Home Trust, health department win council approval to apply for Ecology funding to shore up failing clustered septic system

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — The County Council on Aug. 19 approved submission of a Department of Ecology wastewater-program application that would provide a recoverable (forgivable) loan to repair a large on-site sewage (LID/“lawn”) system serving 26 homes in the Sunrise neighborhood near Grover Street in Friday Harbor. The San Juan Community Home Trust, which owns the affordable-housing community served by the system, told the council the system has underperformed since its installation and is approaching failure; short-term repairs could buy time while long-term options, including connecting to Friday Harbor’s sewer or rebuilding the on-site system, are evaluated through state technical assistance. Why it matters: The system currently serves 26 households. If it fails, residents would risk service interruption and public-health impacts; long-term solutions are costly. The county’s approval lets the Home Trust and Health and Community Services file a Sept. grant application if repairs are needed. Home Trust executive Amanda Lynn said the system was installed about 2010 and was designed to serve up to 200 future units on a larger parcel; island topography compromised the system’s effectiveness. She said the trust is enrolled in Department of Ecology technical assistance to evaluate long-term options and that Ecology consultants have experience with Friday Harbor infrastructure. “The system is really getting close to failure,” Lynn told the council. She said short-term repairs this year could range from about $80,000 for interim fixes up to roughly $150,000 for a more extensive media replacement; the Ecology application deadline is in early September. Lynn asked county sponsorship to allow a recoverable loan application; county staff said any award would be administered under program rules and county oversight. Council members voted to allow Health and Community Services to apply with the Home Trust as project partner. Council members said they supported the Home Trust’s long-term goal of connecting to Friday Harbor sewer, but noted the project’s legal and funding complications — including that the Home Trust is not a signatory to existing development agreements governing the larger parcel. What’s next: Staff and the Home Trust will proceed with a grant application if short-term repairs are required; Ecology technical assistance will continue for long-term planning. If the county becomes the grant sponsor and Ecology awards funds, the county would manage funding and contract oversight and bring any loan-forgiveness terms back for council review.