Solving septic system puzzles: Portraits of Public Health

June 29, 2026.Reading time 5 minutes.

Portrait of a smiling man with glasses and a beard with a pug dog

Beau, one of our septic experts, shares his passion for the importance of septic systems in protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, and allowing a property to function as a home.

No More Toilet Backups: My Journey from Septic to Sewer

May 18, 2026.Reading time 7 minutes.

A dad rushes to the bathroom with a plunger as a child gestures to an overflowing toilet. A teenager holds her nose.

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.

New podcast miniseries explores the wide world of septic systems

August 9, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

Join us in listening to our first three-episode miniseries of Bridging the Gap, an environmental public health podcast. This series explores the wide world of septic systems.

Saving your OSS: How routine septic maintenance can prevent costly repairs

September 22, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

By Adiam Mengis, Educator Consultant, Environmental Health Division The fall rainy season can mean more stress on your on-site septic system. It’s a great time to think about how you’re maintaining your OSS to help prevent unnecessary and costly repairs. Tens of thousands of King County homes and businesses use an OSS, a mini-water treatment facility […]