Description and Mission of the Program

The mission of the Living Environment program is to assure the compliance of schools and water recreation facilities in Cowlitz County with state safety regulations.  The Living Environment program, also known as "Schools and Pools", is one of the many programs administered by the county's Environmental Health division.  The program focuses on K-12 public and private school safety, as well as the recreational water safety of pools and spas located at hotels, motels, health clubs, schools, apartment complexes and municipal pools. 

Safety issues include prevention of injuries, accidents, food-borne illnesses, waterborne illnesses, drownings, poisoning by ingestion, inhalation or contact with noxious chemicals, and purity of air and water quality.

Health and safety concerns of recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds are under the jurisdiction of the county's Department of Building and Planning. 

Related Health Department Web Links

• Recreational Water Safety

• School Safety

• Public Water Systems

• Water Testing

• Mold and Indoor Air Quality

• Healthy Homes Program

• Cyanobacteria "Blue-Green Algae"

Related Outside  Websites

• RV Parks and Campgrounds (Department of Building and Planning)

Washington Department of Health Websites

• School Safety and Health Program

• Water Recreation Program

CDC Websites

• Drowning

• Playground Injuries

• Recreational Water Illnesses

• Swimmers Itch

• Sun Exposure

What services are provided by Health Department professionals for Cowlitz County?

• Routine, random inspections of schools and water recreation facilities to assure conformity with Washington state school and recreational water health and safety standards.

• Review of work plans for physical construction and remodeling of primary and secondary schools in regard to state safety and health regulations

• Recommendations to school officials and water facility operators in order to correct violations and to improve safety.

• Investigation and remediation of complaints with regard to school and water recreation facility health and safety issues.

• Enforcement of state school and recreational water safety regulations.

Accomplishments

• Issued 42 permits for water recreation facilities in Cowlitz County in 2009.

• Conducted 104 water recreational facility inspections in 2009.