San Juan County Health and Community Services is once again providing on-site sewage system operation and maintenance workshops for homeowners. The workshops are scheduled throughout 2013 on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands (see class schedule).

The workshops provide training to homeowners that certify them to complete inspections on on-site sewage systems (septic systems) and a way to save money.

The workshop also presents information on how a septic system functions and how to properly operate and maintain it, so even if the homeowner does not want to or is physically unable to complete the inspection themselves, they obtain knowledge that hopefully will assist them in extending the longevity of their system, further saving them money and protecting the value of their property.

Homeowners in San Juan County have been required since 2007 to have their septic system inspected on a regular basis – every three years for gravity systems and annually for all other systems and any system located in a designated sensitive area. The training program has been immensely popular with more than 2600 homeowners certified since 2008.

The 2013 class schedule is available online at: http://www.sanjuanco.com/health/ehswaste.aspx. Information is also available by phone from the San Juan County Health and Community Services Department at 360-378-4472.