Clallam County Board of Health to hold public hearing on updated on‑site sewage code; changes target RV parks, holding tanks and inspections

The Clallam County Board of Health on April 15 voted to call a public hearing at its May meeting on proposed revisions to chapter 41.2 of the county on‑site sewage code.

Why it matters: staff and board members said the updates align local code with recent Washington Administrative Code (WAC) changes, clarify inspection and permitting procedures, and respond to repeated failures in certain development types—especially recreational vehicle (RV) parks.

Key changes staff outlined include: - Aligning local definitions and design references with the state WAC and upgrading the county’s guidance documents to ‘‘department standards and guidance.’’ - Clarifying sewer‑connection distances measured from the building drain (200‑foot rule) and exceptions when septic repair is more expensive than connection. - Authorizing holding tanks in limited circumstances with annual operating permits and required maintenance records and alarms for seasonal or emergency use. - Requiring designers to determine cause of failed systems and provide construction plans for remediation; adding clearer rules for minor repairs and permit expirations and extensions (repair permits and tank‑placement permits described with 6‑ and 12‑month limits in the draft). - Adding stricter subdivision/site requirements and limiting split flows for community systems to a maximum of two on‑site systems; capping subdivision flow allowances using a 2.5 unit volume formula (staff described this as reducing the county’s allowable flow compared with state guidance for some large developments). - Reiterating that complex or large on‑site systems (for example, large RV parks) should proceed through the state Department of Health process, which has engineering resources and nitrate‑reduction requirements. - Strengthening enforcement language and increasing administrative penalties; staff said the daily penalty for certain violations was increased from the prior local amount and explained the intent is to encourage compliance rather than to punish small, impoverished owners.

Staff noted several practical points for applicants: site registration must be finalized within one year of preliminary soils work; pressurized lines must include monitoring/cleanouts to allow maintenance; grease traps and high‑strength waste (common at RV parks and some restaurants) require pretreatment and designer review; and property‑transfer inspections may be waived when current maintenance contracts and records are on file.

Board action: The board voted to call a public hearing at the May meeting to consider the ordinance adopting these changes. The motion was moved and seconded; the chair called for the question and members present said ‘‘aye.’’ The board recorded the action as approved and said staff will present the revised ordinance and the changes summarized for the Board of County Commissioners (interlocal agreement items discussed elsewhere on the agenda must still be routed through the county commission process).

Staff and board discussion touched on implementation resources and enforcement discretion. Several board members and attendees said the county lacks the staffing to design or regulate very large on‑site systems, and staff recommended routing those projects to the state, which typically has engineers and a faster turn‑around for complex permits. Staff also said the county will reach out again to licensed designers and installers for final review before the hearing.

Ending: The Board of Health will hold a public hearing on the proposed on‑site sewage code changes at its May meeting; staff expects to return with final edits and a draft ordinance for adoption after public comment.