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Resident presses council on delay to DIY septic inspection program; asks why other counties succeeded
Summary
During community forum, a resident identified as Dewey asked why Pierce County’s DIY septic inspection program remains delayed since 2023 and questioned the county Department of Health’s timeline and claims of inadequate results in other counties.
During community forum at the Pierce County Council meeting on Jan. 28, 2025, a resident who identified himself as Dewey urged the council to press the county Department of Health on delays to a “DIY septic” inspection program.
Dewey said the county has been “working on it since 2023” and quoted conversations with county staff and others that set expectations for earlier launch dates. He said the program was listed in a March 2024 Key Peninsula News article as “on its way” and that one county employee told him the program might not launch until 2026. Dewey asked, “Why does it take so long, and why is it only a potential launch in 2026?”
He raised the program’s importance for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and low-income homeowners who may face barriers to traditional inspections. Dewey also said he had spoken with the Washington State Department of Health and with a water/waste manager identified as Jeremy (or Jerry) Simmons about whether other counties’ programs were “successful,” and he urged Pierce County to adopt a similar approach rather than continue to delay.
The council did not take formal action during community forum. Dewey’s remarks ended with a plea to the council: “Why not us?” — echoing his summary that other counties have been operating similar programs for 15 years and, in his view, Pierce County should move faster.
No staff response or timeframe for follow-up was recorded on the transcript during community forum. The speaker asked the council and the Department of Health why the program remained delayed and requested clearer timelines from county officials.
