About two months before your renewal date you will receive a Septic System Operational Certificate packet through the mail. It will include the following:

• Renewal Letter outlining the steps to renew the septic system operational certificate for the property
• Fee Invoice - If your system is outside of the Henderson and Nisqually Marine Recovery Areas
• Coupon for Pumping - Includes List of Septic System Pumpers
• Consumer Tips​
• A card with information about out septic system self-inspection workshop for those living within the Henderson and Nisqually Marine Recovery Areas

Inspection  A certified septic professional or certified homeowner must submit a complete inspection of the septic system to OnlineRME.com.

Some of the systems within the Henderson and Nisqually Reach marine recovery areas qualify for the self-inspection program. Most gravity and pressure systems qualify, to check if your system qualifies contact our office at 360-867-2626.

• Pumping  The tank must be pumped ONLY if the scum and sludge in the tank are thick enough to need pumping or if the certificate becomes overdue.
• Sampling and Maintenance Contract  Some complex, shared, or large septic systems require fecal sampling or contracts with a certified monitoring specialist. Your renewal notice will tell you what type of system you have and if you need additional sampling or contracts.
• Fees  Some systems located outside the Henderson and Nisqually Reach Marine Recovery Areas must pay their renewal fees directly to the department. Systems in the Henderson and Nisqually Reach areas pay their renewal fees with their property taxes.
• Dye Testing  High risk septic systems in the Henderson and Nisqually Reach areas require periodic dye testing for operational certificate renewal.

After receiving the septic system operational certificate renewal notice, you will need to contact a septic system professional and schedule the inspection. If you are certified to self-inspect your system you will follow the instructions in your letter on completing the inspection and submitting the inspection report online.

Your septic service company will submit the inspection report to OnlineRME. OnlineRME is a public database where you can look up the septic reports submitted by your professional.

The tank must be pumped if the scum and sludge in the septic tank are thick enough to need pumping or if the certificate becomes overdue.

Some complex, shared, or large septic systems require fecal sampling or contracts with a monitoring specialist. Your renewal notice will tell you what type of system you have and if you need additional sampling or contracts.

Septic Professional Lists

A septic professional or certified homeowner must submit their inspection reports to OnlineRME.com.

• Your septic service company will submit the inspection report via OnlineRME. OnlineRME is a public database where you can look up the septic reports submitted by your professional.
• The tank must be pumped if the scum and sludge in the tank are thick enough to need pumping or if the certificate becomes overdue.
• How to measure scum and sludge

The tank must be pumped if the scum and sludge in the tank are thick enough to need pumping or if the certificate becomes overdue.

Here's how to measure Stick Test Brochure

​We will send you reminder notices that your inspection is due. Make sure your mailing address is correct with the Thurston County Assessors office to ensure you get your renewal notice.

• The first reminder notice is sent two months before your inspection is due.
• A second reminder notice is sent one month after your septic inspection is due.
• A non-conforming notice is sent one month after the second notice. This is the last notice you will receive before your certificate becomes non-conforming.
• Four months after your inspection is due, your certificate will become non-conforming. After non-conforming status, you will receive a reminder notice every year that your septic system operational certificate is due until the system is brought back into conformance.

The certification renewal process for non-conforming systems requires the following:

• Septic system must be pumped and inspected by a septic professional within the past year. If the pump and inspection reports are older than 1 year the system will need to have a current inspection and pump report.
• An application for Field Inspection must be completed and submitted to the Environmental Health office along with any outstanding renewal fees (if your system is in the County-Wide program). See Guidelines for process details.
• Once the application, outstanding fees, and pump and inspection report are received a staff person from our office may complete a field inspection.

​An extension for more time will often be granted at the request of an owner or property manager. Contact us if you need more time to complete the steps for your operational certificate renewal.

Call 360-867-2626 or email enhealth@co.thurston.wa.us.

Become certified to do your own septic system inspections!

Certification Qualifications:

1. Have one of the following septic system types:
   • Conventional Gravity
   • Pressure Distribution
   • Mound
   • Glendon® Biofilter, and;
2. Access to a computer to view videos and submit inspection report online. 

Online Videos and In-Person Workshop including Field Test Review & Training

Homeowner Septic Self-Inspection Certification Class

Registration Required: To register or if you want to check if you are qualified, call the O&M program at 360-867-2626.

Each September, our Public Health Educators hold several classes throughout Thurston County on the basics of living on a septic system. 

Check out our Events Calendar for current workshops!