Toolkit for the Development of Management Programs for On-site Sewage Systems

For full report in HTML, please contact the Georgia Basin Coordination Office
Full Report in Adobe portable document format (11 056 kb)

Executive Summary

This document was developed in response to a growing awareness of onsite system failures and malfunctions throughout the province of BC. The Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, a program of Environment Canada, has taken up this issue as part of its mandate to address environmental and health concerns within the Georgia Basin. The intent is to demonstrate to local governments and other interest groups that management of these systems offers a means of ensuring their viability as a long-term wastewater treatment and disposal option. As well, the Toolkit provides guidance on the development of a management system to meet local needs and conditions.

On-site systems are very common throughout BC and are capable of providing a very high quality effluent. However, they are an environmental and health concern because a lack of adequate maintenance is leading to a high failure rate, subsequently leading to contamination and exposure problems. Maintenance, monitoring or other management programs can effectively address these issues. This Toolkit illustrates a process by which such programs can be developed and managed to ensure the proper functioning of these systems.

Volume 1 of the report includes the process of developing a management program; Volume 2 provides technical information about on-site systems; and Volume 3 provides case studies illustrating the various strategies available for program implementation. Volume 1 can be used alone as it is the primary volume providing guidance for program development. Volumes 2 and 3 are useful background documents that can be referred to if supporting information is desired.

The development of a management program is broken into five phases:

Phase 1 - Needs Assessment describes a process of data collection to characterize the situation and determine the necessity of a program. The development of a risk rating using matrices is described to determine if an area poses a high, moderate or low risk based on the probability and consequences of on-site system failures.

Phase 2 - Concept Development involves developing the concept to be used for the management program. Three concepts are identified in this toolkit based on the intended ownership of the on-site systems and the responsibility of maintenance for these systems. In Concept 1 the homeowner retains ownership of the system and is responsible for the maintenance of the system (private/private). Concept 2 still sees the homeowner retaining ownership of the system, but the management entity takes on the responsibility of ensuring maintenance is performed (private/public). Concept 3 requires the managing entity to take on ownership of the system and responsibility for its maintenance (public/public).

Phase 3 - Program Considerations identifies the components to consider in the development of the program, such as education, training, operation and maintenance and monitoring. Program components to address high, moderate and low risk situations are suggested.

Phase 4 - Implementation discusses implementation processes and considerations, such as phasing.

Phase 5 - Evaluation highlights the necessity of program evaluation and improvement and identifies some review processes.

To develop an onsite management program, some knowledge of wastewater treatment is beneficial. Primary, secondary and tertiary treatment are terms used to define the level of treatment obtained based on effluent composition. Effluent is composed of pathogens, organic material, total suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus and metals. The goal of treatment is to remove these to an adequate degree using various treatment processes. Conventional, alternative and innovative systems are available to consumers and each is suited to varying needs and site conditions. The system costs can differ greatly and costs of typical on-site systems are included for reference in Volume 2.

All on-site systems require proper and timely maintenance. This need for maintenance has already been identified in many areas and some management programs have been developed. Case studies from throughout the United States and Canada (BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia) have shown that many different approaches to management are available and can be very successful and well received by the public. Because various aspects of on-site system use are divided among government agencies in BC (permitting by MOH, land use policies by local government), municipal governments require careful consideration of bylaw measures they can implement to address program components such as enforcement and permitting. Tools are available for municipalities to deal with on-site systems. Considerations for data management, budgeting and fee recovery, administrative processes, legalities, evaluation and costs are essential and many options and resources for these are identified.

The management of on-site sewage systems has many benefits. It can ensure that human health is protected from direct and indirect exposure to sewage potentially carrying pathogenic organisms. As well, protection of the environment can be accomplished through proper use of on-site systems, protecting wildlife and ecosystems. Protection of the environment can also lead to economic benefits through the protection of resource-based industries such as shellfish harvesting. The tourism industry is also supported by system management through ensuring local water bodies and other important recreation areas are not polluted by sewage. Additionally, property values are protected when septic systems are maintained. All of these factors should make on-site system management a priority not only for local governments, but also for the residents themselves

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Toolkit for the Development of Management Programs for On-site Sewage Systems

Executive Summary

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Toolkit for the Development of Management Programs for On-site Sewage Systems For full report in HTML, please contact the Georgia Basin Coordination Office Full Report in Adobe portable document format (11 056 kb) Executive Summary This document was developed in response to a growing awareness of onsite system failures and malfunctions throughout the province of BC. The Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, a program of Environment Canada, has taken up this issue as part of its mandate to address environmental and health concerns within the Georgia Basin. The intent is to demonstrate to local governments and other interest groups that management of these systems offers a means of ensuring their viability as a long-term wastewater treatment and disposal option. As well, the Toolkit provides guidance on the development of a management system to meet local needs and conditions. On-site systems are very common throughout BC and are capable of providing a very high quality effluent. However, they are an environmental and health concern because a lack of adequate maintenance is leading to a high failure rate, subsequently leading to contamination and exposure problems. Maintenance, monitoring or other management programs can effectively address these issues. This Toolkit illustrates a process by which such programs can be developed and managed to ensure the proper functioning of these systems. Volume 1 of the report includes the process of developing a management program; Volume 2 provides technical information about on-site systems; and Volume 3 provides case studies illustrating the various strategies available for program implementation. Volume 1 can be used alone as it is the primary volume providing guidance for program development. Volumes 2 and 3 are useful background documents that can be referred to if supporting information is desired. The development of a management program is broken into five phases: Phase 1 - Needs Assessment describes a process of data collection to characterize the situation and determine the necessity of a program. The development of a risk rating using matrices is described to determine if an area poses a high, moderate or low risk based on the probability and consequences of on-site system failures. Phase 2 - Concept Development involves developing the concept to be used for the management program. Three concepts are identified in this toolkit based on the intended ownership of the on-site systems and the responsibility of maintenance for these systems. In Concept 1 the homeowner retains ownership of the system and is responsible for the maintenance of the system (private/private). Concept 2 still sees the homeowner retaining ownership of the system, but the management entity takes on the responsibility of ensuring maintenance is performed (private/public). Concept 3 requires the managing entity to take on ownership of the system and responsibility for its maintenance (public/public). Phase 3 - Program Considerations identifies the components to consider in the development of the program, such as education, training, operation and maintenance and monitoring. Program components to address high, moderate and low risk situations are suggested. Phase 4 - Implementation discusses implementation processes and considerations, such as phasing. Phase 5 - Evaluation highlights the necessity of program evaluation and improvement and identifies some review processes. To develop an onsite management program, some knowledge of wastewater treatment is beneficial. Primary, secondary and tertiary treatment are terms used to define the level of treatment obtained based on effluent composition. Effluent is composed of pathogens, organic material, total suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus and metals. The goal of treatment is to remove these to an adequate degree using various treatment processes. Conventional, alternative and innovative systems are available to consumers and each is suited to varying needs and site conditions. The system costs can differ greatly and costs of typical on-site systems are included for reference in Volume 2. All on-site systems require proper and timely maintenance. This need for maintenance has already been identified in many areas and some management programs have been developed. Case studies from throughout the United States and Canada (BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia) have shown that many different approaches to management are available and can be very successful and well received by the public. Because various aspects of on-site system use are divided among government agencies in BC (permitting by MOH, land use policies by local government), municipal governments require careful consideration of bylaw measures they can implement to address program components such as enforcement and permitting. Tools are available for municipalities to deal with on-site systems. Considerations for data management, budgeting and fee recovery, administrative processes, legalities, evaluation and costs are essential and many options and resources for these are identified. The management of on-site sewage systems has many benefits. It can ensure that human health is protected from direct and indirect exposure to sewage potentially carrying pathogenic organisms. As well, protection of the environment can be accomplished through proper use of on-site systems, protecting wildlife and ecosystems. Protection of the environment can also lead to economic benefits through the protection of resource-based industries such as shellfish harvesting. The tourism industry is also supported by system management through ensuring local water bodies and other important recreation areas are not polluted by sewage. Additionally, property values are protected when septic systems are maintained. All of these factors should make on-site system management a priority not only for local governments, but also for the residents themselves