of septic systems.

County officials are presently in the process of adopting rules and procedure for septic system checkers. No doubt they will be from private companies who presently supply septic services, including checking and pumping. But they’ll need rules to go by, a checklist to prove the proper things were checked, and a way to report the system’s condition: Is it good for another three years, or is an expensive pumping or other type of upkeep in order? If so, the county will need enforcement officers to see that the work is done.

This new layer of government is expected to cost the county over $300,000 annually to hire three new employees and purchase their associated vehicles and supplies. No doubt this is just for starters. And homeowners will have the additional expense of having their septic systems checked once every three years. How much this will cost is yet to be determined, but the price will have to cover the county’s costs as well as the septic checker’s. The relative free ride of septic system owners is over. They’ll be facing bills similar to people hooked up to sewer systems, only in one fell swoop rather than monthly statements. There might be a proliferation of new septic businesses eager to get in on the rush to check thousands of septic systems on a routine basis.

The new program is mandated by the state to help clean up Puget Sound. It makes sense, as too many septic systems are not properly maintained. But it’ll cost a lot, most likely far more than anyone presently anticipates. Just another cost of growth, and another reason to wonder why elected officials and business leaders spend so much of their time promoting growth at any cost.