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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 1996
96-157
CONTACT:
Tim Hilliard (360) 407-6429
Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157 Pager (360) 534-8590
Program Helps To Protect Shellfish From Septic System Pollution
Olympia, WA -- The Washington State Department of Ecology recently issued $1 million in grants to five local governments to help protect shellfish from pollution caused by failing septic systems. The Special On-site / Shellfish Grant Program is funding grants to help home owners correct problems with septic systems to protect water quality in shellfish growing areas. The Special On-site / Shellfish Grant Program uses money from the state's Water Quality Account. A 1986 state statute created this account, which is financed primarily through taxes on tobacco products. The account funds projects and activities to improve and protect lakes, rivers and marine waters.
"The legislature authorized funding for the Special On-site Shellfish Grant this year. The legislature recognized the problems associated with failing on-site sewage systems and their impact on water quality and shellfish," said Linda Crerar, assistant director for Ecology's Water Division. "The funding is in response to growing concerns to keep our state's recreational and commercial shellfish industry healthy."
Ten local governments applied for this funding; Ecology offered grants to five local governments. The local governments will work with citizens in their communities who have failing on-site sewage systems in areas draining to threatened shellfish areas.
Failing septic systems near shellfish growing areas may allow contaminants to reach the shellfish beds. The sewage has bacteria in it, which is not harmful to shellfish, but can make people sick when they eat the shellfish. In response, the Department of Health closes contaminated shellfish beds to harvesting. This puts an economic hardship on our state's recreational and commercial shellfish industry.
"The funded projects will help local governments assist citizens by repairing or replacing failing on-site sewage systems. Repairing these systems should have a direct result of improving the water quality and protecting shellfish harvest in those areas," said Tim Hilliard, an Ecology planner who worked with the Special On-site Shellfish grants.
Ecology, the Department of Health, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team and a local government representative evaluated the grant applications. The criteria for funding included the severity of the problem and its harm to commercial or recreational shellfish harvests, the potential for the project resulting in improved water quality and other related issues. Following is a list of the projects Ecology offered to fund:
Bremerton/Kitsap Health Port Gamble Bay/Gamblewood Sanitary Survey $121,682 District Project Skagit County Blanchard Area Special On-site Project $199,500 Thurston County On-site Systems Cleanup $330,000 Tacoma/Pierce County Health Rocky Bay On-site Repairs $136,775 Department Whatcom County Health Drayton Harbor On-site / Shellfish Project $189,000 Department
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
