Find Useful Information and Answers to Your Questions

Before You Build or Repair

• Identify problem soils - Solutions to work around these issues should be included in your plan. Study constraining factors.
• Get to the source of the problem - When a house is bought and sold, repairs can cover existing problems. Avoid multiple ineffective repairs that simply lead to more work.
• Plan to construct beyond BC code requirements - Minimum code will not always protect your investment. Important investment expenditures include roof and foundation, structure, drainage, septic system, and infrastructure items.
• Protect your investment - Build for maximums and weather events that seem to be occurring more frequently.
  Familiarize yourself with all local and regional building codes and regulations.

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Onsite Septic Systems

ASTTBC has four classifications of ROWP certification for Authorized Persons:

• ROWP Planner - Performs site and soil assessment, designs the system, certifies the system construction based on oversight of construction, and creates the extensive documentation required by the Regulation.
• ROWP Installer - Installs or repairs the system as designed and specified by a ROWP Planner.
• ROWP Maintenance Provider - Monitors and maintains the system according to the maintenance plan.
• ROWP Private Inspector – Inspects and provides conclusions about the performance, condition, and capacity of existing systems.

ROWPs can be registered in more than one category. We maintain both ROWP-PLANNER and ROWP INSTALLER certifcation.

The Provincial Regulation

Compared to the previous Sewage Disposal Regulation, the 2005 change resulted in the Sewage System Regulation and represents a significant change in approach. Responsibility for the proper design and installation of on-site systems has been transferred from Health Authorities to ‘Authorized Persons’ as defined by the SSR. Now, design, installation, repair, and maintenance of on-site wastewater systems must be performed by an Authorized Person. An Authorized Person is required to certify that systems are constructed in compliance with the SSR. Health Authorities no longer issue permits for sewerage system construction.

The enactment of the SSR in 2005 also brought new responsibilities for the owner of a sewerage system. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure sewage is discharged to a sewerage system that is constructed and maintained in accordance with the regulation… and must ensure that sewage from the structure does not cause a health hazard. This means, in part, that owners are required to follow the maintenance plan, and use Authorized Persons (ROWPs) to perform the design, installation, repair, and maintenance. Owners are responsible to ensure the system is operated within the capabilities and limitations of that system