King County may begin charging a fee to homeowners with septic systems in an effort to fund an oversight program and improve water quality in Puget Sound.

The King County Board of Health passed a resolution last month that calls for the county to collaborate with local jurisdictions on identifying all septic systems in King County and to seek funding to oversee all of the systems.

A proposal that would establish fees to fund that oversight is expected this summer, according to Katherine Cortes, a senior legislative analyst with the King County Council.

Hilary Karasz, a spokesperson for King County’s public health department, said that before and after fees are set, officials will reach out to stakeholders, a process that will likely begin this month.

Some early indications were that the fees would be set at $40, but Cortes said no amount has yet been determined. She noted it is possible fees may be tied to property values or that a low-income allowance may be provided.

On Vashon, new fees would affect the majority of homeowners, as most residences have septic systems. The Vashon Sewer District serves fewer than 450 homes, businesses and public buildings, according to Robin Thomas, the office manager with the sewer district. The remainder of island homes and businesses rely on septic systems.

Vashon has a long history of pollution related to inadequate septic systems, and in recent years county officials have made a large effort to bring homes, especially those near the shoreline, into compliance.

However, the problem of waste leaking into the region’s waterways and Puget Sound extends beyond Vashon. County officials estimate some 20,000 septic systems were installed before modern safety standards and may result in more than 1 billion gallons of insufficiently treated wastewater annually. This latest effort aims to bring an end to that source of pollution.

— Susan Riemer