Wells and Septic Systems After a Fire

If you recently lost your home to fire and the property was served by a private well or septic system, you may have questions about whether your well and septic system are safe to use and functioning properly. See the following frequently asked questions to learn more about how to safely proceed with rebuilding.

Will my septic system need to be reinspected by Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD)?

If you are rebuilding a home with the same number of bedrooms that the original septic system was approved for, and connecting in the same location, SRHD is not required to inspect the system. However, you may want to ask your insurance adjuster whether the system needs to be evaluated at the time you submit your original claim for the home or if it would still cover damages to the system if they are found later in the rebuilding process.

As you get closer to completing the permitting process for rebuilding, you may want to have a maintenance service provider or septic pumper evaluate the system’s functionality and look for damage. You may want to have the following items inspected and evaluated at that time if applicable to your on-site septic system (OSS):

• The status of all sewage tanks, including the baffles, effluent filters, tank contents such as water level, scum, sludge, and solids, water tightness, and general structural conditions;
• The status of all lids, accesses, and risers;
• The OSS and reserve area for any indicators of OSS failure or conditions that may impact system function, operation or repair; and
• Any other components such as distribution boxes;
• A review of the record drawing and related documents, if they exist, including previous reports to confirm the system can operate as designed;* and
• An evaluation of any proprietary products following the procedures of the accepted operations and maintenance manual associated with those products.

*To request a drawing of the on-site septic system, please call or email 509.324.1546 or asbuiltrequest@srhd.org. Please provide the address and parcel number and your email (if calling).

What if I want to build a house in a new location or one that has more bedrooms than the original on-site system was designed for?

• If you plan on rebuilding your home and increasing the number of bedrooms beyond what the on-site system was originally approved for, you will need to work with an on-site sewage system designer or professional engineer to evaluate the system for functionality and need for expansion. At this time, it can also be evaluated for potential damage from the fire(s). Please note that SRHD must approve modifications or expansion of a septic system and issue a permit before any work begins. Please contact the Liquid Waste program at 509.324.1560 ext. 1 for information.
• If you plan on rebuilding your home in a different location than what the on-site system was originally approved for, you will need to work with an on-site sewage system designer or professional engineer to determine the functionality of the system, location of the home, and proper connection to the existing septic system. Please note that SRHD must approve modification and issue a permit for the septic system before any work begins. Please contact our office at 509.324.1560 ext. 1 for additional information.
• If you plan to install a new septic system, you will need to work with an on-site sewage system designer or professional engineer to design a new septic system. Please note that SRHD must approve all septic systems before any work begins. A permit will be required. Please contact our office at 509.324.1560 ext. 1 for more information.

What do I need to do if I want to connect my RV to my on-site septic system?

This will depend on the type of on-site septic system on the property. Residential on-site septic systems are not generally designed to handle RV wastewater primarily due to the strength of the sewage and potential chemicals used to reduce odors. Please contact the Liquid Waste program at 509.324.1560 ext. 1 if you have any questions.

Will I need my well reinspected?

Washington State Department of Ecology oversees well construction for private wells. Please contact Jon Espinoza at 509.981.1958 or jon.espinoza@ecy.wa.gov for more information on how to evaluate the status of your well after a fire. Please see the following resources for information about disinfecting a well.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Disinfecting Wells After a Disaster
• Washington State Department of Health Emergency Disinfection of Small Water Systems

Before using your well water for drinking, it is recommended that you flush out your well and consider testing the water for coliform bacteria and potential contaminants poly-aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH).