Title
A RESOLUTION supporting ongoing collaboration for the purpose of improving the health and well-being of King County residents by ensuring safe drinking and surface water in King County.
Body
WHEREAS, proper septic system use and routine maintenance are vital to protecting public health, preserving our highly valued groundwater, lakes, streams and Puget Sound and avoiding costly repairs that can result from neglect, and
WHEREAS, an estimated forty thousand to sixty thousand septic systems treat wastewater from homes and businesses, serving more than six percent of King County's developed properties, and
WHEREAS, while septic systems protect water quality when designed, installed and used correctly, it is estimated that more than twenty thousand septic systems in King County were installed before modern safety standards, potentially resulting in more than one billion gallons of insufficiently treated wastewater from inadequate septic systems each year posing a threat to human health, and
WHEREAS, Puget Sound county boards of health are authorized by RCW 70.05.190 to impose and collect reasonable rates or charges sufficient to pay for the actual costs of administration and operation of the septic system program management plan and contract with the county treasurer to collect the rates or charges, and
WHEREAS, there is documented pollution from septic systems, agriculture, and other sources in one hundred ninety-two listed segments of rivers, streams and marine waters and eight hundred thirty-four acres of potential commercial shellfish beds in Puget Sound, and
WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle & King County is mandated by chapter 246-272A WAC to monitor and regulate septic systems and by chapter 70.118A RCW to implement a septic system program management plan to protect the public's health, and
WHEREAS, clean and healthy surface and groundwater in King County requires a collaborative approach from many King County agencies, including Public H...

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