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Onsite Wastewater Practitioner
Field Training/Workshops

Onsite Wastewater Practitioner Training (OWTS)

Build expertise and open the door to new opportunities in the onsite wastewater industry. Walk away with the technical knowledge, practical skills, and field experience required to work in the industry.

Why Choose This Program?
  • Start learning immediately with self-study modules upon registration
  • Engage with instructors during live, virtual training sessions
  • Hands-on field training ensures you apply what you’ve learned
  • Build practical skills you can apply immediately on the job
  • Nationally and provincially recognized certification through the New West Partnership Agreement and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement
About the Program

Part One – Start Learning Immediately

When you register, your program materials are accessible right away, so you can begin self-study immediately. This early preparation sets you up for success before moving into the next stage of training.

Part  Two – Learn From Experts in Real Time

Following your self-study, you’ll participate in nine days of scheduled online classes with experienced instructors. These live sessions give you the opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussions, and solidify your understanding of key principles.

Part Three – Apply Your Skills in the Field

Attend a Site & Soils Field Evaluation Workshop. This one-day, hands-on training allows you to put your knowledge into practice under the guidance of an industry professional. Offered during the installation season.

Who This Program Is For

Perfect for:

  • Contractors, landscapers & excavators expanding services
  • New entrants to the trades
  • Those wanting to level up to be a Safety Codes Officer, Private Sewage Inspector
  • Entrepreneurs starting a business
  • Homeowners wanting to design/install their own system

No prior experience required — just a willingness to learn!

What You’ll Learn
  • Site & soil evaluation
  • Designing onsite wastewater systems
  • Installing & maintaining septic systems
  • Inspecting & troubleshooting existing systems

WCOWMA-BC provides OWTS training to work in the industry. Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is the regulatory body who grants registration to Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP) applicants who meet the registration requirements. We encourage you to visit Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) for information on the application process, endorsement requirements and next steps.

Training Registration

The OWTS Program Offers Ongoing Registration – START ANYTIME

Click to Register - WCOWMA-BC OWTS Training
PROGRAM TUITION
  • Member: $ 4461.82
  • Non-Member: $5277.67  

Includes GST, learning material, live training and field day.

View Program Guide

For questions, contact our office:

604-424-4462
1-855-872-2645

training@wcowma.com

Meet the Trainers
Darryl Brizan
Liesbeth Glotze

Field Training / Workshops

Site & Soils Evaluation Field Days

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Mound Installation Field Day

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Installation Field Day Workshop

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Maintenance
Provider Parts I & II

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Virtual Classroom
New dates will be posted soon.
Check back regularly for updates.

Maintenance Provider Practical Two-Day Workshop

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Dates: 
March 19-20, 2026
Locations: 
Locations within the Chilliwack area of British Columbia are being confirmed.

Questions?

Contact
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Darryl Brizan

Darryl Brizan is a Professional Engineer with more than four decades of experience in British Columbia and the Yukon. His career has focused on the design and construction management of onsite sewage disposal systems, water systems, stormwater management, and residential subdivisions. His expertise spans the full range of municipal and civil engineering, from infrastructure studies and detailed design to project delivery and construction oversight. Over the years, Darryl has provided engineering services for hundreds of residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial projects, working with private clients, First Nations, and government agencies.

A graduate of UBC’s Civil Engineering program and a Professional Engineer since 1984, Darryl has contributed to the development and review of provincial onsite sewage standards and served in advisory roles with EGBC, BCOSSA, and COTRA. His commitment to advancing the industry is matched by his dedication to his community, where he has been actively involved as a coach, club president, and long-standing Rotarian—recognized as Rotarian of the Year in 1999. Darryl continues to bring technical excellence, integrity, and a collaborative spirit to his work, championing safe, practical, and sustainable engineering solutions.

Liesbeth Glotze

Liesbeth Glotze has developed extensive expertise in onsite wastewater systems through a hands-on career spanning nearly three decades in British Columbia. Originally from the Cariboo, her practical, community-oriented perspective was shaped by years of ranching, running an excavation company and raising three boys. After becoming a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP) in 2004, Liesbeth specialized in system design and installation for rural and residential projects. Her professional background includes accounting, which has supported her work in project management and regulatory compliance.

Now based in Kamloops, Liesbeth enjoys guiding new professionals and has been actively involved with the Western Canada Onsite Wastewater Management Association of British Columbia (WCOWMA-BC). Since 2022, she has served as a trainer, helping new practitioners gain practical skills and a better understanding of fieldwork realities. Her commitment to the industry is further highlighted by her 5-year commitment as a WCOWMA-BC Board of Directors Member, where she contributed to practitioner support and industry development.

 

Outside of her professional life, Liesbeth enjoys gardening and spending time with her chickens—activities that reflect her connection to the land and the lifestyle that has shaped her career. Her approach to work is steady, hands-on, and rooted in the values of service, sustainability, and family.

Site & Soils Evaluation Field Days

Site and Soils Evaluation Field Days are offered for those interested in learning more about performing detailed site visits and designing systems for difficult situations and soils. These training workshops provide information on assessing soil structure, texture, and consistence, assessing site conditions and constraints, logging information and applying that knowledge to the design of onsite wastewater systems. This provides a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience evaluating a site, as well as practicing hand texturing and sampling. These field workshops are a requirement for those completing the Onsite Wastewater Practitioner Training Program and also add value for experienced designers and installers wishing to continue their education.

Dates to be Announced

Mound Installation Field Day

This practical training workshop is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience building a sand treatment mound.

Practitioners who have recently completed the Onsite Wastewater Practitioner Training Program will be able to take their new knowledge and apply it on-site. Experienced designers and installers should also consider this opportunity to continue their education.

Dates to be Announced

INSTALL TRAINING FIELD DAY

Installation Field Days provide new and experienced installers with the opportunity to learn new techniques and installation practices.  Field days may be offered for systems such as subsurface trench systems either gravity or pressure distribution, seepage beds, or combined treatment systems, depending on the site and soils available and the regulatory framework.

Dates to be Announced

maintenance provider parts I & II

WCOWMA-BC is offering a four-day virtual training program designed to help maintenance providers expand their knowledge and certification in onsite wastewater system operations.

This highly recognized training program is divided into two parts.

It is geared towards those with prior knowledge of onsite wastewater treatment systems and who wish to expand upon existing knowledge to provide more comprehensive maintenance services.


Part 1 – Introduction to Operation and Maintenance

Participants will learn about:

  • Business aspects of operation and maintenance including: site safety, contracts, and tools of the trade
  • Maintenance assessments and troubleshooting issues of conventional systems, including trenches, beds, mounds, and at-grades
  • Introduction to aerobic tank system

Part 2 – Advanced Operation and Maintenance

Participants will build upon Part 1 concepts and expand their scope to include maintenance and troubleshooting for:

  • Aerobic Treatment Systems
  • Drip irrigation
  • Single-pass and re-circulating media filters
  • Various dosing schematics working with control panels
  • Business Practice Review for Maintenance Providers

Each part concludes with an exam to evaluate understanding and certify successful completion. Registration includes all 4 days.

Certification

  • Earn your Maintenance Provider Certificate after completing all 4 days

Recognition and Listing

  • Apply for your Maintenance Provider ROWP Stamp with ASTTBC.
  • Gain visibility on the WCOWMA Locate-a-Pro webpage, connecting you directly with homeowners looking for certified Maintenance Practitioners.
Registration Is Now Closed

Dates to be Announced

Maintenance Provider Practical Two-Day Workshop

This two-day workshop will focus on the assessment, maintenance, and repair of onsite wastewater systems. Prior to the two days of practical training in the field, students will participate in a webinar to review the maintenance requirements in the SPM, along with ASTTBC’s practice guidelines for Maintenance Provider. Following the two days of practical training in the field, students will participate in a webinar to review proper maintenance assessment reports.

Five onsite wastewater systems will be assessed, and recommendations for maintenance and repair provided to the homeowner. These five systems will include both Type 1 and Type 2 gravity, Type 2 pressure and potentially a Type 3 system.

Students will be able to use this training toward needed experience quotas, and/or professional development credits. 

Course Outcomes

  • Review of the maintenance requirements under the Sewerage System Regulation – webinar
  • Review of the maintenance requirements of the Standard Practice Manual – webinar
  • Overview of the reporting documentation for maintenance inspection – webinar
  • Maintenance processes and procedures for Type 1, 2 & 3 systems – practical field training
Claim Your Spot Now!

Dates:

March 19-20, 2026

Time:

8:30-4:30

Site Locations:

Locations within the Chilliwack area of British Columbia are being confirmed. Students will travel to and from nearby sites throughout the day.
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Training

The WCOWMA Onsite Wastewater Management of BC (WCOWMA-BC) provides excellent industry training programs for Onsite Wastewater Practitioners and Professionals. The Onsite Wastewater Practitioner Training Program for industry certification is recognized in the Western Provinces through Alberta Municipal Affairs, the New West Partnership Agreement (formerly TILMA) and federally through the Agreement on Internal Trade.

As well as this industry certification program, the WCOWMA-BC offers individual field and classroom training sessions for continuing education purposes. For information on training opportunities in your area, contact the WCOWMA-BC office.

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