Anyone who has had a toilet back-up knows that it’s a household crisis! This animated short shows how stressful a septic system failure can be through the eyes of a dad who is worried about the cost. He finds out from his neighbor that King County’s health department can help connect him to financial assistance to move to sewer.
Help with connecting to sewer
Urban King County is home to nearly 40,000 on-site sewage/ septic systems, many of which are past their intended life span and vulnerable to failure. Wastewater treatment solutions for these properties include sewer connection and septic replacement.
For help finding financial assistance to convert from septic to sewer, call the King County Septic System Program at 206-477-8050. Their hours of service are:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8 am to 3 pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 10:30 am to 3 pm
Septic to sewer: Commonly asked questions
Q. Will my septic system keep working forever?
A. No. All septic systems will eventually stop functioning. With routine maintenance, a septic system will last for about 30 years on average. Around 70% of urban septic systems in King County are past their expected lifespan.
Q. Can I continue to replace a failing septic system with new systems?
A. No. When a septic system fails, a new system cannot be installed in exactly the same place. Also, septic systems require proper soils for adequate wastewater treatment. Smaller urban lots can typically only replace their septic system once or twice.
Q. Why should I consider connecting to sewer?
A. Connection to sewer is a permanent solution, in contrast to septic systems which need replacement. Failing septic systems and surfacing sewage cause odors, damage to homes, and may spread diseases within a community. Additionally, sewer connection allows properties to have more capacity to build and develop (e.g., additional dwelling unit, or ADU). Lastly, if you are in an urban area, sewer connection may be required.
Q. How much does it cost to connect to sewer system?
A. It depends! If you have a stub from the sewer main out to your building, it may be easier to connect and may cost less. But if the sewer main needs to be extended, it can cost more. The cost to connect to sewer system is increasing. Minimize costs by planning ahead for sewer connection and finding out what financial resources are available.
Q. Is financial assistance available for connecting to sewer?
A. Yes! More information on sewer connection: kingcounty.gov/septic/loans
Share this information!
This information is available as a comic strip to download:
Comic – No More Toilet Backups (English): A printable comic showing the journey from septic to sewer. Available in multiple languages:
- ከአሁን በኋላ የመጸዳጃ ቤት የወደኋላ ፍሰት የለም (አማርኛ — Amharic)
- 马桶不再堵塞 (中文 – Chinese, Simplified)
- Wala nang umaapaw na inidoro (Wikang Tagalog – Filipino)
- 변기 막힘은 이제 그만 (한국어 – Korean)
- Ma jiri-doono musqul/suuli soo-butaaca (Af Soomaali – Somali)
- Adiós a los escusados tapados (Español – Spanish)
- Hết tắc bồn cầu (Tiếng Việt – Vietnamese)
You can also share animated videos in English, Amharic and Somali from our YouTube “Septic Matters” playlist.
Artwork by Natalie Dupille.
More information about septic systems, including information to help maintain your septic system until sewer comes to your neighborhood, at kingcounty.gov/septic
Originally posted on May 18, 2026.
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