How does Tillamook County determine what type of septic system must be installed?
Tillamook County maintains a contract with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) which enables personnel employed by the Tillamook County Community Development Department, On-Site Sanitation Division to administer and regulate the State mandated requirements for the installation of new and repair septic systems. Part of this administration and regulation is associated with the proper siting and installation of a septic system as it applies to the soil and site conditions within the parcel boundaries and directly surrounding the parcel boundaries of a proposed or existing development site. Establishing the proper septic system for installation within the bounds of a parcel requires that test pits must be dug in the area of the proposed absorption field installation site. Oregon does not perform percolation tests for the installation of septic systems as is common in other states. Direct observation of the soil profile and close attention to features in the soil indicating
