Engage a Registered Professional
The first step in installing or replacing a septic system is to complete a Septic Field Design by a Registered Wastewater Professional.
In British Columbia, most systems are designed and installed by Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioners (ROWPs).
What a Septic Field Design Includes
A proper design package is a comprehensive document detailing:
- System sizing and treatment level proposed
- Layout and location of all components (tanks, pumps, field/bed, controls)
- Construction details and specifications required for a compliant installation
Site Investigation (Pre-Design)
Before design, the professional performs on-site investigation to determine:
- Soil drainage characteristics and permeability
- Limiting layers (e.g., high seasonal water table, hardpan, glacial till)
- Setbacks to critical features:
- Horizontal: wells, watercourses, steep slopes, property lines
- Vertical: depth to groundwater, restrictive layers, bedrock
- Horizontal: wells, watercourses, steep slopes, property lines
- Siting considerations: sight lines from the home and high-use areas (avoid visible lids in view sheds, conflicts with decks/paths)
Choosing Treatment & Siting
A good design balances regulatory setbacks, soil conditions, and family convenience:
- Where poor soils, tight setbacks, or aesthetics limit options, the designer may specify a higher level of treatment to reduce required setbacks or enable siting.
- If native soil depth is insufficient to filter contaminants, the designer can select advanced treatment technologies to improve effluent quality before dispersal.
Health Authority Filing & Authorization to Build
Once site work and design are complete, the designer prepares a Record of Sewerage System (RSS) filing and submits it—along with the design—to the Environmental Health Authority.
- An Environmental Health Officer reviews, stamps, and signs the filing.
- Only then is the installer authorized to construct the system.
- If the installer is not the designer, the installation should be collaborative to ensure the build matches the design—miscommunication here is a common cause of failures.
Coordination With Building Permits
The Record of Sewerage System is among the first documents requested when applying for building permits (new builds or additions).
- There can be months between design completion and installation.
- During this time, do not disturb the designated disposal field area. Damage from excavation traffic can invalidate the design and force costly compromises.
Final Step: Certification After Installation
After construction, the designer verifies compliance with the design and issues a Letter of Certification.
- This is submitted to the Environmental Health Authority for sign-off; the system is then authorized for use.
- The certification must include:
- An accurate as-built map of all components for future locating under landscaping
- A comprehensive maintenance plan outlining the steps and schedule to keep the system functioning reliably for years
- An accurate as-built map of all components for future locating under landscaping
Contact us today to speak to one of our Septic Professionals!
Email: [email protected]
Toll-Free: 1-855-737-8429
