If you’re a pumper on Vancouver Island in Canada’s British Columbia, you have reason to feel good these days about public awareness of the importance of septic system maintenance. That’s because a new onsite system maintenance rebate program had more takers than it could handle before the first check is issued.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) – working in partnership with the Western Canada Onsite Wastewater Management Association (WCOWMA) – announced it would award $18,500 in rebates for septic maintenance under the district’s SepticSmart program. The interest from homeowners was overwhelming.

“I had a feeling this would be a successful program, but I didn’t expect to have all the preapprovals allocated before the start of the program,’’ says Shelley Norum, RDN wastewater treatment coordinator. “A lot of people are calling me and saying they have wanted to work on their system for a long time and this triggered them to look into it. This shows [septic maintenance] is important to our residents.’’

The new program offered to pay 75 percent of eligible maintenance costs – up to $200 – for three categories of work determined by the district and the onsite trade group. Support will be given for developing a custom maintenance plan, effluent filter installation and riser installation. If a homeowner applied for all three – as most residents did – they could get up to a $600 benefit.

A PUMPING PARTNERSHIP

The RDN put up $10,000 and the onsite association kicked in $8,500. In addition to the financial buy-in from WCOWMA, Norum says it was critical to involve industry professionals in determining what work the rebates should cover. In addition to the rebate program, the association provides professional help with SepticSmart seminars presented to island residents.

“It really gives us more of a perspective of what could and should be done, and how we can relay that information to the homeowner,’’ Norum says of the partnership.

The success of this program is refreshing, and flies in the face of the homeowner indifference reported by many U.S. septic service contractors I’ve talked to. Pumpers routinely tell me they open tanks that haven’t been inspected for 15, 20, even 30 years, and that there is a frustrating and widespread “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’’ attitude among septic system users. They just don’t value maintenance.

So is Vancouver Island any different than most places, or would this type of incentive program be a catalyst for upgrading septic system performance anywhere it’s offered? It’s a big question, and one that might be best answered through more partnerships like the one in Nanaimo.

SMALL PRICE TO PAY

The $8,500 spent by the Canadian onsite association is a small investment if it convinces more residents to repair or upgrade their septic systems. Consumer awareness – particularly in a mobile society where people frequently move from homes on city sewer to those using private septic systems – is a critical component to effective decentralized wastewater treatment. The more people know about the importance of periodic pumping and inspection, for example, the better for system users, the environment and the pumping industry.

The SepticSmart message is that adopting regular pumping intervals will make systems last longer and save homeowners money and headaches over the long haul. Fewer failing systems will ensure a cleaner environment, a compelling argument on Vancouver Island, which is surrounded by a sensitive watershed.

And it’s in the best interest of the general public and the environment if wastewater hauling remains a viable, thriving industry for the thousands of small businesses that perform these services. When homeowners follow appropriate pumping and maintenance guidelines, contractors see a more consistent revenue stream. This translates into improved professionalism across the industry. Technicians seek certification and continuing education, and pumping companies invest in new trucks and technology to do a better job.

Better communitywide maintenance means fewer emergency calls. Fewer emergency calls result in less catastrophic pollution from system failures. A reduction in failures reinforces that decentralized wastewater systems are an effective alternative to the costly infrastructure expansion of the big pipe.

ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE

The experience on Vancouver Island offers hope for the pumping industry. It shows that everyone benefits when the local government, a professional trade group and engaged property owners work together on the important goal of a cleaner environment.

Joe Stanhope, a Vancouver Island resident and chair of the RDN, understands how septic systems work and is a big proponent of the rebates. He owns two waterfront homes with septic systems, one that has been operating since 1942 when his parents built the first house. Stanhope, 83, says the system’s original concrete pipe drainfield was replaced once, about 20 years ago, but that it has functioned properly for all these years because of simple maintenance.

“It has not given any trouble. We just pump out the septic tank every three to four years. The secret is to pump it out at regular intervals,’’ he says. “And everything I buy for soaps and cleaning products, I make sure it’s septic safe.’’

The interest residents have in their onsite systems is an extension of a “green movement’’ on the island and beyond, according to Stanhope. He explains that residents are offered incentives to insulate their homes, conserve energy and collect rainwater in cisterns.

“We’re trying to make everything fall under the green umbrella,’’ he says. “The septic system is just part of the program. We’re protecting the quality of life we have here.’’