PORT ANGELES — Clallam County property owners who have their septic systems professionally located and inspected could be eligible for $100 rebates.
The Clallam County Health and Human Services Environmental Health Section has received grant funds from the state Department of Health to provide the rebates, the department announced last week.
The program is part of a larger project to identify and locate all septic systems in Clallam County, especially in the marine recovery area in the eastern part of the county.
The marine recovery area encompasses the Dungeness River watershed, those waters influenced by it through the irrigation system and nearby independent tributaries to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
It extends from the Bagley Creek drainage east to include the Sequim Bay watershed and Miller Peninsula, and from the Strait south to the county line.
Rebates are available — while funds are available — for on-site septic system (OSS) work performed from Nov. 20 through March 20.
State regulations require the county to pinpoint the location of all septic systems.
They also require all septic systems to be inspected at least every three years for gravity systems and annually for all other septic systems.
To help OSS owners comply with state law, environmental health officials are offering the $100 rebate according to a set protocol.
Along with properties in the marine recovery area, priority for rebates will be given to those with septic systems that do not have records of the septic system and require a system locate and inspection, older septic systems for which records exist but there are no records of inspection and properties for which records exist but are not current on inspection.
Installation of risers also could be considered for rebate if funds are still available after rebates for system locates and inspections have been processed, officials said.
To be eligible for the rebate, the property must meet one of the priority conditions and also have the system located, if necessary; have a complete professional inspection; complete any required maintenance; and submit proof of inspection and receipts to environmental health officials.
Rebates will not be given simply for pumping a tank.
To determine if a septic system is eligible for the rebate program, visit www.clallam.net and select “Online Permit System” under the “Online Services” tab.
Click on the link to find information about a parcel of land, enter the property’s information, then click on the appropriate parcel number on the next screen.
Another means of finding a septic inspection status is to visit www.clallam.net/septic, click on “Onsite Septic System Inspection Status Map” under the “General Information tab” and zoom into the parcel.
Use the identify tool to find out about the OSS status.
A list of qualified operation and maintenance providers can be viewed at www.clallam.net/septic.
For more information, call 360-417-2350 or email EnviroHealth@co.clallam.wa.us.
