How to win septic, sewer and drain cleaning contracts in BC
Who buys sewer flushing, CCTV inspection, catch basin cleaning and septic pumping in BC, the registrations buyers ask for, and how to price unit-rate work.
Short answer
BC municipalities tender sewer and storm main flushing, CCTV inspection and catch basin cleaning, while regional districts, parks and rural schools buy septic pumping and maintenance. Work is usually priced per metre, per basin or per pump-out, plus truck rates and disposal. Buyers ask for authorized onsite sewage practitioners, certified CCTV operators, confined space and traffic plans.
Sewer and drain work needs specialized trucks, so there are fewer bidders than in most trades. Municipalities clean and inspect their mains every year, and rural parks, schools and halls rely on septic systems that need regular pumping. Many contracts run for several years.
Who buys this work in BC?
- Municipalities, for sewer and storm main flushing, CCTV inspection, catch basin cleaning and hydro-vac excavation.
- Regional districts and parks, for septic systems at parks, campgrounds and community halls.
- School districts, for septic systems at rural schools and drain cleaning in buildings.
- Health authorities and housing providers, for drain cleaning and grease interceptor service.
What does a sewer tender ask for?
A schedule of mains to flush and inspect, by pipe size and length, with CCTV recordings and condition reports to a named coding standard. Catch basin contracts list each basin or area and how often to clean it. Expect requirements for traffic control, confined space entry and disposal of the material you collect.
What does a septic contract ask for?
A list of sites, with tank sizes and how often to pump. Many also cover inspecting and maintaining the treatment system, with a report for each visit.
In BC, maintaining onsite sewage systems must be done by an authorized person, such as a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP) or a professional. Buyers ask for the registration number in the bid.
How do I price it?
Most of these contracts use unit prices:
| Work | Usual unit |
|---|---|
| Sewer flushing and CCTV | Per metre of pipe, by size |
| Catch basin cleaning | Per basin |
| Septic pumping | Per pump-out, or per volume |
| Truck time | Per hour, for vac, flusher or hydro-vac |
| Disposal | Per volume or load |
Build each from truck and crew time, travel, disposal fees and overhead. Remote sites may let you price travel separately. Check estimated quantities, since a change in metres moves your total.
What wins?
- The right trucks, with backups, and operators certified to the coding standard.
- Registrations for onsite sewage work.
- Clean reports: clear video, condition coding and logs on time.
- Safety: confined space and traffic plans.
When do these tenders come out?
Sewer flushing and CCTV programs usually run from spring to fall, with tenders early in the year. Septic pumping at parks and campgrounds is scheduled before and after the summer season, and contracts are often tendered in late winter.
What are common mistakes?
- Leaving out disposal fees, which can be large for some materials.
- Underpricing travel to remote sites.
- Poor video or coding, which buyers can reject and make you redo.
Where to go next
Read unit rates and estimated quantities, and the excavation and civil guide for the repairs inspections lead to.
What to do next
Sources
Rules and forms change. Check the official page before you rely on a detail here.