The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department (TCPHSS) is calling on residents to weigh in on proposed changes to the Sanitary Code – Article IV, the framework for regulating on-site sewage systems.
The department said the update is prompted by statewide rule revisions and targets safeguarding public health and protecting the environment from septic system risks.
The county’s Environmental Health Division is aligning local rules with amendments to Chapter 246-272A of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), which were approved by the State Board of Health earlier this month.
Effective April 1, 2025, the changes require counties to adopt regulations that meet or exceed state standards.
According to the office, the proposed revisions feature measures to improve system monitoring and regulations.
Some of the changes include:
Removal of redundant Washington Administrative Code language
The code eliminates duplicated state regulations to provide clarity on county-specific requirements.
Simplified and standardized terms
Language across the document has been revised to improve readability and reduce ambiguities.
Updated definitions
New definitions such as “Certified Sewage Site Plan," “Easement,” and “Notice to Protect” were added. The definition of minor repairs was revised also to specify which professionals may perform these repairs.
System changes
Permitting references for large on-site sewage systems were removed since Thurston County no longer permits these systems, shifting responsibilities to the Washington Department of Health (DOH). Systems that are over 3,500 gallons now require engineered solutions approved by the DOH.
Stricter setback and design standards
New setbacks for driveways and surface water sources were added to protect system components. Designers must specify electrical controls that adhere to the National Electrical Code and account for high water levels during installation.
Enhanced repair guidelines
Repairs in sensitive areas, such as Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas and Geologically Sensitive Areas, must follow stricter vertical and horizontal separation standards. Failing or leaking tanks may only be repaired twice before replacement is required.
Increased inspection and maintenance requirements
On-site sewage systems (OSS) in high-risk facilities like mobile home parks, campgrounds and food service establishments must undergo annual inspections. Operators must also report any menu or operational changes affecting sewage flow.
Operational transparency
The health officer now holds the authority to withhold or deny permit approvals for nonconforming OSS unless mitigations are implemented. Inspection reports must be submitted within 30 days of completion to ensure timely oversight.
The proposed draft of Article IV was presented to the Thurston County Board of Health earlier this month.
A public hearing is scheduled for March, during which time community feedback will be reviewed.
Residents can access the full summary of changes and submit comments online. Comments will be publicly posted for transparency.
For further information and to provide comments and access additional information, visit TCPHSS’s Public Comment page.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Claire
I guess we'll all just **** in a bucket. Why not?
Thursday, January 30 Report this
JulesJames
A "public hearing during which time public feedback will be reviewed"? NO. A public hearing is for the public to speak, both to government and to fellow citizens. A public hearing is for citizens to present opposing views for all to hear, unvarnished by government interpretation. A public hearing is not for government to address selected comments from isolated individuals while we nod approvingly. At minimum: set a comment period deadline and open a web page where all comments can be reviewed by all people as they come in. This -- the public rubberstamping compliance with state-adopted law -- is not the moment to demand reform. But Thurston County needs reform. Public participation needs to be a transparent process, with time built in for alternative ideas to coalesce and be presented, to be truly productive.
Friday, January 31 Report this
JW
When bureaucrats continue to justify their own existence they keep producing endless regulations.
What about the thousands of homeless camps across the Puget Sound in wetlands and by creeks and rivers where they are continually defecating in and around the water? Let's fleece the taxpayers with more regulations instead.
Friday, January 31 Report this
ChuckCross
In addition to previous comments, it would be helpful were the regulators to provide instances of ground water contamination as a result of inadequate septic systems. Over the past 53 years here in Thurston County, the only septic problems I can recall related to North, Northwest County areas. No instances of aquifer contamination, resulting from failing septic systems, have made the news. There was a flap about leachate from the County garbage dump threatening groundwater, however this threat was never related to aquifer contamination. As to public hearings, they usually are ineffective means of influencing regulatory offerings.
Saturday, February 1 Report this