The Politics of Onsite System Inspection – Part 2

Education is necessary for both inspectors and installers to keep the industry moving forward.
The Politics of Onsite System Inspection – Part 2

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Inspection requirements must be met before a permit is issued. Every jurisdiction is different, but in general, regulations can be categorized as federal, state or local, which includes city and county guidelines. 

But local regulations could also be divided into three categories:

  • Those written by authorities, such as the city council or commissioner’s court.
  • Those written by the applying entity, such as the local health department or public works.
  • Those that are unwritten and enforced by the inspector. 

All of these regulations are subject to interpretation. You may interpret rules and requirements differently than another inspector. In fact, some inspectors might occasionally change their interpretation of a specific rule if an unexpected problem arises. 

There are also distinctions between rules and procedures, which can be written or unwritten. 

Procedures are requirements placed on an installer that are not part of state or local regulations. Procedures originate from the inspector’s interpretation based on the actual application. 

For example, a state rule mandates that three inspections are required at various stages of an installation. The local entity might decide that for certain types of installations, only two inspections are required. The procedure might be that the installer can only call in a request for inspections on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and must give at least a three-day notice for each inspection. 

This brings up a basic problem in many installer/inspector relationships: Rules and procedures are not always clear, comprehensive and consistent. 

The installer is running a business, and is concerned about costs and profit margins. Before bidding a job, he needs to determine man-hours, material costs, and necessary equipment and vehicles to produce an accurate bid. Unforeseen changes to a job after the bid is accepted can generate additional costs. 

You may be less concerned with costs and time requirements than the installer because your primary role is protecting the environment and ensuring property owners receive a dependable working system. 

All of this sets up an interesting human dynamic.

When inspectors and installers don’t have the same education and are not members of the same industry associations, the industry becomes stagnant. Staying up to date with technology and attending conferences are necessary for both inspectors and installers to keep the onsite industry moving forward. 

Without this collective knowledge, an installer might suggest a new methodology, a new technology, or a new procedure, only to have to deal with an uninformed inspector limited by current regulations and procedures. 

If you cannot understand and implement the installer’s recommendations, soon the installer wonders, “Why should I spend all my time and money learning something new, when the inspector can’t implement my suggestions?” This prevents growth in the onsite industry. 

The inspector/installer relationship is partially technical, partially businesss, but mostly a struggle for personal respect. 

So both sides of the public service coin need to be professional, educated in onsite wastewater, involved with the industry associations and publications and, above all, totally open and honest with each other. 

Click here for Part 1. 



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