Experts to drill down deep on septic maintenance in talk

The event will include audience discussion and interaction with experts.

By Susan McCabe For Public Health Seattle King County • October 4, 2022 1:30 pm

Water — it’s on everybody’s minds these days with the climate crisis shrinking rivers around the globe, reservoirs drying up and lawmakers dragging their feet through the mud puddles of political wrangling over who gets to use it and how much.

Here on Vashon, our major concerns are about water quality as well as quantity.

As Vashon-Maury’s Groundwater Protection Committee (GPC) scribe, Mary Bruno says, “On Vashon, you are your own utility.”

Being your own utility means, among other things, that the health of your family, your neighbors and Puget Sound depend on your diligence in maintaining your septic system or your well.

Fortunately, maintaining a healthy well or septic system isn’t that hard — and it saves users money and protects property values. A properly designed and maintained septic system also contributes to the groundwater budget, which helps to replenish the aquifer system of Vashon-Maury.

To teach islanders more about maintaining their septic system or your well, King County Public Health (KCPH) and GPC, in partnership with Vashon’s Backbone Campaign, will host a free, live-streamed workshop on the topic at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, on Zoom.

The event will include audience discussion and interaction with experts so that attendees’ individual concerns can be addressed.

Experts will include Greg Rabourn, Vashon Basin Steward; Eric Ferguson, Groundwater Protection Committee member; Steve Bergman, geologist; Bob Siebold, of Island Pump; Meaghan Jackson and Eunbi Lee, from King County’s Public Health; and moderator Bianca Perla, of the Vashon Nature Center.