Whatcom County homeowners who want to learn how to inspect their own septic systems have a free, in-person opportunity coming up on Wednesday, June 24. Whatcom County Health and Community Services is offering a two-hour training session running from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Ferndale WECU credit union. Seats are currently available, and homeowners who complete the training also become eligible for the county's septic maintenance rebate program.
Roughly one-quarter of properties in Whatcom County rely on on-site septic systems rather than connecting to municipal sewer lines. For rural and semi-rural homeowners in areas like Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, and throughout unincorporated Whatcom County, maintaining a functioning septic system is one of the more consequential home maintenance responsibilities a property owner faces. A failing septic system can cause significant environmental damage, contaminate nearby wells, and generate repair costs that can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
The homeowner training is designed to give property owners the skills to conduct their own routine operation and maintenance inspections. This is distinct from the comprehensive inspection required when selling a property -- homeowner O&M inspections are a regular maintenance practice meant to catch early warning signs before a system fails. The county's homeowner training program has been offered for several years and is one of the tools Whatcom County uses to reduce the burden of septic maintenance costs for homeowners while also protecting water quality in the county's lakes, streams, and marine areas.
Completing the training is what makes homeowners eligible for the county's septic maintenance rebate. Rebate details and amounts are available on the Whatcom County website, and the training is a prerequisite for accessing that financial benefit. The rebate is intended to help offset the cost of pumping, which should be done every three to five years for most systems, and other routine maintenance expenses.
The June 24 session is being held at the WECU location in Ferndale, WA, which serves the Ferndale, Blaine, and northern Whatcom County communities. Ferndale is located about 10 miles north of Bellingham off Interstate 5. Homeowners from anywhere in Whatcom County are welcome to attend any of the scheduled training dates; location is not limited by where a property is located.
For those who cannot make the June 24 date, the county also offers an online version of the homeowner training, as well as additional in-person session dates throughout the year. All options -- and the registration link for the June 24 Ferndale session -- are available at whatcomcounty.us/1745/Homeowner-Training-OM.
The septic training is part of Whatcom County's broader environmental health work, which also includes the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone program highlighted in this week's news. That program has helped reopen over 700 acres of shellfish harvesting in Puget Sound waters by reducing pollution from boaters. Both programs reflect the county's ongoing efforts to protect water quality in a region that depends on clean water for fishing, recreation, and drinking water supplies. For context on that interconnected water quality story, see the Puget Sound shellfish harvesting coverage from today.
Questions about the training or the rebate program can be directed to Whatcom County Health and Community Services at the contact information listed on the county website.
