Wells and septic on Lake Country, BC acreage

The District runs a central wastewater treatment plant and three satellite systems: one in Oyama and two in the Carr's Landing area.

A property outside those service areas has its own septic system. The District neither regulates nor maintains private septic systems; Interior Health does.

A listing's Sewer line here says which it is when the feed supplies it.¹

Send Interior Health a Sewerage File Information Request; there is a $50 search fee.

A system built or changed since 2005 should have two filings: a Record of Sewerage System and a Letter of Certification from the person who installed it.

The installer also gives the owner an as-constructed drawing and a maintenance plan. Ask the seller for both.²

Only an Authorized Person: a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner or a professional engineer.

That is who a buyer hires for a pre-purchase inspection, and who files the paperwork on a new or repaired system.²

Not for household use. Groundwater for a private home, its garden of up to 1,000 square metres and its pets or household animals is domestic use and needs no licence.

A well drilled, altered or decommissioned after 29 February 2016 must be registered in the province's well database, and the province asks every domestic well owner to register.

Water for irrigation, a business or a farm operation is not domestic use and needs a licence.³

For bacteria, at least once a year, and at once if the water changes in clarity, colour or taste.

For chemistry, when the well is finished and then on a regular schedule.

The owner is responsible for the water being safe to drink. Interior Health accepts samples through its water quality program.⁴