STEP/STEF Sewer Information

If your sewer alarm goes off during our regular business hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday please call the Operations Center at 360-817-1563, or City Hall at 360-817-1560. After hours, weekends or holidays call our monitoring service at 360-737-0592.

Identifying The System On Your Property

The Homeowner can identify the system installed at their residence by looking for two large green plastic lids in their lawn or landscaping, and to see if there is an alarm panel located on the outside of their residence. If one or both of these are present, the home is serviced by a STEP system.

If your home or business has a septic tank on the property, it is tied into the City of Camas sewer main as a part of the municipal wastewater treatment system. Solids collect in the septic tanks and are pumped every 6-10 years by the City. The wastewater is filtered and sent out to the wastewater system. Residents can protect the wastewater treatment system, home plumbing systems, and the environment by not flushing items that do not degrade readily. Even products that claim to be "flushable", such as wipes, or feminine hygiene products, are not suitable for septic tanks or wastewater systems because they do not break down. Please flush wisely to protect pipes and the environment.

Ownership Of The STEP System (City Of Camas Ordinance 13.62.060)

After inspection and acceptance of an installed STEP system on residential property, the City shall be the owner of all components of the STEP system with the exception of the sewer line from the structure to the tank, which shall be owned by the property owner. The City will be responsible for maintaining the components of the STEP system owned by the City, and in addition will be responsible for pumping the STEP/STEF tank and disposing of waste material when required. The owner will be responsible for maintaining the sewer line connecting the tank to the structure on the homeowner’s property. The owner will also be responsible for paying for all electrical costs associated with the operation of the STEP system.

The City and its employees need to have access to the homeowner’s property for the purpose of maintaining and inspecting the STEP system.

Damage To The STEP Tanks

The cost of repairing any damage to a STEP/STEF system which has resulted from the negligence, gross negligence, or intentional acts of the owner shall be the responsibility of the owner. This responsibility includes any clogging which may result due to improper use of the system by the homeowner. (City of Camas Ordinance 13.62.070)

Landscaping Over STEP Tanks

The green riser lids cannot be covered by landscaping. The riser lid to the access chamber must be accessible at all times to ensure proper and timely emergency and/or maintenance response to the system. Accessible means visible to the naked eye, and with a minimum of one-inch separation from the top of the riser lid to the adjacent ground surface. (City of Camas Ordinance 13.62.080)

The Top Five Most Asked Questions About Your STEP System:

Is my residence tied into City sewer? Yes, even though you have a septic tank you are still tied into the City of Camas’ sewer main.
What is my responsibility? The City of Camas maintains the tank pump control panel and line leaving the tank going to the street. The homeowner maintains the line between the house and the tank.
How often are the tanks pumped? The tanks are pumped every six to ten years. The City of Camas is responsible for the pumping and routine maintenance of the tank. The homeowner should not put cleaning additives into their tank
Why do the round, green sewer lids have to be exposed? The City of Camas maintenance workers need to know at all times where these lids are located so they can perform routine maintenance and respond quickly to emergency service calls
What do I do if the alarm goes off? Call the Operations Center during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. at 360-817-1563. After hours, weekends or holidays call our monitoring service at 360-737-0592. Please call immediately after silencing the alarm to prevent sewage back up at the residence.