WHEREAS the Safety Codes Act requires that Private Sewage Disposal Systems be installed to The Alberta Private Sewage System Standard of Practice 1999;AND WHEREAS the Alberta Private Sewage Standard of Practice 1999 identifies the objectives of Private Sewage Systems and sets out the minimum requirement for health, safety and structural sufficiency for Private Sewage Systems. Of particular importance is the treatment and safe disposal of sewage to prevent the contamination of food or water and to prevent the incidence and transmission of disease; AND WHEREAS the Safety Codes Act, Private Sewage Disposal Systems Regulation governs the installation of Private Sewage Disposal Systems;AND WHEREAS a Private Sewage Disposal System permit can only be issued to a person who has a valid trade certificate as a plumber or a private sewage installer or to a person to personally carry out the installation, alteration, or addition within residential premises owned and occupied by that person;AND WHEREAS a Private Sewage Installer must e certified to install private sewage disposal system through the Alberta Wastewater Onsite Contractor’s Association;AND WHEREAS minimal training is provided for certification as a Private Sewage Installer and there is a need for both the theory and on site training to ensure proper installation of Private Sewage Disposal Systems;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties urge the Government of Alberta to establish Private Sewer Installers as a Trade requiring training through an apprenticeship program for certification.

The development of residential subdivisions in the rural areas of Alberta has increased dramatically over the past few years. Many of these subdivisions are located in watershed areas close to amenities such as rivers and lakes. With this increased density in rural areas there is a need to ensure that sewage disposal is disposed in a safe manner that protects adjacent properties and water sources. In most cases, it is not feasible for a municipality to provide a municipal system to these areas. Failed disposal systems can be the result of improper installation practices by the installer. Certified installers my have very limited experience being that a basic one week course is required for the certification. This certification program is provided by the Alberta Wastewater Onsite Contractor Association. A training program that combines both classroom and on-site training would give assurance that the installer is qualified to provide a system that will reduce the chance of failure.Also, homeowners are allowed to install their own systems and because homeowners usually do not have the knowledge and training required to install the systems properly they should be required to have an open inspection as improperly installed systems can fail and cause public safety concerns.