Inspector Training Pilot Program
The success of the Folly Beach pilot inspection program illustrated the need for another pilot program - one that trained non-DHEC individuals how to thoroughly inspect a septic system using a standard protocol. Plus, how could we encourage local governments to adopt a management program without a pool of qualified inspectors to chose from? Developing an inspector training program became the next item on our agenda.
Instead of starting from scratch, DHEC-OCRM looked into existing inspector training programs established by other states and national organizations. The Rhode Island program, developed and taught by the University of Rhode Island, was chosen as the program to emulate. In May, 2001, the DHEC-OCRM project manager attended URI's two-day course and became certified to inspect septic systems in Rhode Island.
DHEC-OCRM then partnered with Clemson Extension, South Carolina Sea Grant Extension, and the regional DHEC Environmental Health offices in the coastal zone. A recently retired DHEC sanitarian was contracted to assist in the training program. The project was funded by the EPA's Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, through DHEC's Bureau of Water.
A Steering Committee was convened in early 2001 to oversee the project. The committee consisted of representatives from DHEC, the real estate industry, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and Labor Licensing and Regulation. Project managers did a feasibility study that included a survey in the coastal zone of stake holders who had some form of interest in septic systems. Those professions or groups included city and county governments, home inspectors, the manufactured housing industry, realtors, septic installers and pumpers, and utility companies. The feasibility study also investigated the who, what, when, where, and how much for conducting inspector workshops and documenting success. For a complete look at the study, see the Onsite Septic System Inspector Training Pilot Program Feasibility Study Report (pdf).
Three inspector training workshops were held in 2003 resulting in 30 trained inspectors. Workshops were held in Charleston, Conway and Beaufort. Workshop participants included home inspectors, septic installers, septic pumpers, and local governments. The two-day training included a full day in the classroom on the basics of septic system operation and functions, wastewater pollutants, soils and drainfields, regulations, safety, inspection protocol and documentation. The second day was a hands-on experience in conducting two septic system inspections at individual homes, followed by a written exam in the classroom. Workshop evaluations completed by attendees were overwhemingly postive about their training experience.
The results of the training pilot program were presented to a final meeting of the Steering Committee in May 2003. Although representatives of the real estate industry were reluctant to wholeheartedly recommend the continuation of the program, the overall consensus of the committee was to continue to offer training as demand would dictate. The committee also recommended that a half-day workshop for realtors be developed on the basics of septic system operation and the benefits of maintenance.
For a more in-depth look at the pilot program see the Onsite Septic System Inspector Training Pilot Program Project Closeout Report (pdf).