Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
2021-2022 Preventing Non-Point Source Pollution: On-site Sewage Program During the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic 2021-2022 Preventing Non-Point Source Pollution: On-site Sewage Program During the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic Skagit County Public Health has required permits for on-site sewage systems (OSS) since 1958 and established an operations and maintenance (O&M) program in 2000. The O&M program goal was to identify sources of non-point pollution from OSS that closed a commercial shellfish harvest area the northern Puget Sound. Efforts in this area allowed the bay to reopen. With 4 dedicated employees, the OSS program was robust until March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic required all staff to participate in the Public Health response. Concurrently, OSS repairs and O&M were considered essential by the Governor’s Office to protect public health. However, with many homeowners affected by workplace closures coupled with reassigned staff, the formerly robust O&M program consisting of homeowner education and frequent O&M reminder letters with penalty for non-compliance stopped. Challenges for the OSS program during the pandemic included 1) having staff available to answer questions about OSS during the COVID-19 response, and 2) protecting public health from compromised septic systems when so many property owners were staying home. Remember the toilet paper shortage? Furthermore, Skagit County has been working to upgrade 4000 acres of commercial shellfish beds in Samish Bay since 2009. With the O&M program in hibernation, progress toward an upgrade appeared uncertain. Successes include, 1) quickly establishing a remote system for accepting OSS permit applications when offices were closed to the public, 2) jump-starting the plan to establish an online homeowner education program, and 3) enjoying the result of years of inspection reminder letters, which is establishing a social norm of routine inspections. As much as change in any established program is difficult, some changes that COVID-19 forced on the OSS program may be an unexpected improvement.
Session Title
Shellfish Galore
Conference Track
SSE9: Nearshore
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-10
Start Date
26-4-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 3:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Sewage disposal, Rural--Skagit County (Wash.); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Nonpoint source pollution--Skagit County (Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Skagit County (Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Life Sciences Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
2021-2022 Preventing Non-Point Source Pollution: On-site Sewage Program During the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021-2022 Preventing Non-Point Source Pollution: On-site Sewage Program During the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic 2021-2022 Preventing Non-Point Source Pollution: On-site Sewage Program During the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic Skagit County Public Health has required permits for on-site sewage systems (OSS) since 1958 and established an operations and maintenance (O&M) program in 2000. The O&M program goal was to identify sources of non-point pollution from OSS that closed a commercial shellfish harvest area the northern Puget Sound. Efforts in this area allowed the bay to reopen. With 4 dedicated employees, the OSS program was robust until March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic required all staff to participate in the Public Health response. Concurrently, OSS repairs and O&M were considered essential by the Governor’s Office to protect public health. However, with many homeowners affected by workplace closures coupled with reassigned staff, the formerly robust O&M program consisting of homeowner education and frequent O&M reminder letters with penalty for non-compliance stopped. Challenges for the OSS program during the pandemic included 1) having staff available to answer questions about OSS during the COVID-19 response, and 2) protecting public health from compromised septic systems when so many property owners were staying home. Remember the toilet paper shortage? Furthermore, Skagit County has been working to upgrade 4000 acres of commercial shellfish beds in Samish Bay since 2009. With the O&M program in hibernation, progress toward an upgrade appeared uncertain. Successes include, 1) quickly establishing a remote system for accepting OSS permit applications when offices were closed to the public, 2) jump-starting the plan to establish an online homeowner education program, and 3) enjoying the result of years of inspection reminder letters, which is establishing a social norm of routine inspections. As much as change in any established program is difficult, some changes that COVID-19 forced on the OSS program may be an unexpected improvement.
