Surface Water Management Division

 Pilot Program

Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM) received a Centennial Clean Water Fund grant from the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to develop a pilot project to address onsite septic system (OSS) related water quality problems. The goal of this pilot program was to collaborate with Snohomish Health District to develop and pilot an education and outreach strategy aimed at encouraging residential septic system users to adopt a suite of care and maintenance best management practices. 

We are happy to share information and artwork with other agencies and organizations that have an interest in septic system management. Please contact us for more information. Original graphic file formats used include InDesign and CoreDraw.

 Final Report & Attachments

View final report (pdf format)

View final presentation (pdf format)

View attachments below (pdf format)

• Activity 1: Background & Formative Research
  • 1.0- Snohomish County Septic System Program Public Involvement & Education Plan 
  • 1.1- Review of Existing Septic System Outreach Programs 
  • 1.2a- Interactive Public Opinion Polling Forum Final Report 
  • 1.2b- Public Opinion Telephone Survey Final Report 
  • 1.2c- Public Opinion Focus Groups-2009 Final Report 
  • 1.2d- Social Marketing Focus Groups Summary-2011 Report 
  • 1.3a- A Rapid Ethnographic Assessment of the Septic Industry in Snohomish County 
  • 1.3b- Professional Service Provider Operation & Maintenance Outreach Survey Final Report 
    
• Activity 2: Communications Development
  • 2.0a- Protocols for Creating the Parcels_Septic data 
  • 2.0b- Septic System “Hot Spot” Analysis Maps (11 maps included) (File 1) (File 2) 
  • 2.0c- Focus Area Analysis Maps 
  • 2.2a- Septic System Care Fact Sheet 
  • 2.2b- Septic System Care Checklist  
  • 2.2c- Choosing a Septic System Pumper Form 
    
• Activity 3.1: Outreach Approach 1: Mail Campaign
  • 3.1a- Mailer Artwork Tested at 2009 Focus Groups 
  • 3.1b- Mailer 1: Septic Care Workshop Advertisements (Mailers, Postcards, Doorknob Hangers) 
  • 3.1c-Mailer 2a: Simple Steps, Outside Image: Pumper 
  • 3.1d- Mailer 2b: Simple Steps, Outside Image: Girls on lawn 
  • 3.1e- Mailer 3: Solids & Toxins 
  • 3.1f- Mailer 4a: Water Use & Drainfield, Outside Image: Girl & Dog 
  • 3.1g- Mailer 4b: Water Use & Drainfield, Outside Image: Fishing 
  • 3.1h- Additional Mailer Artwork for Outside Panels, Drinking water & Drainfield 
  • 3.1i- Mailer Reply Card Evaluation Data 
    
• Activity 3.2 Septic System Homeowner Workshops
  • 3.2a- Workshop PowerPoint Presentation 
  • 3.2b- Workshop Advertising Mailers (WSU & SHD) 
  • 3.2c- Workshop Advertising Reminder Postcard 
  • 3.2d- Workshop Advertising Doorknob Hanger 
  • 3.2e- Workshop Posters 
  • 3.2f- Workshop Announcement Web Pages (Snohomish County & WSU) 
  • 3.2g- Workshop Press Releases 
  • 3.2h- Workshop Doorknob Hanger Maps 
  • 3.2i- Workshop Postcard 2 (to additional residences) 
  • 3.2j- Workshop Postcard 2 Maps 
  • 3.2k- Workshop Photos 
  • 3.2l- Workshop Initial Evaluation 
  • 3.2m- Workshop- 8-month survey 
  • 3.2n- Workshop Attendees Maps 
    
• Activity 3.3 Septic System House Calls
  • 3.3a- Workshop House Call Letter 
  • 3.3b- Workshop Follow-Up Visit Form 
  • 3.3c- Thurston County Homeowner Letters 
    
• Activity 4: Outreach Approach 2: Sanitary Surveys
  • 4.0a- Landowner Survey Notification Letter  
  • 4.0b- Church Creek & Fobes Hill Sanitary Survey Form 
  • 4.0c- Sanitary Survey Questionnaire 
  • 4.0d- Sanitary Survey Follow-Up Letter 
    
• Activity 6: Program Information Dissemination
  • 6.2a- Presentation to STORM 9/22/11  
    
• Activity 7: Program Evaluation
  • 7.0a- Mailer & Sanitary Survey Evaluation Report    
  • 7.0b- Workshop Survey & Results  

 Additional Resource