Environmental Health Engineer

at  Interior Health Authority

Interior Health is looking for an experienced Environmental Health Engineer to join our team on a full time permanent basis.
This position will involve working at different sites so offer a flexible work location in the west of the Interior Health Region.

• To review and approve construction of waterworks and swimming pools pursuant to health legislation by:
• Reviewing plans and specifications submitted by professional engineers and architects pursuant to health legislation to determine if proposals meet acceptable public health engineering practices and to determine if any aspect of the proposed design will result in health or safety hazards.
• Negotiating with design engineers on proposals which do not comply with public health engineering requirements.
• Approving plans and issuing certificates of approval permitting construction (authority delegated by the Medical Health Officers).
• Monitoring construction projects to ensure compliance.
• Requiring major adaptations of engineering technology on a site-specific basis.
• Directing and monitoring private consultants, professional engineers, architects, who are experts in their field concerning their application of and compliance with policies, regulations and specifics.
• Reviewing and approving or rejecting products, devices and materials proposed for use in water systems or swimming pools.
• Reviewing and assessing of package sewage treatment plants, prefabricated septic tanks, sewage and effluent pipe and any other related device, appurtenance or product.
• To analyze and resolve Environmental Health Engineering problems and issues by:
• Conducting technical investigations and analyzes in order to resolve especially complex problems including sensitive and controversial issues.
• Developing prototype solutions for public health engineering concerns and applying judgement to the interpretation of the fine points of policies and regulation.
• Investigating, evaluating and providing advice and preparing assessment reports with recommendations as requested by the Medical Health Officer/Public Health Inspector on engineering aspects of waterworks systems, swimming pools, on-site sewage disposal systems and waste management applications.
• Interpreting policy and legislation.
• Monitoring water treatment performance in high-risk systems.
• Investigating, assessing and reviewing existing unapproved water systems, pools and preparing assessment reports with recommendations for the Medical Health Officer.
• Participating with the health protection team to determine the appropriate action to be taken for the elimination of health and safety hazards in existing waterworks systems or swimming pools.
• Negotiating with and informing the owner of an unapproved waterworks or swimming pool of any remedial action that may be required.
• Providing expert testimony as required during legal actions by the Health Authority.
• To provide engineering expertise by:
• Providing engineering advice to the Environmental Health Inspector and Medical Health Officer on request, on matters relating to water, sewage, pools, waste disposal, spills, pest management, within areas of expertise.
• Providing guidance, advice and instruction to consultants and operators on the design, construction and operation of water systems and swimming pools.
• Providing public health engineering service during the absence of a public health engineer for vacation, illness or other leave..
• Reviewing the design of any sewage/waste disposal system at the request of the Environmental Health Inspector.
• Participating in committees dealing with public health engineering issues.
• Identifying the need for and participating in the development of policies, standards, guidelines and regulations.
• Planning and coordinating applied research of a highly interpretative and highly analytical nature, including development work, where there is a strong requirement for ability to make judgement based on knowledge gained through extensive engineering experience.
• Testing new hypotheses, equipment, devices and chemicals, etc. and determining their practical suitability for the protection of public health.
• Testing, adapting and reviewing new technology for adoption in practical situations, analyzing complex data and interpreting results.
• Ensuring the collection and maintenance of up-to-date records, data compilations and inventories.
• To provide professional public health engineering support in identifying, resolving and preventing community environmental health problems.
• Assisting in the protection of water supply sources including watersheds, groundwater and surface water by participating in inter-ministry processes at the regional level.
• Providing input into the planning and amalgamation of small public water systems.
• Participating in the development of plans relating to community waste management issues such as landfills, sludge disposal, air management, etc.
• Facility and participating in waterworks, sewage works and swimming pool operator training programs.
• Participating in community development exercises at the local community level.
• Assisting communities to identify assess and resolve health risks and providing risk management options relating to health issues of environmental contamination of air, water, ground water, soils, etc.
• Consulting with the Medical Health Officer and Environmental Health Inspectors on engineering aspects of submissions they receive.