Septic to Sewer Conversions

Connecting to the City of Vancouver, WA Sewer System

           In recent years, there has been some discussion about the benefits of a direct connection to the city sewer over problematic septic systems. This debate found its way to the cities of Washington, particularly the Seattle and Vancouver areas. The efficiency of individual septic systems in Washington heavily depends on their design, their use, and most importantly their installation planning and process. Septic systems can lose their effectiveness with aging systems that had poor maintenance or were installed with outdated technologies, all of this resulted in an increase of concern about the effects on the environment that these factors cause. Because of these issues, many cities established incentive programs and strongly recommend their residents that are using a septic system to upgrade. For example, the City of Vancouver, Washington Sewer Connection Incentive Program provides easy and affordable plans for residents to connect to Vancouver city sewer.

           You might ask: "Why would I need to bother connecting to my city's centralized sewer system if I have a functioning septic system?" Having a septic system that you regularly maintain and take care of and that has been properly designed and installed on your property at a strategic location should pose little concern about issues with the system. However, if you are already troubled by constant problems and are paying hefty fees, there might be a reason for bypassing the system by directly connecting to the sewer. There are also many advantages to be connected to the city's sewer. Septic systems for decades have provided a solution to rural developments; in fact, our septic systems are still the most affordable, yet practical solution in a rural area. However, in an urban setting, a centralized sewer system provides a better answer to the potential drawbacks of septic systems. As time goes on, aging septic systems require maintenance and upgrading with the expanding community. In fact, in new developments with sewer lines, older homes are required to upgrade to connect to the sewer. The reality is that septic systems have a history of not being maintained and thus have high failure rates. They start malfunctioning and tanks start leaking. In addition to that, with more and more developments and expanding, septic systems become even harder to reach and harder to maintain. This might seem as something minuscule and insignificant; however, practically, there are a few negative, eye-opening effects. Malfunctioning septic systems due to negligence make up the third most common source for ground water contamination. In addition, failing septic systems produce an unfavorable effect on public health, contributing to about 168,000 viral and 34,000 bacterial illnesses each year. Studies also show that septic systems constitute to about 32% of affected shellfish growing areas decreasing production as well as making up 36% of all impaired ocean shoreline miles. These are only a few of the factors that make up the reasons as to why faulty septic systems should be upgraded if such an option is available. Today, by expanding and reaching out to their suburban areas, cities offer the convenience of connecting your home to the city's sewer system.

           Is it hard to upgrade? We at Seppanen work with all kinds of previously installed systems as well as new developments. In some rare cases, the plumbing network within a home needs to be changed in order for us to connect it to the city sewer. We work with reputable contractors that can help you complete this in a reliable and efficient way, preparing a compatible scene for us to work with. If you are interested in finding out more on the topic, feel free to contact us for more information on how to connect to Vancouver city sewer.

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