Health department plans education for septic system rules

The Wahkiakum County Health Department is planning some educational programs on rules regarding installation of septic sewer systems.

County commissioners received complaints a few weeks ago in a public meeting and asked that the unhappy permit applicants meet with Health Deparment Administrator Judy Bright when she returned from vacation.

That meeting occurred last week, and Bright and Commissioner Lisa Marsyla, who also attended, said it went well.

"We hope we have a solution that will work for them," Bright told the board of commissioners Tuesday in their meeting as the county board of health.

Marsyla agreed and added that there needs to be some education for the board and the public on the ins and outs of septic rules.

The applicant has been asked to provide a winter soil evaluation which takes test hole readings for several months. This process has been used in the past, although infrequently; the last use was in 2002, Bright said.

"My goal is for us to have the least restrictive requirements possible that meet the state codes," she said.

Commissioner Dan Cothren cautioned against adding time consuming steps to the process. It's frustrating to him to see standards intended for urban and suburban areas be applied to rural areas where they cause applicants extra work and expense.

Bright, commissioners and members of the audience agreed that some public workshops on the septic process would be informative. Bright said they could target contractors, developers, real estate agents, public officials and the general public.

In other board of health business, Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines reported that the region's public health officials are starting to review the good and bad parts of their response to last fall's H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic.

Health officials from four counties banded together to coordinate response and distribution of vaccines.

"There were interesting lessons learned," she said. "We will publish an article in a national health journal so other public health officials can learn from our experience."