Celebrating clean water funding with SepticSmart Week

September 14-18 is SepticSmart Week, an annual event focused on educating homeowners and communities on the proper care and maintenance of their septic systems. Since 1/3 of Washington homes rely on septic systems, we are focused on making sure affordable options exist to repair or replace your septic system. Check out our blog on septic system basics if you’re new to this topic.

Septic systems are typically used in areas where a sewer system is not available, and while they are a great option when well-maintained, repairs can be expensive. In Washington, a new septic system can cost upwards of $45,000 and are funded exclusively by the homeowner, making costs disproportionately high compared to households served by sewer systems.

Partnering with Craft3

Ecology partners with local communities, governments, and nonprofit lender Craft3 to offer Clean Water Loans for homeowners to help repair or replace their septic system. In some cases, the loans can also be used to help connect to sewer systems.

Since the loan program’s launch in 2016, more than 2,500 septic systems have been repaired or replaced statewide, an investment of more than $70 million.

Loan interest rates are based on the area median income and range between 3.49% and 6.49%. With financial support from Ecology, Craft3 provides grants and low-interest loans to repair and replace an average of 250 septic systems every year. Earlier this year, we announced $20 million in continued funding for Craft3.

Success stories

In addition to our partnership with Craft3, we work with other partners throughout the state to address septic system needs.

Clark Conservation District Poop Smart Clark Reimbursement Program

In 2025, Clark Conservation District successfully launched the Poop Smart Clark Pollution Identification and Correction Program to help reduce bacterial contamination in the Lower, Middle, and East Fork Lewis River watersheds. This county-wide effort provides outreach and financial assistance for septic inspections, maintenance, repair, and replacement. The program expanded beyond initial expectations as the conservation district leveraged additional funding, and strengthened community outreach. Since the program has been an effective way to protect Clark County’s waterways, the conservation district secured additional funding to continue growing the program.

With this new round of funding, the program will reimburse 350 septic inspections and minor repairs and will provide grants up to $20,000 for major repairs or replacements for at least five septic systems.

Grant County Conservation District septic to sewer conversion

This funding reimburses up to 20 homeowners for sewer connection costs, including pumps, tanks, piping, electrical work, and materials.

Old or failing septic systems are one of the main ways that nutrients can enter a waterway and cause harmful algal blooms. Grant County and the City of Moses Lake teamed up to reduce nutrient pollution entering Moses Lake — an important step to addressing harmful algal blooms that have affected the lake for decades. This project focused on installing new sewer infrastructure along Westshore Drive to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners that live on the lake’s shoreline to connect to the city’s sewer system.

Learn more

To learn more about other on-site septic system funded work and resources, check out our sewage system projects webpage. Visit Craft3 Clean Water Loans to find current interest rates and eligibility requirements.

If your septic system needs repair or replacement, reach out! Ecology staff and our partners are here to help you have a functioning septic system and protect public health and the environment.

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