Island County Public Health Department

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Island County Public Health Department We promote the health and well-being of our unique island communities.

We promote the health and well-being of our unique island communities.

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Pumping your septic system's tanks is vital to the lifespan of your system. The goal of pumping is to remove the solids,...
10/26/2026

Pumping your septic system's tanks is vital to the lifespan of your system. The goal of pumping is to remove the solids, fats, oils, and grease from your tanks. A system that is not pumped regularly will eventually fail.

What Happens If You Don't Pump?
- Solids accumulate and can make their way out to the drain field – leading to premature failure.
- Can experience a backflow of sewage into household drains.

How Often Should You Pump Your Tanks?
- When solids/grease make up for 30% of the tank’s capacity. This depends on the size of your tank and overall use.

What Behaviors Impact Pumping Frequency?
- Using a garbage disposal.
- Letting food waste go down the drain.
- Using non-septic-friendly toilet paper.
- Increased use - more people in the house.

To hire a licensed septic professional, please visit our website: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/678/Hiring-a-Professional---Industry-Contact

If my pet never goes outside, why do they need a rabies vaccination?It's a common question! Even if your pet spends all ...
10/24/2026

If my pet never goes outside, why do they need a rabies vaccination?

It's a common question! Even if your pet spends all their time indoors, keeping their rabies vaccination up to date is an important part of protecting their health.

Here's why:
Unexpected Wildlife Encounters: Wildlife, including bats, can occasionally find their way into homes. Even indoor pets can come into contact with an infected animal.

Accidents Happen: An indoor cat might slip out an open door, or a dog could encounter wildlife during a quick trip outside. Vaccination provides protection when the unexpected happens.

Avoids Serious Consequences: If an unvaccinated pet is exposed to rabies, they may face strict quarantine requirements or other measures depending on local public health regulations.

Protects Your Household: Rabies is a serious disease that can spread from infected animals to people. Vaccinating pets helps protect both animals and the people who love them.

Rabies is preventable through vaccination, but almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Whether your pet is an indoor adventurer or an outdoor explorer, staying current on rabies vaccinations is one of the simplest ways to keep them protected.

Check your pet's vaccination records and contact your veterinarian if they're due for an update!

Located on the southern end of Holmes Harbor, Freeland Park has a beautiful view of the water and has been a popular bea...
10/23/2026

Located on the southern end of Holmes Harbor, Freeland Park has a beautiful view of the water and has been a popular beach for shellfish harvesting.

In 2006, the Washington Department of Health implemented a seasonal shellfish closure in Holmes Harbor. Since then, all shellfish cannot be harvested from June 1st- September 30th at Freeland County Park due to an increase in bacteria during the summer months that make shellfish unsafe to consume. These bacteria can come from stormwater runoff and leaking septic systems within the South Holmes Harbor watershed.

Freeland Park is affected by many factors that make it ideal for f***l bacteria:
- Shallow and slow water movement of Holmes Harbor
- Increased water temperature in the summer
- The accumulation of wrack (seaweed and eelgrass) on the shoreline

The Island County Natural Resources team has made Holmes Harbor a specific priority, focusing on repairing and conserving the surface water quality in this watershed and the harbor.

If you are curious to learn more about the South Holmes Harbour watershed or other Pollution Identification and Correction watersheds, please contact them through their website: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/997/Island-County-Pollution-Identification-a

Help kids find something they love with the Healthy Island Youth Initiative!The Healthy Island Youth Initiative (HIYI) h...
10/22/2026

Help kids find something they love with the Healthy Island Youth Initiative!

The Healthy Island Youth Initiative (HIYI) helps Island County families cover costs that might otherwise keep kids from participating in activities they enjoy.

These scholarships can help with sports, music and art classes, summer camps, equipment, and other participation costs.

For more information about HIYI, eligibility, and how you can help support the program, visit our website: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/351/Healthy-Island-Youth-Initiative

What’s in a WIC food package? 🛒 It depends on YOU! WIC food packages are designed to fit your family's specific nutritio...
10/21/2026

What’s in a WIC food package? 🛒 It depends on YOU! WIC food packages are designed to fit your family's specific nutritional needs. With WIC, your family can get monthly benefits to buy nutritious foods.

We offer food packages for:
- Prenatal parents
- Postpartum & Breastfeeding parents
- Infants
- Children under age 5

WIC is here for your family through pregnancy, postpartum, infancy, and early childhood! Learn more about how WIC can support your family at signupwic.com.



Alt text: A parent shops at a grocery store while carrying a young child in a front carrier. Two WIC-brand icons beside the photo that show a WIC EBT card and a pea pod. Text reads, “Healthy Foods” and “Discover WIC” with www.signupwic.com below. The WIC logo appears in the upper left.

Finding clear, reliable health information shouldn't be complicated. Everyone deserves health resources that are easy to...
10/20/2026

Finding clear, reliable health information shouldn't be complicated. Everyone deserves health resources that are easy to find, understand, and use.

To help connect you to care and community support, we offer Thrive Island County—a local digital resource directory where you can search for nearby medical clinics, mental health care, food assistance, housing support, and more, all in one clear place.

Explore community services near you: https://thrive.islandcountywa.gov/

Clear out your medicine cabinets and help keep our community safe! Join us for National Drug Take Back Day to safely dis...
10/19/2026

Clear out your medicine cabinets and help keep our community safe! Join us for National Drug Take Back Day to safely dispose of your expired or unwanted prescription medications. And yes, that includes pet meds too!

Good public health starts with clear, accessible communication. This week, we recognize our public health communications...
10/19/2026

Good public health starts with clear, accessible communication. This week, we recognize our public health communications team and educators who work every day to share timely alerts, break down complex medical topics, and make wellness accessible to everyone.

A big part of that work is connecting you to local support. Through Thrive Island County, we provide a reliable, easy-to-use directory that links individuals and families to local healthcare, nutrition programs, mental health support, and family services.

Connect to local resources and find health info at www.thrive.islandcountywa.gov

Good News: Water Quality in Island County is Improving!Did you know that Water Year 2026 actually ended on September 30t...
10/18/2026

Good News: Water Quality in Island County is Improving!

Did you know that Water Year 2026 actually ended on September 30th? Preliminary results show that Island County saw an improvement in water quality! We are excited to continue that trend into Water Year 2027.

So why does the water year start in October? The Surface Water Quality team follows state guidelines for testing, meaning that the water year starts three months before the calendar year changes. This ensures that annual precipitation data reflects both winter snow accumulation and summer rainfall.

Reminder: The fall rainy season will begin soon, and we can all help by reducing pollution carried by rainwater:

- Sweep the driveway and sidewalk and be sure to clean up any spilled chemicals.
- Fix oil leaks and clean up after any spills.
- Keep up to date with routine septic inspections and maintenance. - Inspections are required every 3 years for conventional systems, and yearly for alternative systems. Learn more and find homeowner resources at https://www.islandcountywa.gov/672/Homeowner-Support
- Pick up after pets regularly.
- If you harvest rainwater, divert water from the first storm away from the rain barrel to avoid collecting all of the accumulated pollution into your storage container.
- Build a rain garden to collect, absorb, and filter stormwater runoff from rooftops, driveways, patios, and other areas that don’t allow water to soak into the ground.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming WY2026 summary report and the full annual report that shows how we all worked together to improve water quality.

If you would like to look back at WY2025 data, go to the SWQ website: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/693/Surface-Water-Quality

Not all cannabis products are the same. Before using cannabis, take a moment to check the label. Look for: - THC and C*D...
10/17/2026

Not all cannabis products are the same. Before using cannabis, take a moment to check the label.

Look for:
- THC and C*D amounts
- Serving size and amount per package
- Health and safety warnings
- Added ingredients or substances

Knowing what’s in a product can help you make more informed choices.

Learn more about safer cannabis use at CannabisSafelyWA.org.

Address

1 NE 7th Street
Coupeville, WA
98239

Telephone

+13606785111

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