Title
Revisions to the Septic to Sewer Program Public Hearing
Recommended Action
Review and provide input to staff. After public hearing, recommend City Council approve proposed revisions.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recommend City Council approve proposed revisions to the Septic to Sewer program.
Staff Contact:
Diane Utter, P.E., Water Resources Engineer, 360.753.8562
Presenter(s):
Diane Utter, P.E., Water Resources Engineer, 360.753.8562
Background and Analysis:
Approximately 4,140 onsite sewage systems (OSS) 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. Even well maintained OSS discharge pollutants at a rate higher than the LOTT wastewater treatment plant.
In 2008, the City Council created the Septic to Sewer Program to assist property owners converting from OSS to public sewer. The program allowed the City to construct sewer mains to connect existing OSS. Construction costs were partially recovered from benefitting property owners at the time of connection to the sewer. The program resulted in an increase in conversions to an average of 13 per year, compared to an average of four per year, prior to the program.
The 2013 Wastewater Management Plan proposed expanding the program based on "Objective 1C. Encourage OSS conversions through the Septic to Sewer Program". This objective is in support of the goal stating "Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act standards for nitrogen, fecal coliform and other constituents of concern in groundwater and surface water are met." Expansion of the program is supported by the 2014 Comprehensive Plan Goal GN5 - "Ground and surface waters are protected from land uses and activities that harm water quality and quantity" and specifically Policy PN5.8 - "Encourage existing septic systems to connect to sewer, and limit the number of new septic systems." The proposed regulation chan...
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