Title
Wastewater Municipal Code Changes - Onsite Septic Systems
Recommended Action
UAC Deliverable:
Review and provide input to staff with a recommendation to City Council
Report
Issue:
The 2013 Wastewater Management Plan includes several objective and strategies that would modify current City onsite system regulations to accommodate new onsite septic systems in the City under defined circumstances. Current policies and regulations regarding onsite systems are restrictive. City Council directs the issue to staff and the UAC for further consideration.
Staff Contact:
Diane Utter, P.E., Water Resources Engineer, 360.753.8562
Andy Haub, P.E., Director of Water Resources, 360.753.8475
Background and Analysis:
Approximately 4,140 onsite septic systems are located within Olympia and its Urban Growth Area. As Olympia continues to grow and increase land use densities, these systems pose a long-term public and environmental health risk.
The 2007 Wastewater Management Plan and subsequent regulatory changes placed appreciable constraints on the installation of new and repair of existing septic systems. With few exceptions new systems are not allowed and failed systems within 300 feet of sewer need to connect to the municipal sewer system. These policies and regulations are being revisited. Current regulations may be restricting infill development as well as the conversion of onsite systems to the municipal system.
Work completed by the Thurston County Health Department in 2013 indicates that surface and ground water contamination due to onsite systems in Olympia may be limited to specific locations rather than widespread. With this in mind, the 2013 Wastewater Management Plan as adopted by City Council opens the door for potential limited modifications of the current regulations while still ensuring that public and environmental health is maintained.
Attachment 1 provides the goals, objectives, and strategies from the 2013 Wastewater ...
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