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Sewer Connection

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1. My septic tank works fine, so why do I have to connect to the sewer system?

To eliminate the possibility of the effluent (partially treated sewage from your septic tank and drain field) from leaching into groundwater. Each property is required by County Code to connect to the sewer and abandon their septic tank within one year of being notified of the availability of sewer service.

2. What happens if I do not connect?

Failure to comply with the requirement to connect to sewer by the deadline will cause our office to turn the matter over to the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney for legal action.

3. Can a contractor "mark-up" the cost of the sewer connection permit?

Spokane County does not get involved in what a contractor charges you for the permit(s) or any other aspect of your contract. We suggest that you get at least three written bids prior to signing a contract for your sewer connection.

4. Can I do the sewer work myself?

Yes, the sewer connection work can be performed by the property owner provided that the owner attends an on-site consultation with Wastewater System Division personnel prior to doing the work. Signed agreement to the consultation is required prior to permit issuance. The property owner cannot perform work within the public right-of-way. There are significant potential risks related to digging and working in trenches and Spokane County recommends the property owner give careful consideration to the risks and liability before undertaking this work.

5. Can I drain my swimming pool into the sewer?

No. The Spokane County sewer system is designed and intended for sanitary sewer usage only. Draining swimming pools into the system would reduce the capacity in the collection lines and the capacity in the treatment plants. Your monthly sewer bill is based on water usage in your home. A single family dwelling is billed based on an average monthly water usage of 800 cubic-feet. Discharging your swimming pool would exceed the amount of usage you are billed for.

6. Can I have a RV dump on my parcel?

Yes, if it is located on your residential property, but you need to discuss this with a Wastewater System Division staff person prior to construction / installation. The RV dump cannot be used to serve an RV or mobile home that serves as a residence. It is only allowed for occasional use by the owner of the property and cannot be used as a community or family RV dump. If it is to be used as a commercial RV Dump, plans would have to be submitted to the Spokane County Wastewater System Division for approval and sewer connection fees and usage fees would have to be determined and satisfied.

7. Can I pipe floodwater from my basement or foundation drains into the sewer?

No. The Spokane County sewer system is designed and intended for sanitary sewer usage only. Pumping floodwater from your basement or foundation drains into the system would reduce the capacity in the collection lines and the capacity in the treatment plants. Your monthly sewer bill is based on water usage in your home. A single family dwelling is billed based on an average monthly water usage of 800 cubic-feet. Discharging sump pumps or foundation drains would exceed the amount of usage you are billed for.

8. Can I pipe the roof runoff into the sewer?

No. This answer is similar to the above answer pertaining to swimming pools. In addition, roof runoff is considered stormwater, and Washington State Law prohibits the injection of stormwater into a sanitary sewer system.

9. Can I put a floor drain in my shop / garage and connect it to the sewer?

Usually not. The Spokane County Wastewater System Division reviews these requests on a case by case basis. If allowed, you will probably be required to install a sand trap and an oil-water separator to prevent soils and oil from entering the Spokane County Sanitary Sewer System.

10. Can my next-door neighbor and I share a common trench with our sewer pipes?

Yes, but first, a private sewer easement must be established and the easement document must be recorded with the Spokane County Auditor's Office. A copy of that easement document must be provided to the Wastewater System Division before a sewer connection permit will be issued.

11. Does my septic tank have to be removed?

No, it can remain in place. A licensed septic tank pumper must remove the contents of the tank, and your excavation contractor is required to fill the empty tank with sand, pea gravel, or clean native material. If the septic tank is not filled at the time of sewer connection and inspection, a separate permit and inspection is required by the Spokane Regional Health District for abandonment of the septic tank.

12. How should I go about hiring a side sewer contractor?

View this document on how to hire a contractor.

13. How long is a sewer permit good for?

Sewer connection permits expire 12 months from date of issuance.

14. How much does it cost for a contractor to connect my property to sewer?

The cost varies depending on how much digging is involved and if the residence or business connection has basement facilities. The Wastewater System Division recommends that at least 3 written bids be obtained from licensed sewer excavation contractors. Most residential connections cost in the range of $3,000 to $5,000. If there is significant landscaping or pavement that the contractor is required to restore, the cost can increase substantially.

In addition to the connection costs, each property is required to pay a Capital Facilities Rate (CFR) to Spokane County, which covers a share of the cost of constructing the collection sewers, interceptor sewers, pumping stations and treatment facilities.

15. I have a large enough parcel to subdivide. What are the sewer service requirements?

Current policy allows a 4-inch sewer service to serve a single family home or a duplex. A 6-inch sewer service will serve 3 single family homes, or a duplex and 1 single family home. The service requirements for developments in excess of 3 lots and high-density developments may require design by a licensed engineer and are subject to review by the Wastewater System Division. 

16. What does a sewer connection permit cost?

As of April 1, 2019 the sewer connection permit fee is $130 plus a $27.12 application fee, for a total of $157.12 for each building connecting to the sewer. A separate sewer connection permit is required for each tax parcel. If each side of a duplex is located on its own parcel, a permit is required for each side. A parcel with multiple buildings will be charged a sewer connection permit fee for each building connecting to the sewer. All buildings on a single parcel can be included on a single connection permit. The sewer connection permit fee and the application fee are subject to future increases.

17. What happens if I do not have the money to connect?

If you meet applicable low-income thresholds, you may qualify for assistance. Please call us at 509-477-3604 to inquire.

To apply for an Extension of Time for sewer connection, please contact us at 509-477-3604. Although an extension may be granted, you will still be required to connect to the sewer.

18. When do I have to complete my connection to the sewer system?

The Wastewater System Division sends notification letters to property owners establishing the mandatory one-year connection period and connection deadline for their property. If you have any questions relative to the connection status of your property or your connection deadline, please call the Wastewater System Division at 509-477-3604.

19. Where is my sewer connection (stub)?

The Wastewater System Division has records for sewer stub locations and can mail, email, fax or in some instances describe the location over the phone. Drawings of the sewer stub location as well as the sewer pipe connection for the building can be viewed on the Wastewater System Division website via the Sewer Connections button.

20. Why do I need a permit to connect to the sewer?

When your property is connected to the sewer system, a Spokane County inspector generates a Sewer Connection Inspection Report with a drawing showing where the sewer line(s), fittings, clean-outs, etc. are located in the event those items need to be located in the future for repairs, additions, or other improvements to the property. In addition, the sewer inspector observes the actual connection to make sure that it complies with Spokane County standards. Revenue from sewer connection permit fees pays for the cost of inspecting your sewer connection and all of the necessary data and record keeping pertaining to how and when your property was connected to the Spokane County Sewer System.

21. Why does the monthly sewer service fee keep going up?

The increase in monthly sewer service fees is necessary to cover operating cost for the collection systems and treatment plants. Also, the County needs to fund significant capital improvement projects at the wastewater treatment plants that are necessary to meet stringent regulatory requirements for protection of water quality in the Spokane River.

22. Will Spokane County complete my sewer connection for me?

No, the County will not perform work on private property to connect a structure to the stub at the property line.

If a property has a dryline sewer from the structure to the property line, the street end of the dryline sewer may be connected to the sewer main as part of the sewer construction in the right of way. The property owner still must complete the connection at the house to divert sewage through the dryline and complete the abandonment of the septic tank. A sewer connection permit is still required to complete the connection.

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Sewer Billing

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1. When is my monthly bill due?

Payments of all charges on the sewer bill are due by the 25th day of each month or the following business day should the 25th fall on a weekend or holiday.

If the charges on a monthly sewer bill are not paid when due, there shall be added to the charges a one time late payment penalty of 10% of the latest billed amount. Additionally, 8% interest per year will be applied to all sewer charges that have not been paid by the due date from the date due until paid.

If you are concerned about your monthly billing statement, please contact our office in Spokane at 509-477-3604 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Fridays (excluding Holidays).

2. Where do I mail my payment?

For regular payments, mail them to the Environmental Services Department at:

Spokane County Environmental Services
P.O. Box 2355
Spokane, WA 99210-2355

For CFR, GFC, SCC, partial payments and payoffs, please call our office at (509) 477-3604

3. How do I change my address for my sewer bill?

Sewer Billing Address Change Request This is for current property owners to change or update their mailing address for their sewer bills/statements. 

If you are a property owner needing to add a tenant or property manager, please choose and fill out the proper authorization letter located here Sewer Billing Forms.

4. When are the monthly sewer bills mailed?

Charges for the sewer service are billed to customers on a monthly basis, during the first 5 business days of the month.

5. What are the current sewer charges and rates?

Learn more from our page on Sewer Bill monthly Charges. 

6. What is a Reduced Rate Residence?

It is a 20% discount of the monthly sewer service fees for a qualifying senior or disabled property owner's single-family residence or duplex dwelling unit. 

To qualify, the property owner must first have an active property tax exemption for that residence. Please contact our office once you have an active property tax exemption.

Please contact the Assessor's Office for property tax exemption information.

Assessor's Office

7. What is a Sewer Service Fee?

The "Sewer Service Fee" is a monthly fee charged to all properties connected to the sewer system, and to those properties for which the established connection deadline has passed. The "Sewer Service Fee" is comprised of the Operation and Maintenance Fee and the Wastewater Treatment Plant Charge.

8. How is the monthly Operation and Maintenance charge calculated?

For additional information view our page at Sewer Bill monthly Charges. 

9. What is Operation and Maintenance?

"Operation and Maintenance" is the portion of the monthly Sewer Service Fee that is charged to defray the cost of operating, maintaining and repairing the system of sewerage. (8.08.1495)

10. What is a prepayment period for the Capital Facilities Rate?

The Prepayment Period is the 30-day period immediately prior to commencement of the Capital Facilities Rate (CFR) billing, wherein the property owner can prepay the entire CFR and avoid interest charges.

11. What is a Capital Facilities Rate?

The "Capital Facilities Rate", or "CFR", is that portion of the monthly sewer charges for a property within a sewer project (constructed in years 1997 through 2011) that is attributable to the costs of acquiring, constructing and installing the system of sewerage. The CFR assigned to a property is calculated on a per ERU basis.

The CFR charge is not an assessment and will not show up on a title search.

This charge will need to be disclosed by the owner to prospective buyers if you are preparing to sell the property. Please contact the Environmental Services Department to request a sewer summary form.

If you sell your property, the balance of the CFR may be paid off at the time of sale or may be assumed by the new owner.

12. What is a General Facilities Charge?

The "General Facilities Charge, or GFC," is a charge collected from all sewer customers to support regional components of the system. This includes the Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility, capacity purchased by the County in City of Spokane's Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, interceptor sewers, pump stations, and other components of the sewer system identified by the County as general facilities.

13. What is an Equivalent Residential Unit?

One Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) is equal to 800 cubic feet of metered water usage per month. Each single-family residence, mobile home (where two or less occupy the same parcel) and each half of a duplex building is deemed to represent one ERU. Each multi-family dwelling unit is deemed to represent 0.7 of an ERU. Each commercial unit and manufactured home park is assigned one ERU for each 800 cubic feet of metered non-irrigation water usage per month.

14. How is my payment credited to my account?

Payments are applied to the oldest unpaid charges.

15. What happens if I don't pay my monthly sewer bill?

If the charges on a monthly sewer bill are not paid when due, a one time late payment penalty of 10% of the latest billed amount are added to the charges.

Additionally, interest is attached and accrued on unpaid charges computed at a rate of 8% per annum starting on the next day after the billing due date until paid. Interest is computed on the entire unpaid balance.

Accounts that are in excess of 60 days delinquent may receive a past due statement and delinquency notice. The notice will be mailed to interested parties known to the Environmental Services Department (known parties may include Owner, Mortgage Company, Landlord and Occupant in the case of rental property) regarding the delinquent amount. The delinquency notice will list the amount of charges in arrears, and will explain that the customer must pay the charges within 30 days from the date of the notice to avoid a lien.

The lien will be filed for all delinquent rates, fees and/or charges due in accordance with Spokane County Ordinance 8.03.9040 (Payment-Delinquency-Lien). The lien amount will include late payment penalties together with accrued interest at 8% per annum from the date due until paid. The lien will attach and foreclose pursuant to RCW 36.94.150 and RCW 35.67.215. The County's sewerage lien shall attach for up to one year's delinquent charges without the necessity of any writing or recording of the lien with the County Auditor pursuant to RCW 36.94.150 and RCW 35.67.215. A lien for more than one year's delinquent sewer charges shall attach upon certification of the delinquent charges by the Environmental Services Department to the Spokane County Auditor. The Environmental Services Department may periodically amend these lien certifications.

All costs associated with filing and releasing of a lien, such as filing fees and administrative costs, together with the lien certification amounts, shall be paid to the Environmental Services Department prior to the release of the lien.

The monthly billing statements will show that a lien exists and will give the sum of all charges, for which a lien has been filed. The lien will be released upon payment in full.

Under the Revised Code of Washington, Spokane County may bring a foreclosure action against the property 60 days after the attachment of the lien.

16. Whose responsibility is it to make payments?

All sewer charges, fees, penalties and interest shall be paid by the property owner or by a tenant or agent whom the property owner has authorized in writing for the Environmental Services Department to bill. Each property owner shall remain fully responsible for all sewer charges, fees, penalties, and interest with respect to his/her property, whether such charges were incurred by or on account of him/herself or on account of some other person or business.

If you are the owner of rented or leased property and want to add a tenant/property management company and receive a courtesy copy of the monthly bill, please fill out the appropriate Letter of Authorization Form.

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Wastewater Operations and Maintenance

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1. What number do I call for a sewer spill, backup, or other sewer-related emergency?

If you are in the Spokane County Sewer Service Area, call the Wastewater Operations Center at 509-477-1984. For after-hours calls dial 509-459-9330. If you are in the City of Spokane Sewer Service Area call 509-625-7900.

2. How do I report a noisy or missing manhole lid?

Call 509-477-1984 during business hours.

3. There is water coming out of a storm drain lid or the catch basin is clogged on my street. Who do I call?

Call the County Public Works Department at 509-477-3600.

4. I have requested a utility locate. When will the sewer lines be marked?

Call 509-477-3604 to talk to an inspector.

5. Can I dump automotive, household chemicals or other materials down the drain?

No. Only normal strength residential wastewater may be discharged to the sanitary sewer system.

6. How do I report a blown toilet?

Contact the crew that is working in the street near your house or call 509-477-1984.

7. Why do blown toilets happen?

When our crews are cleaning the sewer mains they are using high-pressure hoses that spray water in the sewer main. This can cause high air pressure or negative air pressure in the sewer main and sewer service lines that connect to the house plumbing. If a house does not have adequate sewer vents, which are usually vented through the roof, the excess air pressure can cause water to be blown out of the toilets or p-traps in the home. If your toilet is blown, please contact the equipment operator or call 509-477-1984.

8. How often are the sanitary sewer main lines cleaned?

Usually once every three years. Some ‘problem areas’ may be cleaned more frequently if there are problems with grease buildup or other issues.

9. My sewer service line is broken or blocked. Who is responsible?

The home owner. The County is only responsible for maintaining the public sewer main. The sewer service line from the home to the sewer main in the street is privately owned and maintained by the owner of the house or business.

10. My basement was flooded with sewage. Who is responsible for cleaning it up?

It is usually the homeowner’s responsibility to clean up their home due to sewer backups. The County is not responsible unless it is proved that we were negligent in the maintenance or operation of the sewer system.

11. I can smell sewage in or around my home. What causes this?

Most times if you are smelling sewage in your home it is due to a p-trap that has dried out from lack of use. Run water down the drain to fill up the p-trap. Outside of the home, if the wind is right, you can sometimes smell sewage coming from the roof vents of your house or your neighbor’s house.

12. Why can’t I flush ‘flushable’ wipes?

These products, no matter how they are advertised, do not break down properly in the sewer collection system. They cause costly backups in the sewer mains and plug up pumps. All of this adds cost to operating the sewer system and takes time away from doing regular maintenance work.

13. How often are the sewer main lines inspected?

Usually once every 10 years. New sewer lines are inspected when they are installed and then again after paving. After it is verified that they were constructed properly the lines are conveyed to Spokane County and they are then maintained by the County.

14. My wedding ring was flushed down the toilet. Can the County get it back?

No. We cannot search for lost wedding rings or other valuables flushed down the toilet. You may try calling a plumber to help you look in the privately owned and maintained sewer service line between the house and the sewer main line in the street.

15. How do I request a pre-pave sewer inspection?

Call Environmental Services Sewer Planning & Engineering at 509-477-3604.

16. What if there is a dead deer in the road?

If it is a County road call 509-477-3600. For State roads call the Washington State Department of Transportation at 509-324-6000. In City of Spokane call 509-755-2489. In Spokane Valley call 509-921-1000. Dead deer on private property are, in most cases, the responsibility of the property owner. Call the WDFW for other game animal related questions at 509-892-1001.

17. How can I find out what water district I am in?

Go to http://cp.spokanecounty.org/scout/map/ and pick your parcel on the map. Then click the Districts tab.

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Solid Waste

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1. Who operates the North County and Valley transfer stations?

The Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System has contracted with Waste Connections of Washington, Inc. for operations, maintenance, transport, and disposal services of solid waste materials received at the North County and Valley Transfer Stations. The contract will ensure the continuous operation of both transfer stations that became part of the new Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System as of November 17, 2014.

2. What are the locations and hours of operation for the transfer stations?

See the upcoming changes to the hours of operation starting January 4th, 2021. Current addresses/hours of operation are:

1. The Spokane County North Transfer Station - 22123 N Elk-Chattaroy Road, Colbert, WA 99005 
2. The Spokane County Valley Transfer Station - 3941 N Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
3. The City of Spokane’s Waste-to-energy (WTE) Facility - 2900 S Geiger Blvd, Spokane, WA 99208

Hours of Operation

Winter Hours (November 1 through March 31): 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 7 days a week.  Seasonal Hours (April 1 through October 31): 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 7 days a week

For the City of Spokane’s Waste-to-energy facility’s hours of operation, current rate(s) information, and accepted materials, please visit the City of Spokane’s Waste-to-energy (WTE) Facility website. See the current information for the North and Valley transfer stations below:

3. What are the current fees at the transfer stations?

See the upcoming changes to the gate fee starting January 1st, 2021. 

Current rates and services:

Current Rate (Fees)	Trash: A minimum charge of $15 for first 280 pounds or $108.00 per ton, plus a $2 Environmental Programs Charge (EPC) per vehicle. Clean Green and Yard Waste Debris: A minimum charge of $8 for 300 pounds or $52.00 per ton, plus a $2 Environmental Programs Charge (EPC) per vehicle.
Services Offered	Trash disposal: Monday through Sunday * Recycling drop-off: Monday through Sunday HHW drop-off: Saturdays and Sundays only

* The Spokane County transfer stations are now requiring all recyclable items to be "source separated." For more information, visit our Recycling page.

For information on acceptable items at the Spokane County Transfer Stations, please visit our "Materials Accepted at Spokane County’s Transfer Stations" page.

4. What can I bring to the Spokane County Transfer Stations?

Items that can be dropped off at Transfer Stations include :

• Trash
• Recycling
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
• Yard/Food Waste
• Construction, Demolition, and Land Clearing Debris

For more information on acceptable items at the Transfer Stations, please visit our Materials Accepted at Spokane County’s Transfer Stations page or call the Regional Solid Waste Hotline at (509) 477-6880.

5. What can I recycle at the transfer stations?

Reducing waste by recycling is one of the Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System’s main objectives. There are many options for recycling in our area, and recycling can reduce your costs. Due to recent market shifts, sorted recyclables have a higher value than comingled recyclables. New cleanliness standards have been imposed on recycling worldwide, resulting in much higher processing costs for commingled recycling. With your help, we can bypass these unsustainable processing costs and keep recycling available for County residents at our transfer stations. We are asking residents for their help in returning to the practice (pre-2015) of sorting recyclables when dropping them off at the transfer stations. Each of these items will have to be sorted into their designated groups before drop-off:

• Glass
• Plastics, Nos. 1 and 2
• Flattened cardboard
• Magazines, cereal boxes, paper bags and egg cartons
• Colored paper and manila envelopes
• White office paper and newspaper
• Tin cans and scrap metal
• Aluminum cans

For more information about what you can and can’t recycle at the Spokane County transfer stations, please visit our Recycle Right, Spokane County! webpage.

6. How do I receive curbside garbage and recycling pickup?

In Spokane County, designated haulers provide residential and commercial garbage collection, recycling, and/or yard debris collection service in specific areas. All questions pertaining to curbside collection should be directed toward your service provider. The service provider will inform you of your collection day, services provided, and the cost of those services. For more information on who your designated hauler might be, please visit our Curbside Garbage and Recycling page.

7. How can I get a commercial account at the North County or Valley Transfer Station?

Businesses can apply for an account through Spokane County. Download and fill out this document to apply for a commercial solid waste account at the North or Valley transfer station(s).

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Water Resource Center

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1. What time is the Water Resource Center open?

Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm. Appointments are recommended to ensure staff availability.

2. Can I drop in or do I need to schedule a time to visit the Water Resource Center?

Drop ins are welcome but there may be other events occurring. Additionally, the Center is not staffed full time so you may be on your own with a self-guided tour. If you wish to schedule a time for a self-guided walk through, please call (509) 477-7579. For group visits and activities, visit our Water Resource Center home page. Click here...

3. Can educators/teachers bring classes to the Water Resource Center?

Yes! We encourage field trips to the Center where we provide water-related activities/lessons for groups of 10 or more. For Grade 4 and above, we also can provide walking tours of the County Water Reclamation Facility.

4. Return to Environmental Services Home Page

Return to Environmental Services Home Page

Click here

5. Go to Water Resource Center Home Page

Go to Water Resource Center Home Page Click here

6. I want to find information about an existing water well. Can you help me?

The best place to begin is the Washington State Well Log Viewer which is a service of the Washington State Department of Ecology. If you want to speak with someone in the East Region of the Department of Ecology, the Spokane number is (509) 329-3529.

Washington State Well Log Viewer

7. How do I find a list of Spokane area drinking water providers or locate my drinking water provider?

Visit this page to learn more and find a link to a water providers service area map.

Municipal Water Providers

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Water Resources

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1. How do I find a list of Spokane area drinking water providers or locate my drinking water provider?

Visit this page to learn more and find a link to a water providers service area map. Municipal Water Providers

2. I want to find information about an existing water well. Can you help me?

The best place to begin is the Washington State Well Log Viewer which is a service of the Washington State Department of Ecology. If you want to speak with someone in the East Region of the Department of Ecology, the Spokane number is (509) 329-3529. Washington State Well Log Viewer

3. What is the APA Fee I see on my property taxes?

The Aquifer Protection Area (APA) Fee is a voter-approved fee which helps to protect and preserve the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer which is the area's sole-source drinking water supply. Learn more...

4. What projects is Spokane County Water Resources currently working on?

Three (3) primary projects include Watershed Planning, Water Bank Development and Saltese Flats Wetland Restoration.

Learn more...