New Agreement Targets Environmental Training
Nova Scotians planning to buy a home will soon be able to rely on their real estate practitioner to help them understand how to maintain their on-site sewage disposal system. This will make it easier for homeowners to protect their investment and the environment.
The Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour and the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors have agreed to co-operate on the development and delivery of an On-site Sewage Disposal Systems Awareness course. The three-hour pilot course will first be delivered in March 2002.
"Industry gets the training it wants, home buyers get the information they need and the environment is better protected. That's a real win-win initiative that we're excited to be able to deliver," said David Morse, Minister of Environment and Labour.
Municipal sewer systems cover about only 60 per cent of Nova Scotia homes. Homeowners who buy in communities that use on-site septic systems often have little or no experience with these systems. Without proper maintenance, the systems can begin to malfunction, possibly leading to expensive repairs and other environmental concerns for the homeowner.
The need for training was identified during this summer's public consultations on sewage management, which were led by Environment and Labour staff. Real estate practitioners who attended the sessions expressed concerns about lack of training with on-site systems. The end result was the signing of a memorandum of understanding this week that focuses on educating real estate practitioners on the regulatory information and the maintenance of on-site sewage disposal systems. The department will not charge for the course.
"We were delighted to have been contacted by the department, who had the knowledge and the desire to develop a course for our industry. It's a timely topic that will not only improve the knowledge of our practitioners, but also count as a credit toward mandatory continuing education for practitioners," said Arnold Jones, director of education for the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors.