WHEREAS the regulatory requirements for water distribution and sewage disposal systems are the responsibility of local government; AND WHEREAS the training and development of water distribution and sewage disposal system operators has become a financial and logistical burden to small communities; AND WHEREAS the ability to meet the standards for local operators may put the community at risk in maintaining water quality and safety of treated sewage on the environment in small communities: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request that the Province develop and fund a program to educate and certify water and sewer system operators in small communities.
Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport The Province of British Columbia is currently facing the challenge of a skilled labour shortage, which includes Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioners ROWPs, who design and install onsite sewage disposal systems. Remote rural communities are the most severely impacted by this shortage -- in some areas there are few to no ROWPs available to provide service to meet the public demand. Therefore, in addition to the need for a greater number of ROWPs to be practicing provincially, an incentive package needs to be developed which will encourage practitioners to service small, remote communities. The Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport both oversees and participates in the Sewage System Leadership Council SSLC, which includes stakeholders from government, industry, and professional associations interested in improving both the function of the Sewerage System Regulation, and the protocol of sewage disposal in BC. This committee is currently developing a plan which will facilitate improved ROWP coverage of remote areas of the province. Possible solution options suggested in the plan include: Grants to aspiring ROWPs in rural areas to complete courses and training programs. Grants to rural property owners in under-serviced areas to pay for travelassociated expenses of ROWPs commissioned to complete their system. In addition, the committee is considering creating provisions which will allow homeowners to construct their own system, subject to third party oversight and approval upon completion. The Province of British Columbia recognizes the need for trained and skilled water operators. Pursuant to the challenges faced by rural and remote communities to access training, the ministry has worked with its educational partners, the BC Water and Waste Association and Thompson Rivers University to create online courses to deliver some water system training; and has also supported the development of an operator assistance program by the Sustainable Infrastructure Society. These new educational opportunities serve to provide water supply systems with convenient and affordable access to the services of experienced operators who work under contract. The ministry is also currently investigating other options such as the development of mobile training units to help deliver more cost-effective training to small rural and remote communities.