Marine Recovery Area (MRA) Frequently Asked Questions

1. I don't know much about on-site sewage systems; where can I get more information?
   
   A wide range of information about on-site sewage systems is available on line by using a search engine. Some information and websites you may want to visit at linked here for your convenience:

• Homeowners Guide to On-Site Sewage Systems (Kitsap County Health District)
• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About On-site Septic Systems (WA State Dept. of Ecology)
• On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems - Overview (Toolbase Services)
• Washington On-Site Sewage Association

2. What are the health risks associated with failing on-site sewage systems in the marine environment; after all, it is not like I am drinking the water?
   
   When poorly treated sewage from failing septic systems is discharged into marine water shellfish may become contaminated and be unsafe to eat. As you may be aware, shellfish harvesting is not allowed in the "prohibited" portions of Quartermaster Harbor and "unclassified" portions of the East Passage on Vashon-Maury Island. Fecal coliform bacteria contamination is the primary concern in the "prohibited" and "unclassified" shellfish harvest areas. An OSS that is not working properly can be a major contributor of fecal coliform bacteria and other infectious bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxic chemicals.
   
   Untreated sewage from failed septic systems or sewage discharged directly into the environment can also percolate into groundwater, not only contaminating drinking-water wells with pathogens but indirectly contaminating streams and marine water. The discharge of untreated sewage to streams and marine waters can spread disease through direct contact, making such waters unfit for forms of recreation that involve skin contact with the water such as swimming and boating. Disease can also spread by indirect (secondary) contact such as through contact with shellfish, rodents or insects that received primary exposure and in turn harbor the pathogens. Discharged, untreated sewage also can damage the receiving water bodies' ability to support healthy, living communities of aquatic organisms and can contaminate fisheries. For more information on diseases caused by sewage or sewage contaminated water that can occur in the United States see www.in.gov/isdh/files/diseases.pdf.
   
   While the greatest health risks are from "black water" sewage coming from toilet facilities, "gray water" sewage from sinks and laundry is still hazardous and required to be disposed of in to an approved OSS drainfield. It's safe to say the most people like their neighbors but would not like to share their neighbors' bathwater. Properly designed, sited, and constructed on-site septic systems are effective in removing pathogens, though they are less effective in removing nitrogen and other nutrients.
   
   
3. Isn't fixing a septic system expensive?
   
   Most property owners in the MRA probably do not have money that they want to spend to upgrade their OSS, especially at this time. The cost of complying with the requirements of the MRA will vary widely for individual property owners depending on the condition of their exiting OSS and the need to provide detailed inspection, repair or replacement of the system.
   
   Property owners can manage the cost of responding to the MRA requirement by completing the necessary work in phases. The first step to comply with the MRA is to secure a professional inspection of your OSS. PH can provide technical assistance to help property owners complete the first step by supplying copies of any exiting OSS "record drawing", or prior OSS inspection reports, and providing an initial OSS site inspection upon written request.
   
   Depending on the findings of the initial inspection property owners may need to hire an OSS design professional to complete a detailed site inspection and prepare a "record drawing" for their OSS system. Securing professional assistance to inspect an OSS, and prepare a drawing record if necessary, should be a limited cost (approximately 1-3K) depending on the amount of work required.
   
   Once an owner has completed the OSS inventory they will have the information they need to work with a professional designer and PH to determine if they will need to repair, upgrade or replace the OSS. The costs to design and implement an OSS repair, upgrade or replacement will vary widely and can be planed, implemented and financed over an extended period if necessary.
   
   
4. Are there any places to go for financial assistance with septic system repairs?
   
   Public Health has tried, but to date has been unable, to secure grant or loan funding to provide direct financial assistance to property owners to assist them with implementing their requirements under the MRA. King County will continue to seek targeted grant or loan funding for repair, enhancement or replacement of OSS inside the MRA however there is no guarantee it will become available. Absent grant or loan funding property owners are still responsible under the law to move forward with efforts to address the MRA requirements on their property. Public Health will provide ongoing technical assistance to property owners in the MRA subject to funding availability.
   
   
5. Is it fair that only some places have been designated as Marine Recovery Areas?
   
   The MRA area designation was developed by Public Health with in consultation with a VMI MRA advisory Work Group. The Work Group considered a variety of factors including the location of shellfish harvest closure areas, recreation areas, wellhead protection areas, critical areas, development density, age of housing, and number of OSS repairs. The Work Group recommended keeping the MRA small and manageable in part based on the limited number of OSS design and maintenance professionals available to inspect repair and maintain OSS on VMI. The specific boundaries for the East Passage are were established pursuant to direction from the WDOH shellfish harvest program. In the future, additional MRA areas may be designated in King County through a similar process. Additional details on the VMI MRA designation are available in Part 4 the King County On-Site Septic System Management Plan.
   
   
6. If I repair my OSS, what guarantee is there that Public Health won't require connection to a sewer system?
   
   There is no plan for a sewer system to serve the VMI MRA. There are many reasons that a sewer system is not being planned. The State Growth Management Act restricts sewers to use in urban areas and King County Comprehensive Plan policy F-248 specifically restricts expansion of the existing public sewer system in the Town of Vashon. Policy F-249 restricts sewer extension in the rural area except where needed to address specific health and safety problems threatening existing structures and policy F-253 limits use of collective on-site systems in the rural area to areas where individual on-site system are not feasible. Sewer systems present community organizational challenges and requires a public utility to be in place to operate them. While not impossible, the logistics of getting a sewer system in place are daunting to say the least. Also, with the evolution of more sophisticated onsite systems, individual system replacement may be more realistic than in the past.
   
   Even so, Public Health and the Dept. of Natural Resources and Parks' Wastewater office had a sewage study prepared to evaluate the cost required to connect the Quartermaster Harbor MRA to the Vashon Town Center sewer or construct alternate community wastewater systems for the area. The primary intent of the study was to establish some baseline costs for comparative purposes of centralized collection and small community systems. The study is available on the MRA website for property owner's information.
   
   It is important that MRA property owners complete their OSS inventory promptly so they can determine if they will need to repair, upgrade or replace their OSS. The costs to design and implement their OSS repair, upgrade or replacement as needed can then be compared to the cost of a sewer extension or community sewage system. If a significant number of the property owners found it would be cost effective to pursue a sewer extension or a community wastewater system, then PH could work with the interested parties to evaluate feasibility of the option before property owner's move forward with an upgrade of their individual OSS.
   
   There are currently no plans for study or evaluation of sewer extension or community sewage systems on the East Passage MRA areas. However, East Passage MRA property owners can also compare the estimated costs for community sewer service to the costs for their OSS upgrade. Similar to the Quartermaster Harbor MRA area if a significant number of property owners found it would be cost effective to pursue sewer extension or a community wastewater system then PH could work with the interested parties to evaluate feasibility before property owner's move forward with an upgrade of their individual OSS.
   
   
7. Will my old water system need to be replaced as part of the MRA designation?
   
   King County Board of Health Code, Title 13, Section 13.04.070 requires that a residence be served with an approved domestic water supply source in order to construct or expand an OSS. Approved water sources can include public water systems and private wells meeting the conditions outlined in the code. The code also allows "provisional approval" of existing water sources that do not meet the conditions for "approved" water sources at the discretion of the health officer. PH will work with property owners and use their provisional approval authority whenever possible to resolve water supply requirements and allow repair of OSS in the MRA.
   
   
8. What about small lots that have critical areas on them?
   
   Many properties in the MRA are constrained by limited size, limited access, steep topography, surface water, Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas and other critical area limitations. These factors can all make it difficult and more expensive to repair, upgrade or replace a failing OSS. However, the King County Onsite Sewage System Code allows for the repair of failing OSS authorizing the health officer to waive compliance with the requirement for a conforming repair if a conforming repair is not feasible and if in the health officer's judgment the repaired system will not have an adverse effect on public health. The King County Department of Development and Environmental Services will work with property owners to assist in identifying solutions to Critical Area regulatory constraints and facilitate repair of OSS in the MRA.
   
   
9. Can I do a building addition after I have replaced my old septic system?
   
   King County Board of Health Code, Title 13, Section 13.64.020 specifically requires that when additions, alteration or improvements to existing buildings would impact the operation of the OSS they shall be served by an OSS complying with Title 13. This provision can create a barrier to improvement of property served by a failing OSS. However, upon application and review the health officer may waive this requirement when the proposed changes do not adversely impact the continued operation of the OSS or its reserve area. Where a property owner does not plan to expand a structure or change its use the OSS repairs are granted the greatest flexibility under Title 13.
   
   
10. Why doesn't King County allow alternative septic systems?
    
    We do allow alternative systems. The King County Board of Health Code, Title 13 On-Site Sewage code makes provisions for property owners to use of a wide range of alternative OSS systems in Chapter 13.52. Specific standards are included for holding tanks, composting and incinerating toilets, mound systems, aerobic treatment units (ATU), sand filters, gravel-less drainfield systems, proprietary packed bed filter systems, upflow media filter systems and subsurface drip systems (SDS). The code also allows use of any other OSS technologies approved by the State DOH, including systems being tested through product development permits with approval of the health officer. With the wide range of alternative OSS technologies now available MRA property owners have many options to consider if they need to upgrade or replace their OSS.
    
    
11. Hasn't this been done before? What happened to the information that was collected from earlier studies?
    
    The findings from prior assessments of OSS in the MRA area were considered by Public Health in determining the boundary of the MRA. While the prior surveys suggest there may be many failing OSS within the MRA, they are dated and some were obtained on the condition of confidentiality. Public Health will notify property owners if a prior survey is available for their site and provide a copy of prior OSS survey records to individual property owners upon request.
    
    This is driven by state law and the public focus on protecting, preserving and restoring Puget Sound. The law creating the MRA requires that public health find all existing OSS within the MRA, ensure that they are functioning properly, and repaired, if necessary by July 2012. Public Health currently has technical assistance resources to help MRA property owners implement the MRA and is committed to helping them to find, evaluate, repair, upgrade or replace their OSS as necessary.
    
    It is important that owners act now to assess the condition of their OSS and determine if they need to repair, upgrade or replace their system. Completing the OSS assessment early in the MRA implementation process will allow owners time to evaluate their needs, identify, and implement appropriate solutions in advance of the 2012 deadline. Completing the OSS assessment is especially important if property owner think they may want to work with their neighbors and PH to evaluate a common sewage system alternative.
    
    If owners have not voluntarily addressed their obligations under the MRA by the 2012 deadline then Public Health may be obligated to undertake compulsory compliance measures to implement the MRA. The compulsory compliance alternative is not the preferred choice of the State legislature or Public Health and there is a strong hope that property owners will take advantage of the current technical assistance resources and act to voluntarily correct any public health deficiencies with their OSS.
    
    
12. How do I hire a qualified inspector, designer or maintainer?
    
    Homeowner education and specific information concerning Onsite Sewage System Inspections and choosing a service provider is available from the Washington On-Site Sewage Association. Property owners who plan to hire an Onsite Sewage System designer can learn about what to expect from a designer by reviewing the Department of Licensing Guidelines for the Professional Practice of On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Design. Public Health also maintains updated lists of septic professionals.