The manner in which onsite wastewater/sewerage system services are provided by industry changed May 31, 2005 with the new Sewerage System Regulation of the Ministry of Health Services. Not only has the role of the BC Government (in particular the Health Authorities) changed, but a new professional role has been created for the Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC) as well.

Under the new regulation an industry practitioner must be registered with "a registration certificate issued by the Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British Columbia that certifies that the holder is competent to construct and maintain a sewerage system that uses a treatment method classified as Type 1 or Type 2". An existing 'professional', another 'authorized person' defined within the regulation, is excluded from the ASTTBC registration requirements.

The new regulation affects those providing the following onsite wastewater services...

• Site assessment
• Installation
• Maintenance, a new service area being regulated

The new regulation applies to all types of onsite wastewater systems, from septic systems for single-family homes to complex systems for multi-residential, industrial and commercial applications.

In its role under this new business environment, ASTTBC has partnered with the Ministry of Health Services, the five Health Authorities and the BC OnSite Sewage Association (BCOSSA) - the training agency. Each will play an important role in implementing the new regulation.