Our Services
Septic System Installation
Septic system installation through PRWS means one office takes the job from site assessment to a certified, working system. Jordan Huscroft, P.Geo., designs the system, arranges installation with registered installers he works with regularly, inspects the stages that matter, and issues the Letter of Certification. You can also hire your own installer and keep the same design, oversight and certification.
Most people looking for a septic installer want one thing: a working system that passes, without managing three companies to get it. Through PRWS the design, the installation and the certification run through one office. I do the assessment, design, filing, oversight and certification myself; the excavation and construction are carried out by registered installers I work with regularly.
For owners building or replacing a system who want design and installation handled through one point of contact, anywhere from Nanaimo to Bamfield.
What you get
A system designed for your ground, built by a registered installer, inspected at each critical stage and certified at the end. The Record of Sewerage System is filed with Island Health before construction and the Letter of Certification after it, so your building permit and your occupancy permit both have the paperwork they need.
Who builds it
Excavation, tanks, piping and dispersal media are installed by registered installers I work with regularly, matched to the job: the system type, the site access and the timing. I stay on the job through construction and sign off each stage before it is covered.
Design only, if you prefer
If you already have an installer, or want several installers to price the same drawing, take the design on its own. You get the same sealed design, the same inspections and the same certification; the choice of installer is yours.
What it costs
The design is priced on its own, starting at $3,490 for SPM-compliant residential systems, subject to exclusions. Installation is priced once the design is done, because the system type decides most of the cost, and commonly runs $20,000 to $55,000. You see the installed price and review it with me before work starts.
What does this look like in the field?
Photographs from real Vancouver Island projects. Client identifying details are deliberately kept out of frame — see project case studies for the full write-ups.
How it works
- 1
Assess
Desktop review, test pits, soil logs and percolation testing on your property.
- 2
Design and file
Sealed design to SPM V3 and the Record of Sewerage System filed with Island Health.
- 3
Install
Construction by a registered installer, with inspections at excavation, tank set, distribution and cover.
- 4
Certify
Commissioning, an as-built plan, a maintenance plan and the Letter of Certification.
Frequently asked questions
Do you install septic systems?
Installation is arranged through PRWS as part of the job. Registered installers do the construction; I design the system, oversee the work at each critical stage and certify it. You have one point of contact from the first site visit to the Letter of Certification.
Who do I sign the installation contract with?
It depends on the job, and it is agreed before any work starts. Some clients contract the installer directly on a design I prepare and oversee; others prefer PRWS to arrange the whole package. Either way the design, oversight and certification stay with me.
Can I use my own installer?
Yes. Take the design on its own and hire any installer qualified to build that system type. I oversee and certify the work the same way.
How long does it take?
The design is typically ready within a week of the site assessment, and the Island Health filing follows. Construction timing depends on the installer's schedule, the system type and ground conditions, and is set out when the installed price is agreed. Wet winter ground on the Island can push excavation back.
What does installation cost?
Commonly $20,000 to $30,000 for a Type 1 gravity system, $25,000 to $45,000 for pressure distribution, and $35,000 to $55,000 for a sand mound or sand lined bed, with Type 2 or Type 3 treatment adding $15,000 to $35,000. Remote sites cost more to reach.
Related reading: Who Can Design Your Septic System in BC? ROWP vs P.Geo. vs P.Eng.
Want the whole job handled?
Send the address or PID and tell me what you are building. I'll explain how design and installation would run on your property.