Committee approves resolution urging state review of three-year septic maintenance requirement; debate continues over sale of maintenance lists

Washington County committee members on Thursday approved an amended resolution asking the state to review the statewide three-year maintenance requirement for on-site sewage systems and debated whether the county should continue selling monthly maintenance and new-permit lists to private vendors.

The discussion grew from a staff briefing explaining county responsibilities under state statute to track and enforce maintenance of systems (holding tanks, mounds, septic systems, ATUs) across more than 21,000 systems in the county. Staff described the county's current enforcement sequence: a 30-day pumping/inspection notice, a follow-up notice, and a third step that can entail citations for noncompliance. Staff also described two commercial lists the department sells: a monthly maintenance list priced at $100 per year and a new-permit list priced at $35; a combined subscription therefore costs $135 annually.

Staff told the committee roughly 10 private pumpers and maintainers…