Nooksack Valley School District will borrow money from Whatcom County so it doesn't need to wait a year to repair a major septic system failure at the high school.

The County Council on Tuesday, Dec. 4, unanimously approved a $600,000 loan to the district to pay for construction of a system that will send the school's wastewater to Sumas, then to Abbotsford, B.C., for treatment. The project could begin as early as January 2013, according to an Oct. 17 letter from the district to county Executive Jack Louws.

The district will repay the loan, at 1 percent interest, by Dec, 31, 2014, using money from a capital levy approved by voters in February. That money isn't available until 2014, necessitating the loan.

In August, a contractor discovered that the septic system had no drain field, and partially treated sewage was draining into a ditch. In the interim, the school has been pumping out its septic tank and taking the waste to Everson for treatment. Classes at the school were not affected.

Reach RALPH SCHWARTZ at ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2298.