Protecting Shellfish From Septic System Pollution

Washington State Department of Ecology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 5, 1997

97-140

Contact: Tim Hilliard (360) 407-6429
Denise Clifford (360) 407-6160

Protecting Shellfish From Septic System Pollution

Olympia, WA - The Washington Department of Ecology is offering $1 million in grants to local governments to help protect shellfish from pollution caused by failing on-site sewage systems. The Special On-site / Shellfish Grant Program will provide grants to help home owners correct problems with on-site sewage systems to protect water quality in shellfish growing areas.

"The legislature created the Special On-site Shellfish Grant Program last year. It has been very successful in helping to repair and replace on-site sewer systems that were contributing to closing shellfish harvesting areas," said Megan White, manager for Ecology's Water Quality Program. "The program was established to respond to growing concerns about the health of our state's recreational, commercial and subsistence shellfish harvests."

Local governments may apply for the grants between August 11 and September 26. Ecology will hold a public workshop August 11 to answer questions about the grant program.

LACEY Monday, August 11, 2-4 p.m.
Ecology Building Auditorium
300 Desmond Drive

The program is unique because it provides money through local governments directly to citizens in local communities that have failing on-site sewage systems in areas that drain to threatened shellfish areas. Failing on-site sewage systems near shellfish growing areas may allow contaminants to reach shellfish beds. The sewage has bacteria in it, which is not harmful to shellfish, but can make people ill when they eat the shellfish. In response, the Washington Department of Health closes or restricts contaminated shellfish beds to harvesting, which puts an economic hardship on our state's recreational and commercial shellfish industry.

"Bacterial contamination from failing on-site sewage systems is one of the reasons that large areas of commercial and recreational shellfish beds in Puget Sound have been closed," said Nancy McKay, chair of the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team. "By making this funding available, the legislature provided a great opportunity for local governments to carry out on-the-ground work to directly improve water quality and protect shellfish resources." Fixing on-site sewage systems and protecting shellfish are two of the priority issues addressed by the Action Team's current two-year strategy for protecting Puget Sound.

Ecology, the Washington Department of Health, the Action Team and a local government representative will evaluate the grant applications. The criteria for funding will include the severity of the problem and its harm to commercial or recreational shellfish harvests, the potential for the project to result in improved water quality and other related issues.

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 marine and ground waters.

For a grant application form and program guidelines, contact Tim Hilliard, Department of Ecology, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, (360) 407-6429, or e-mail.