Bow-Edison sits within Skagit County’s Shellfish Protection District, created in 1995 after bacterial pollution problems led to closures of parts of the bay’s shellfish-growing area. Septic systems in the area were identified as one contributing source of the pollution. Failing OSS can contaminate groundwater and nearby waterways, creating risks to public health and the environment.
Skagit County has specific requirements for septic inspections, maintenance, repairs, and the professionals who perform this work. Not every property in Bow-Edison has the same type of wastewater system, either. A rural property may have its own on-site septic system (OSS), while properties connected to the Edison Clean Water District are served by the community’s Large On-Site Septic System (LOSS).
Before you hire a company to pump, inspect, repair, or work on your system, it’s essential that you know which type of system you have and what work the company is qualified to perform.
Ask whether the company has worked on septic systems in the Bow-Edison area and whether its technicians are familiar with the type of system on your property. In rural areas, that’s often an individual on-site sewage system (OSS), where wastewater flows from the septic tank to your property’s drainfield. Properties connected to the Edison Clean Water District are served by the community’s Large On-Site Septic System (LOSS).
If your property is connected to the Edison LOSS, you still have a septic tank on your property. Depending on the connection, the tank may be part of a STEP or gravity system. Wastewater from the property then enters the community collection and treatment system.
Because the LOSS is a shared system, maintenance responsibility depends on the component and type of connection. Some work is handled through the Edison system’s maintenance contractor, while other work may be the property owner’s responsibility. Check with the Edison Subarea Board before arranging work.
Ask the septic company:
Skagit County requires people who perform septic installation, pumping, operation, monitoring, or maintenance to meet county certification requirements. The county certifies pumpers, operations and maintenance (O&M) specialists, and installers separately. New and replacement septic systems must also be designed by a licensed on-site wastewater designer or professional engineer.
If your property is connected to the Edison Large On-Site Septic System (LOSS), some components are maintained by the system’s designated O&M contractor. Check with the Edison Subarea Board before hiring a contractor to determine who is responsible for the work and whether you need to work with the designated O&M contractor.
Before scheduling septic pumping, inspection, maintenance, or repairs, ask the company what, specifically, is included in the quoted price.
A septic service can include different tasks depending on your system and the work you need. For an individual OSS, a company may pump the tank, inspect the tank and drainfield, check filters, pumps, floats, and alarms, or perform minor maintenance and repairs. If your property is connected to the Edison LOSS, the system’s O&M contractor follows its own inspection and maintenance requirements, which can include inspecting the tank, checking filters and floats, and determining whether pumping is needed.
Ask for a clear list of what the service includes and what could result in an additional charge. This can help you compare companies and avoid surprises later.
Ask for a written, itemized estimate so you know exactly what you’re paying for before work begins.
Also ask what could cause the final cost to change, whether there are any additional fees you should know about, and whether the company will contact you before doing work that isn’t included in the estimate. For properties connected to the Edison LOSS, also ask whether the charge is coming from the septic company you hired or through the community system. The Edison Subarea Board sets the system’s rates and fees, so not every LOSS-related charge is simply a contractor’s price.
If you’re comparing septic companies in Bow-Edison, an itemized estimate makes it easier to compare services and prices accurately. A lower quote isn’t necessarily a better deal if it doesn’t include the same work.
Keep records of all septic inspections, pumping, maintenance, and repairs performed on your property. Ask the company what documentation you’ll receive and whether they report the work to Skagit County Public Health.
These records provide a history of your septic system’s maintenance and can become particularly important when you want to sell your property. Skagit County requires an O&M inspection within six months before transferring a property with an on-site sewage system, and the inspection report must be provided to both the buyer and the Health Officer.
The Edison LOSS has its own ongoing inspection and maintenance program. Ask how work on the property is documented and whether records are submitted to the Edison system or Skagit County, and keep a copy for your own records.
Every septic system is a little different, and knowing what you need before work begins can save time, money, and frustration.
Lil John Sanitary Services provides septic inspection and pumping throughout Skagit County, including Bow-Edison, Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley.
Have questions? Call 360-398-9828 or schedule an OSS inspection or pumping online.small problems become expensive failures fast.
Septic work generally requires the appropriate authorization, but it isn’t one universal “septic company license”; it depends on the type of work. Washington requires septic pumpers and installers to be approved by the local health department, while designers and professional engineers must hold the appropriate state license. Maintenance and O&M requirements can also vary by system and local health jurisdiction.
Washington State Department of Health recommends contacting at least three septic professionals before choosing one. Comparing multiple estimates can help you see whether companies recommend different services or charge for different parts of the job.
Yes. Edison operates a Large On-Site Septic System (LOSS) that serves multiple properties through a shared collection and treatment system. Individual properties have septic tanks, including gravity and STEP configurations, and wastewater from those tanks enters the community system.
You don’t necessarily have to hire the same company for the repair. Ask the inspector to explain the problem and recommended repair, and consider getting another estimate before approving significant work.
At Lil John Sanitary Services, we’ve spent over 60 years serving families across Bellingham and the surrounding area. We know this region, its soils, its weather, and its county regulations — because this is our community too.
