Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Program

Photo: PIC Program Lead, Brooke Zibell, monitoring water quality at an outfall. 

The focus of the Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Program is identifying and correcting sources of bacterial pollution coming into Tribal marine waters. Swinomish Water Quality works closely with other local, state, tribal, and federal PIC partners in a collaborative effort to reduce pollutants in our waterways and improve the status of shellfish growing areas. The PIC program achieves this through source tracking and working directly with property and home-owners to address pollution sources.

Swinomish PIC Septic Financial Assistance Program

The Swinomish Tribe’s Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Financial Assistance Program can support homeowners in maintaining and improving their on-site septic systems (OSS). The main purpose of this financial assistance program is to prevent and reduce fecal bacteria pollution to Tribal marine waters. For qualifying properties, the PIC Septic Financial Assistance Program can provide 100% financial assistance for OSS services, including:

• Inspections
• Pump-outs
• Dye tests
• Possible minor repairs (pending approval by the PIC program and funding availability)

This program contracts with a local septic servicer to provide homeowners with direct services, which means no out-of-pocket costs. However, you must be approved for financial assistance before services are completed. Swinomish PIC cannot refund you for services that have already been completed.  Financial assistance will be allocated on a first come first served basis, and at the discretion of the PIC program. Financial assistance is available while funding lasts or until August 1, 2027. To learn more please fill out the online Septic Financial Assistance Inquiry Form or bzibell [at] swinomish.nsn.us (contact us).

Potential Pollution Sources

The PIC Program works to address common sources of fecal pollution including, but not limited, to:

• Failing septic systems, which may look like:
  • Standing water or damp spots near the septic tank or drainfield
  • Foul odors around the septic tank or drainfield
  • Bright green, spongey and lush grass over the septic tank or drainfield, especially obvious during dry season
  • Algal blooms in nearby water bodies
  • High levels of nitrates or coliform bacteria in your water well
• Excess dog waste in areas where people often bring dogs, such as at parks, or beaches
  • This includes the neglect of dog waste management in one’s yard
• Excess wildlife waste, which may be of natural causes or human causes, such as feeding or baiting animals and therefore creating continual congregations of wildlife in one area
• Improper waste management of domesticated animals, such as chicken waste at a hobby farm
• Illicit sewer connections
• Leaking sewer connections

PIC Fecal Pollution Reporting Tool

Please use this form to report any sources of fecal pollution you may have noticed in your area. Common sources of fecal coliform pollution include: human waste from septic systems, pet waste, excess wildlife (from baiting or feeding) and livestock manure.

We will look over each report and follow-up if it is deemed a potential water quality issue. 

Alternatively, you can contact our PIC Program Lead Brooke Zibell if you have concerns about a contamination source on your property or around the Reservation. 

On-Site Septic (OSS) System Financial Assistance

Here are additional financial assistance resources:

• Craft3 Clean Water Loans: Craft3 is a nonprofit community development organization offering septic repair or replacement financing to those in the Pacific Northwest.
• Swinomish Housing Division Homeowners Assistance Funds (HAF): The HAF is available to tribal homeowners to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and homeowner displacement for those who have experienced financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) List of Funding Sources for Your Septic System: Learn about additional federal, state, tribal and local funding sources for your septic system that you may qualify for.

How to Be Septic Smart as a Homeowner

The SepticSmart Program is led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a nation-wide initiative to share information on the stewardship of septic systems.