When you regularly maintain your septic system,
you help to protect your family's health
and the quality and safety of the water you drink.

There are about 10,000 septic systems in Lewis and Clark County, and they discharge about 2 million gallons of wastewater (from toilets, showers, dishwashers, etc.) into our groundwater each day.

Many of these septic systems are old and may not work properly. They have the potential to contaminate our groundwater. This creates a serious health hazard for those of us who rely on groundwater from wells for drinking, irrigating, washing and other purposes.

That’s why it’s important for owners of septic systems to periodically inspect and pump their septic tanks — to make sure the systems are properly filtering disease-causing pathogens out of the wastewater.

The Septic Maintenance Program

The Septic Maintenance Program was established by the City-County Board of Health in 2011 in an effort to collaborate with septic system owners to help maintain their systems and protect public health. When you regularly monitor the operation and maintenance of your septic system through this program, you:

• help to protect your family and neighbors from diseases transmitted through wastewater;
• protect the quality of groundwater used for drinking and irrigating;
• extend the life of your septic system;
• help to avoid costly repairs; and
• meet local regulations.

Reporting Your Septic Status

Under county Onsite Wastewater Treatment Regulations, you’re expected to report the status of your septic system to the Health Department every 3-5 years, depending on how heavily you use the system and how often your tank needs to be pumped.

The Septic Maintenance Program is being phased in over 3-5 years, so reporting deadlines will vary from property to property. The Health Department will notify you by mail when your report is due.

You can choose to report using an online self-assessment form , or you can hire a certified independent operation and maintenance professional to inspect your septic system and submit your report for you.

If an inspection or self-assessment reveals problems with your septic system, the Health Department will work with you to resolve them.