The Rosemere Neighborhood Association acquired a number of official reports from Clark County Health Department that pertain specifically to Burnt Bridge Creek. Within one report it states that the city cannot enforce actions to eliminate septic systems unless the Health Department declares a health emergency. This cannot happen until a current water quality test is performed to quantify the allegation that the creek is contaminated with human waste from septic systems, and that the contamination is 25 times the state warning levels. Several published reports have hypothesized that fecal contamination from septic spillage may be a main source of pollution in the Creek. The Rosemere Neighborhood Association considers Burnt Bridge Creek to be a bio-hazard situation, and something needs to be done immediately. Once the Health Department determines the level of threat, then agencies can move forward with containment in an expedient fashion. This is the way that the City can help to abide by the Clean Water Act as a responsible party to the contamination of the creek, which also effects Vancouver’s supply of drinking water.
The Rosemere Neighborhood Association has obtained a copy of a report from the Clark County Department of Public Works, updated in March of 1998, entitled “Burnt Bridge Creek Storm & Surface Water Utility; Historic Summary 1978-1997.” Following are a number points that have been culled from the report. Please note, the city disbanded the Burnt Bridge Creek Utility in about 1998.
Taken from the actual report:
Background:
Pollution has taken its toll on Burnt Bridge Creek for decades. Public warnings against swimming or drinking creek water date back as far as 1936 when a child became sick with Typhoid after playing in the creek (there have also been incidents of Polio). For years there was talk about cleaning up Burnt Bridge Creek , although no action was taken even though the creek was used for recreational purposes…In the 1970′s concern over the pollution of Vancouver Lake again turned attention back to Burnt Bridge Creek. Grant funding was available for the rehabilitation of the lake, but not without a plan to clean up the source of the pollution…Burnt Bridge Creek. This requirement, along with growing concern over stormwater run-off and urban flooding associated with the Creek prompted both City of Vancouver and County government to consider a clean water program for Burnt Bridge Creek.
The utility was designed to set the this standard in particular: To establish connection to sanitary sewer system as soon as possible for all developments in the basin currently served by septic tanks.
In 1979, the Board of the Utility acknowledged these primary goals among others: To improve the water quality of Burnt Bridge Creek; to achieve water quality improvement as efficiently as possible; to establish priorities and to deal immediately with the primary contributors to the problem; to stop compounding the problems that already exist in the basin.
The Utility Board also developed the following work program items: To complete regulatory tasks pertaining to the Vancouver Lake Grant, future development, septic systems, and agricultural practices in the basin. To identify the number and location of all existing septic systems in the basin, to identify the linkage between the septic systems and water quality problems, and to begin enforcement of a mandatory program to require elimination of septic systems in areas contributing to water quality control problems.
In the early 1990′s, a new series of water resource protection ordinances were adopted by the county to protect Burnt Bridge Creek and other waterbodies The Wetlands Protection Ordinance (Jan 1992), the Erosion Control Ordnance (Feb 1993), the Stormwater Control Ordinance (Jan 1994) and the Vegetation Clearing Ordinance (May 1994).
Responsibilities for Burnt Bridge Creek were transferred from the County to the City of Vancouver in 1996.
The existence of septic systems within the basin was immediately recognized as a major source of pollution in Burnt Bridge Creek. Soil conditions in many areas of the basin do little to slow the flow of septic effluent into the creek.
In 1981, the work program called for primary pollution sources to be identified and programs established to connect those failing septic tanks to public sewer. It was recognized that this would be a phased in connection program, and several years were expected to accomplish this task.
IN 1982 the Health District estimate the number of septic systems in the basin at 9,587, calculated from the recorded number of sewer hookups with the City. The method of calculation was felt to be most accurate, short of dye testing each household, which was seen to be prohibitive at the time. In 1986, these figures were revised to approximately 7,500 septic systems.
IN 1992 the Utility completed an extensive septic tank inventory using dye testing to further identify the location of septic systems (see Rosemere septic maps). As a result, it was determined of the 22,251 developed properties in the basin, 6,999 were using septic. Of this number, 1, 596 had public sewer available.
Through cooperative efforts of the Utility, the City, and the Health District, over 900 septic systems have been eliminated in the basin. Many of these were in the three worst areas suspected of fecal contamination.
Homeowners on septic systems cannot legally be required to hook up to sewer without a declaration of a public health emergency by the Health District, which has not been issued. However, as a penalty, they are billed at the same rate as sewer customers. Funds collected as penalties are used to fund the Septic Tank Elimination program initiated in 1992 by the City.
The Septic Tank elimination program provides monetary assistance to households wishing to connect to public sewer. Due to the popularity of this program, failing systems are prioritized first. Only those households with sewer lines are eligible for this program. The next step for the City is to extend sewer lines to all other areas in their service district, however this will take and estimated 20 years to complete.
Since 1980, 300-4000 water quality tests have been performed annually by the Health District, contracting with the utility. (since the utility was disbanded, these tests are no longer being conducted). Up to 13 sites are sampled monthly for a range of chemical, physical and biological characteristics as well as for stream dwelling bugs.
According to 1994 BBC water quality report, water quality in Burnt Bridge Creek still exceeds federal and state standards.
The Utility gained $12,785,498 in revenue from 1981-1997, mostly from penalty fees paid by homeowners with septic. During this time, the utility expended 8% on water quality, 35% on projects, 20% on property acquisition, 15% on maintenance, and 8% on fee collection. In this list of significant projects for these years, septic abatement does not appear.
The Summary of Goals reads: Success has been minimal in lowering pollution levels, in part due to limited funding and the effects of intense and rapid development within the basin.
Here is a list of other reports that the Rosemere Neighborhood Association has acquired:
1) Burnt Bridge Creek Water Quality Data Trend Analysis Sep 1998, prepared for City of Vancouver by EnviroData Solutions
2) Burnt Bridge Creek Basin Progress Report, 1988, Department of Public Services, Clark County
3) Burnt Bridge Creek Basin Septic Tank Report, Jan 1992, Prepared by Clark County Storm & Surface Water Utility
4) Burnt Bridge Creek Drainage Basin Storm and Surface Water Utility, Septic Tank Elimination Discussion Paper, Dec 1987
5) Burnt Bridge Creek Drainage Utility, 1985 Annual Report, Clark County Department of Public Works
6) Burnt Bridge Creek Drainage Utility, 1983 Annual Report, Clark County Department of Public Works
