Please visit the
FAQ or onsite septic program page for more information,
or contact
Environmental Health DIY Staff for assistance.
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Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
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Step One - Finding Your Parcel Record
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In order to determine whether your septic system qualifies for homeowner inspection,
we need to identify the septic permits on file with the County for your property.
You will need to provide the property parcel number for the property where the septic
system you intend to inspect is located.
- The parcel number, as used on Assessor maps, the county Geographic Information
System (including web maps), and permit records is a 12 digit number that is unique
to each separate piece of real estate. This is the number you should enter on the
Septic Inspection web form.
- Your can find the parcel number on your property tax statement.
The statement includes one or more Geo ID numbers. These are 16 digit numbers.
The first 12 digits are your parcel number. The last four digits identify certain
aspects of the property used in the assessment process, such as multiple land uses
or ownerships.
If you are unable to use a Tax Statement to determine the correct GeoID/parcel
number please visit Clallam county's
Map resources webpage, the
Online Permit System, or the Assessors
Property search webpage to locate this information about the
property in question.
If, after checking tax statements, maps and property
records, you are still uncertain about your parcel number, or there are
multiple septic systems on your property, please contact
Environmental Health DIY Program Staff. Submit your name and the
physical site address of the septic system you wish to inspect and the parcel
number will be researched for you.
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Step Two - Confirming Your Parcel & Where to Get Help
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Once you enter a parcel number, the system will tell you the address and owner of that parcel according to Clallam County tax records in 2011, the ownership information is in the process of being updated to current and does not affect the Septics 201 registration process. Once the parcel number and ownership is confirmed, you can go to the next step. If there is any question about the parcel, you will have options to look up Assessor records for the parcel, or to view it on a county web map. If you are still unsure or can't find the
correct parcel number, you may need to contact
Environmental Health DIY Program Staff.
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Step Three - Eligibility
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Once you have confirmed the correct parcel, you will see a summary of basic information about your septic system and its inspection requirements. If the septic system is eligible for homeowner inspection, you will have the option to proceed to the registration step.
Not all septic systems qualify for homeowner self inspection. Please review the
Septic System Inspection Requirements webpage if you have any questions.
Some systems use technologies that require a professional inspection. If your system is one of these, you will see a screen that tells you that, and provides links to assist in getting your system professionally inspected.
If your system is eligible for homeowner inspection, it will also check to see
if it is in the
Marine Recovery Area (MRA). The MRA is a septic system management
area located in the eastern portion of Clallam County where septic systems have
contributed to water quality problems including shellfish growing area closures
in Dungeness Bay. If your property is located in the MRA, your first septic
inspection must be done by a professional. The system also checks to see if a professional inspection has been performed on your system in the last three years. If your property is in the MRA and there is no record of an acceptable professional inspection you will be directed to
information about whom to contact in order to get your system
professionally inspected.
There are also a number of septic systems in Clallam County that have little or no documentation in our records. If your system is one of these, you will need to contact the Environmental Health office to determine system eligibility. If there is not enough information to determine your system type and where its components are located you will be required to have a professional inspection with a system locate to submit as an updated location drawing. This will determine if your system will be eligible for DIY Homeowner inspection in the future.
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Step Four - Registration
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As part of the registration process you will be given an Inspector User ID that
corresponds to your septic system Operations & Maintenance tracking number in
the DIY database. You will need to use this Inspector User ID to access your DIY
program account. You will enter your name, email address and select a
simple password for your account. You must have this information for future access but it can be acquired through the "forgot my password" link on the registration/log-in page. You will also find that your User ID is equal to your OSS tracking SOM case number in Clallam County's Online Permit Center which can be found following the steps on our Septic Permit Information Available Online web page.
This process requires you to have an email account you are able to access at the time you wish to complete this step. If you do not have an email
account visit
about.com for a list of free email services and to get guidance about
setting up an account.
Once you've provided the necessary information, you will immediately be sent a
confirmation email with a link that you must click to complete the registration
process. This is a security step to prevent someone else from signing up to report inspections of your septic system.
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Step Five - Training & Certification
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Once your registration is confirmed, you will have access to the training video and certification test that will qualify you for inspecting your own septic system. You may continue on to view the training materials at the time you register, or you may come back to this site another time, log in with your User ID and password, and enter the training portion of the program.
The training program contains a training video and online test. Once you've completed the on-line video training, you can take the certification test. If the Take the Test link is grayed out and not active you may have to click the View Training Videos link and then select the gray Back button to proceed. To become certified, you must get 80% of the questions correct. If you do not score 80 % or above you will be able to retake the test after you have reviewed any questions you missed.
When you pass the test, you must click the certification link to
complete the certification process. This will allow the system to identify
you as a certified homeowner septic inspector, and give you access to the
DIY septic inspection report options.
A step-by-step Field Guide with inspection checklist will then become available for you as a certified DIY user to download, print, and use for reference as you inspect your septic system. Fill out the checklist as you perform the inspection and use that information in the next step to fill out the online inspection report form.
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Step Six - Filing Septic Inspection Reports
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As a certified Homeowner Septic Inspector, you can log in using your Inspector ID and password at any time to review materials, print checklists and submit inspection reports for your septic system. The inspection report uses the information found on the inspection checklist; it is recommended that you print one using the link found on the Certified Inspector webpage prior to doing your inspection.
When you have finished your field inspection click Submit an Inspection Report from the Certified Users page to access the online report form. Complete all the required information - don't forget the date at the top - click Submit and the data will be sent electronically to the DIY database. At the bottom of the inspection report you will have an opportunity to note that corrections are not needed, in progress, or complete, and to make additional comments. The inspection report should note the actual conditions at the time of inspection, and any corrections made after would be noted at the bottom of the page. You may also submit copy's of receipts for work done to Environmental Health using the email links below or in person. Inspection reports should be submitted within 30 days of being performed.
Upon submission of your inspection, the date when the septic systems next inspection is due will be noted at the top of the Certified Inspector screen. You may also check to see when your OSS is due for its next inspection using the Online Permit System and following the instructions given on the Septic Permit Information Available Online webpage.
Clallam County Environmental Health maintains all submitted Operation and Maintenance records in our Septic Permit database for reporting to the Department of Health as required by State regulations.
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[Return to Registration/Log On Page]
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