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Required Septic Inspections in Pierce & Thurston Counties, WA
Received a Septic Inspection Notice? Flow-Rite Can Help You Complete the Required Inspection and Reporting.
Disclaimer: Weekend and after-hours services may be subject to an additional surcharge. Final pricing depends on the repair type, system access, site conditions, parts needed, and any applicable county requirements
Received a Septic Inspection Notice?
If you received a letter or notice saying your septic system is due for a required inspection, it is more than a general recommendation to have it checked. Washington law requires septic system owners to have their systems inspected at prescribed intervals, and local health departments administer and track those requirements.
For Pierce County homeowners, that may mean receiving an inspection reminder directly from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The Health Department instructs homeowners to hire a certified septic service company, have the system inspected, and have the inspection report filed electronically through OnlineRME.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department lists Flow-Rite Septic Solutions as a certified septic system service company, and it provides septic inspection services for homeowners who need to meet required inspection and reporting requirements.
If you received a notice and are unsure what to do next, the simplest first step is to schedule the required inspection.
Required septic inspection today!
Why Did I Receive a Septic Inspection Notice?
You received the notice because state and local septic regulations require ongoing inspection and maintenance of onsite sewage systems.
Washington’s onsite sewage rules place responsibility on the property owner to have the septic system inspected and report the results to the appropriate local health jurisdiction. Under current state rules, gravity-only systems generally require an inspection at least once every three years, while other onsite sewage systems generally require annual inspections unless the local health jurisdiction establishes a different frequency.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department specifically tells homeowners that state and local law requires regular septic inspections, also called routine inspections or Operation and Maintenance (O&M) inspections.
In other words, if the Health Department has sent you a notice saying your system is due, the inspection requirement applies to your property and should not simply be ignored as an optional maintenance reminder.
Septic Inspections for Local Property Conditions
The process is usually much simpler than the notice may initially make it seem.
Your notice should identify the property and tell you when the required septic inspection is due. Scheduling before the deadline gives you time to complete the inspection and address any maintenance issues it may uncover.
Pierce County directs homeowners to use a certified septic service provider for required O&M inspections. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department maintains a current list of certified septic companies, and Flow-Rite Septic Solutions appears on that list.
When scheduling, let Flow-Rite know that you received a septic inspection notice from the Health Department so the reason for the inspection is clear from the beginning.
A required O&M inspection evaluates the septic system and accessible components to determine its condition, functionality, maintenance needs, and compliance with applicable requirements.
Washington's inspection standards include evaluation of sewage tanks, baffles, filters, tank contents, lids and access points, the septic and reserve areas, and other system components as applicable. We also review existing system records when available.
The exact inspection will depend on the type of septic system installed at your property.
This is one of the biggest differences between having someone look at your septic system and completing a required O&M inspection.
For Pierce County inspections, the septic service company files the inspection report electronically through OnlineRME, where the Health Department can access it. Homeowners can also use OnlineRME to look up previously submitted inspection reports.
The requirement comes from Washington state and local law, but the report is submitted to the local health jurisdiction rather than directly to the State of Washington. Washington's current rule requires submitting inspection results to the local health jurisdiction.
If the inspection identifies maintenance needs or deficiencies, the inspector can explain what was found and what may need to happen next.
Depending on the system's condition, that could involve pumping, cleaning a filter, servicing a pump or alarm, completing a minor repair, troubleshooting another component, or obtaining additional evaluation.
Finding a problem during an inspection does not automatically mean the entire septic system needs replacement. The appropriate next step depends on what the inspection actually finds.
A Required Septic Inspection Is Not the Same as Septic Pumping
One of the most common points of confusion for homeowners is the difference between having the septic system inspected and having the septic tank pumped.
They are separate services.
An inspection evaluates the septic system's condition and operation. Pumping physically removes accumulated septage from the tank.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department specifically explains that the septic company should inspect the system and pump it only when necessary and requested by the homeowner. Washington rules also require owners to have the tank pumped when solids and scum levels indicate removal is necessary.
That means receiving an inspection notice does not automatically mean you must have your tank pumped.
Flow-Rite can evaluate the system during the inspection and explain whether pumping or another maintenance service is recommended.
Required Septic Inspections in Pierce County
Pierce County homeowners may receive a routine septic inspection reminder directly from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
According to the Health Department, homeowners who receive one of these notices should hire a certified septic service company, complete the inspection, and have the septic company file the inspection report through OnlineRME.
Once it receives the report, the Health Department updates its records and can notify the homeowner when the next inspection is due.
Current Tacoma-Pierce County guidance generally calls for inspections:
- Every year for complex systems, such as certain community, aerobic treatment, or proprietary systems.
- Every three years for simpler systems, including the system types identified by the Health Department in its current inspection guidance.
The frequency that matters for your property is the one tied to your septic system and Health Department record.
What Happens If I Ignore the Pierce County Inspection Notice?
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department states that failing to complete a required inspection can eventually result in an alert or a certificate of non-compliance being recorded against the property. That can create problems when a homeowner later wants to sell, refinance, or develop the property.
If you received a notice, addressing the inspection before the deadline is generally much easier than correcting a compliance issue later.
Required Septic Inspections in Thurston County
Thurston County also has ongoing septic inspection and reporting requirements.
Certain properties require an Operational Certificate, and homeowners may receive a renewal packet before that certificate is due. Depending on the system and property, renewal can require a septic inspection along with other applicable maintenance or reporting requirements.
Thurston County also uses OnlineRME for septic inspection reporting. The county states that a septic professional—or a certified homeowner when the property and system qualify for self-inspection—must submit the completed inspection through OnlineRME. Some systems require inspection by a certified professional rather than homeowner self-inspection.
Because Thurston County requirements vary by system type, location, Operational Certificate status, and other factors, homeowners should follow the specific instructions in their renewal or inspection notice.
Don't Wait Until the Inspection Deadline
A required septic inspection is easier to deal with when there is still time before the deadline.
Scheduling early gives the inspector time to evaluate the system, complete required reporting, and explain any maintenance needs or deficiencies. If the system needs additional service, you also have more time to address it without the pressure of an approaching compliance deadline.
If you received a septic inspection notice, O&M inspection reminder, or Operational Certificate renewal notice, keep the letter and have it available when you schedule service.
Schedule Your Required Septic Inspection
If a letter from the Health Department says your septic system needs to be inspected, Flow-Rite Septic Solutions can help you get the inspection process started.
For Pierce County homeowners, Flow-Rite is currently included on the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s list of certified septic system service companies.
Call Flow-Rite Septic Solutions at (253) 442-5222 and let the team know you received a required septic inspection notice.
Required Septic Inspection FAQs
If the notice states that your system is due for a required routine or O&M inspection, the inspection is part of the applicable state and local septic requirements. Washington law requires septic system owners to obtain required inspections and report the results to the local health jurisdiction.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department sends reminders because state and local law require septic systems to be inspected regularly. The Health Department tracks septic system records and inspection deadlines.
In Pierce County, the Health Department directs homeowners to use certified septic professionals for these inspections and maintains a list of certified septic service companies. Flow-Rite Septic Solutions is currently included on that list.
Requirements can differ in Thurston County because some qualifying homeowners may become certified to inspect certain systems themselves, while other systems require a certified septic professional.
Usually, the professional handles the inspection reporting. In Pierce County, the septic service company files the inspection report through OnlineRME.
Keep your inspection records for your own files and follow any additional instructions contained in your Health Department notice.
Not directly. Washington State law establishes inspection responsibilities, but you submit inspection results to the local health jurisdiction. In Pierce County, inspection reports are electronically reported to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department through OnlineRME.
No. Inspection and pumping are separate services. Pump when the condition and accumulation of solids in the tank indicate it is needed.
Washington's statewide rule generally requires inspection at least every three years for systems consisting solely of a sewage tank and gravity soil absorption system and annually for other onsite sewage systems, unless the local health officer establishes another frequency. Local requirements and the specific system installed on your property determine the inspection schedule you need to follow.
The inspection report will document the system's condition and any identified deficiencies. The appropriate response depends on the problem and may involve maintenance, pumping, minor repairs, troubleshooting, or additional evaluation. Washington regulations require owners to complete needed maintenance and repairs to return systems to proper operating condition.
Tell the team that you received a required septic inspection or O&M notice, identify the county where the property is located, and have the notice available if possible. That helps identify the inspection and reporting process associated with your property.
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