In 1993 I purchased a manufactured home with a septic system on 10 acres two miles south of Coupeville. That purchase carried many responsibilities, one of which was to ensure a properly working septic system. My operation, monitoring, and maintenance plan for the last 14 years was very simple, and includes most of the items found in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-272A-0270. My plan required neither governmental regulation nor expenditure of taxpayer dollars.
Today however, a state government agency has mandated additional governmental regulation and the expenditure of taxpayer dollars upon the citizens in 12 counties to include Island County. This mandate is to “protect the public health by minimizing the potential for public exposure to sewage from on-site sewage systems and minimize adverse effects to public health that discharge from on-site sewage systems may have on ground and surface waters.”
After reading the purpose and objectives of Washington Administrative Code 246-272A I came up with my own conclusions:
• The State of Washington is making mandates based upon “the potential for public exposure” instead of actual scientific data.
• The State of Washington only cares about the health of its citizens in 12 counties.
• Only 12 counties have surface and ground water.
• Only 12 counties use on-site septic systems.
Now Island County and 11 other counties impacted are working diligently to comply with this mandate. Island County’s compliance plan involves everyone with an on-site septic system. This plan includes strong-arm tactics disguised as fines to keep 17,000 of its citizens in line.
Costs of this plan range from $320,000 to $1 million. Keep in mind that this money is not coming from the state agency or simply from the 17,000 septic system owners. Instead, it is coming from every taxpayer in the county.
One Island County commissioner believes this is a bad plan. It costs too much. It is too invasive. Island County is already using taxpayer money for water-monitoring work. Other options, methods, and resources are available if they were used to their full potential.
Another Island County commissioner states that the law is very clear and every septic system in the county is required to have an operation and maintenance plan and is in favor of the plan.
The third Island County commissioner believes leaking septic systems are a big problem and this problem is countywide. This opinion is based upon a septic systems designer and installer who says “septic systems break down all the time.”
I ask you this. Am I going to see in the future our county commissioners passing legislation originating from opinions based upon business owners who will clearly benefit from the new law? Am I to see future state agency mandates based upon “the potential for public exposure” instead of actual scientific data? Am I to see in the future our county officials continue to cave in to the mandates of a state agency and simply pass legislation? Can anyone tell me when the last incident or any incident involving an on-site septic system occurred that endangered the public health?
I want everyone to remember that I am a responsible home-owner. My on-site septic system operation, monitoring, and maintenance plan is very simple. It already includes most of the items found in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-272A-0270. My plan requires neither additional governmental regulation nor expenditure of taxpayer dollars.
Kenneth J. Wolf
lives in Coupeville.
