A new pilot program will simplify the process for installation of on-site sewage disposal systems, says Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry George Webster.
About 40 per cent of Island homes have on-site systems to treat and dispose of household wastewater. The approval of on-site sewage disposal systems involves a permit process where government is involved at several stages from assessing a site for its suitability for on-site sewage disposal to inspecting work conducted by contractors.
The new pilot program will test an alternate approach that allows licensed contractors who have a site assessor’s licence to assess sites and install systems without going through the permit process. It is similar to the system in place for other services such as well drilling and septic pumping.
Minister Webster said 22 contractors are participating in the pilot program. They completed a site assessor's training course offered by Holland College and passed a written exam to receive their site assessor’s licence.
“The pilot program will run for two years, and during that time some contractors will continue to operate under the permit process,” said Minister Webster. “So at the end of the pilot, the department will be able to evaluate which is the best approach.”
With the establishment of the pilot project, government has also amended the regulations to require all site assessments to include permeability testing. The testing involves identifying the type of soil and how quickly liquid will filter through it. That information is needed to ensure that the sewage disposal system that is installed is the proper size for the soil type. If the system is not properly sized it can fail.
“If a sewage disposal system fails, it can contaminate groundwater and cost the homeowner up to $15,000 to replace the system,” said Minister Webster. “So it’s important to take the extra step of a permeability test up front to ensure the right system is installed.”
Contractors participating in the pilot project can do the permeability testing because they are licensed site assessors. Staff of the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry will conduct the site assessments, including permeability testing, for contractors who are not participating in the pilot.
The department has developed a detailed technical guidelines document that can be used by both contractors participating in the pilot program and those using the permit process. It provides guidance on site assessment, selecting the appropriate sewage disposal system, and installing and maintaining systems.