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Onsite Industry Update—June 12, 2025

Plan ahead: Health Department closed June 19 and June 24

The Health Department will be closed Thursday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday, and Tuesday, June 24, 2025, for an all staff retreat. While staff will be unavailable, you can still:

• Make payments online.
• Check the status of your application.
• Find additional septic and drinking water resources.

We will reopen for service at 8 a.m. the day after both closures. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Additionally, our permitting system will be unavailable from noon on Wednesday, July 23, through Sunday, July 27, to transfer to our new system. Any online applications in process and not submitted will be canceled. You can learn more about the new system below. Be on the lookout for more info soon!

Permitting updates

New state onsite sewage code in effect

WAC 242-272A, On-Site Sewage Systems, took effect April 1. All new septic designs must comply with this rule. Find a summary of key changes along with the language of the new rule on the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Rule Revision webpage.

We are working to update our Environmental Health Code Chapter 2 to reflect the new state code. Until those revisions are complete, refer to WAC 242-272A unless Environmental Health Code Chapter 2 is more stringent or detailed. 

For questions, you can contact us at ehsepticsystems@tpchd.org. 

Updated state ‘Department Standards and Guidance’ documents

DOH has renamed and updated the Department Standards and Guidance documents on its website (previously called Recommended Standards and Guidance–RS&G). It also updated some of the documents, which staff use to review septic designs. Updates apply to anything submitted after April 1, 2025.

Secondary safety lids

Secondary safety devices for septic tank lids add an extra layer of protection and prevent unintended entry to septic tanks in case of missing or damaged lids. This important step can prevent injury or loss of life in septic tanks.

We encourage designers to include these in their designs. Some tank manufacturers are already including them in all new tanks. We urge others to do the same. Parts are expected to be $100 or less per lid, plus labor.

Financial assistance is now available in many parts of the county for homeowners to retrofit their tanks. Our Environmental Health Division Director recommends you use these devices. We plan to require them in our Environmental Health Code Chapter 2 revision coming later this year.

If you are a septic professional and would like to provide input on the requirements for these devices, contact us at ehsepticsystems@tpchd.org.

New permitting program coming soon!

We’re introducing a new system later this summer!

With Accela’s permitting software, residents and professionals will still be able to:

• Submit an application or complaint online.
• See the status of an application.
• Access inspection reports.
• Receive excellent customer service.

You’ll also see enhancements, including:

• A direct link to import parcel, address and owner information from Pierce County Assessor data.
• Additional option to pay by electronic check.
• An electronic process to submit for final septic inspections.

We’ll have more info for you soon!

Policy updates

We updated our Mechanical Remediation “Terralift” guidance. The new WAC requires all remediation to be a permitted activity. The site must meet current soil vertical separation. A soil test pit is required for review by our staff as justification.

We also updated our Tank Replacement and Repair guidance. All septic tank repairs must now be permitted per updated WAC. Tank repairs are no longer allowed as an Extended Maintenance and Minor Repair. Repair activities must be reported via OnlineRME. A Partial Repair application and fee apply.

Drainfield setbacks

Historically, we allowed a 5-foot setback between drainfields. We received guidance from DOH that we had been misinterpreting the code, and it has always been a 10-foot setback requirement. We will follow WAC 246-272-A, Table IV from now on.

You can apply for a waiver that may enable you to proceed with 5-foot if you are unable to meet the 10-foot setback. This may be helpful if your plat was approved at 5-foot setbacks. Class C waivers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis but at a minimum you should include nitrogen reduction if you would like to reduce the setback. The only exception to the requirement is for a drainfield and reserve area of the same system, since the drainfields would not be active at the same time. 

Where to apply for an individual well variance/waivers

Washington State Department of Ecology must now review and approve individual well variances/waivers related to setback requirements. These types of requests include reduction in setback to drainfields, tight lines, septic tanks, landfills and other sources of contamination. Learn more on their website. Please include their approval with your well application.

We will still review variances/waivers for saltwater intrusion areas, restrictive covenants, and platting source of water.

Labeling wells on site plans

When you complete designs and site plans, please make sure you label them as:

• Proposed or existing.
• Public or individual.

This will help you avoid project delays or barriers to development. You can find public well info on CVWeb.

New SepticJohn approval from DOH

The SepticJohn is a new wastewater incinerator approved by DOH. This product incinerates all wastewater, not just solids. We will allow installation of this product only in repair situations where the only other alternative is a holding tank. We need at least 2 certified operation and maintenance providers trained to maintain this product before we begin approving installations. If you are interested in learning to maintain it, reach out to Logan Parke with EcoJohn at lparke@ecojohn.com for more info.

Operation and Maintenance updates

OnlineRME reporting user guide update

View the most current Pierce County OnlineRME User Guide. Changes made to the RME Guide reflect our current reporting practices, policies or regulatory standards. Questions or feedback? Contact Renée Avelino at ravelino@tpchd.org or (253) 377-5737.

EMMR reportable activities guide

View the latest Pierce County Extended Maintenance and Minor Repairs Guidance (EMMR). The EMMR guidance reflects WAC 242-272A-0110, Onsite Sewage Systems changes effective April 1, 2025. For questions, contact us at ehsepticsystems@tpchd.org.

RME component unlock request

For all RME component unlock requests, please add “RME Unlock Components” to your subject line. Please provide site info relevant to your request. Direct all emails to EHSepticSystems@tpchd.org

New Septic O&M rollout areas and financial assistance

As of this year, two new areas now require O&M. Financial assistance is available in all these areas:

Visit our website to see a map and view financial assistance information. We list companies who participate in our Financial Assistance Program. If you are interested in participating, please contact Amy Pearl at (253) 625-1362 or email to apearl@tpchd.org.  

A list of Certified Septic O&M Professionals  and the systems they are certified to service is also on our website. Make sure your company info is accurate.

Questions?

Visit tpchd.org/septic or contact us at ehsepticsystems@tpchd.org or (253) 649-1925.