Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › SEWER SYSTEMS › Chapter 246-272A - On-site sewage systems › SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS › Section 246-272A-0270 - Operation, monitoring, and maintenance-Owner responsibilities

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The OSS owner
				  is responsible for operating, monitoring, and maintaining the OSS to minimize
				  the risk of failure, and shall:
(a) Request
				  assistance from the local health officer upon occurrence of a system failure or
				  suspected system failure;
(b)
				  Obtain approval from the local health officer before:
(i) Repairing, altering, or expanding an OSS
				  as required by WAC
				  246-272A-0200; or
(ii) Before beginning the use of any newly
				  constructed OSS;
(c)
				  Secure and renew contracts for periodic maintenance if required by the local
				  health jurisdiction;
(d) Obtain and
				  renew operation permits if required by the local health jurisdiction;
(e) Obtain an inspection, as required in WAC
				  246-272A-0260(5),
				  by a maintenance service provider authorized by the local health officer of all
				  OSS and property to determine functionality, maintenance needs and compliance
				  with this chapter and local rules, and any permits:
(i) At least once every three years, unless
				  more frequent inspections are specified by the local health officer, for all
				  OSS consisting solely of a sewage tank and gravity SSAS;
(ii) Annually for all other OSS unless more
				  frequent inspections are specified by the local health officer;
(iii) Submit the results of the inspection to
				  the local health jurisdiction, using a form approved by the local health
				  officer and in compliance with WAC
				  246-272A-0260(5);
(f) Employ an approved pumper to remove the
				  septage from the tank when the level of solids and scum indicates that removal
				  is necessary;
(g) Provide ongoing
				  maintenance and complete any needed repairs to promptly return the OSS to a
				  proper operating condition;
(h)
				  Protect the OSS area and the reserve area from:
(i) Cover by structures or impervious
				  material;
(ii) Surface drainage,
				  and direct drains, such as footing or roof drains. The drainage must be
				  directed away from the area where the OSS is located;
(iii) Soil compaction. For example by
				  vehicular traffic or livestock; and
(iv) Damage by soil removal and grade
				  alteration.
(i) Keep the
				  flow of sewage to the OSS at or below the approved operating capacity and
				  sewage quality;
(j) Operate and
				  maintain OSS as directed by the local health officer; and
(k) At the time of property transfer:
(i) Provide to the buyer, all available OSS
				  maintenance and repair records in addition to the completed seller disclosure
				  statement in accordance with chapter 64.06 RCW for residential real property
				  transfers;
(ii) Beginning February
				  1, 2027, obtain an inspection, as required in WAC
				  246-272A-0260(5),
				  by a third-party inspector authorized by the local health officer. The local
				  health officer may:
(A) Remove the requirement
				  for an inspection at the time of property transfer if the local health
				  jurisdiction has evidence that the OSS is in compliance with (e) of this
				  subsection and the OSS was inspected by a third-party inspector authorized by
				  the local health officer;
(B)
				  Verify the results of the property inspection for compliance with WAC
				  246-272A-0260; and
(C) Require additional inspections and other
				  requirements not listed in WAC
				  246-272A-0260;
(iii) Beginning February 1, 2027, obtain an
				  inspection of proprietary treatment products per the product manufacturer
				  recommendations, as required in WAC
				  246-272A-0260, by a third-party
				  inspector authorized by the local health officer. The local health officer may:
(A) Remove the requirement for an inspection
				  at the time of property transfer if the local health jurisdiction has evidence
				  that the OSS is in compliance with (e) of this subsection and the OSS was
				  inspected by a third-party inspector authorized by the local health
				  officer;
(B) Verify the results of
				  the property inspection for compliance with WAC
				  246-272A-0260; and
(C) Require additional inspections and other
				  requirements not listed in WAC
				  246-272A-0260;
(iv) Submit the results of the inspection,
				  and any additional information or reports required by the local health officer,
				  to the local health jurisdiction, using an inspection report form approved by
				  the local health officer. The local health officer may require a compliance
				  schedule for repair of a failure discovered during the property transfer
				  inspection.