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A North Okanagan engineer has lost his licence after authorizing the construction of half a dozen sewage systems that didn't meet government regulations.

According to an April 17 Engineers and Geoscientists BC decision, Richard (Dick) Bartel's work fell short of construction requirements in the sewage system he designed and signed off on.

The decision involves three properties in Vernon, one in Chase and numerous recreation sites in the Thompson-Okanagan region.

The regulator said the Coldstream engineer's designs fell short of government requirements, although he stamped and approved the sewer systems before submitting the paperwork.

The decision said Bartel failed to conduct adequate site and soil evaluation and then prepared plans, specifications and supporting documents that were not either consistent with industry-standard practices or deficient.

In one case, his plan for an onsite sewerage system for Antoine Road in Vernon didn't comply with the manufacturer’s written installation instructions.

"Mr. Bartel provided no written rationale or justification for this non-compliance," the decision read.

The regulator said Bartel's work contained "errors, defects or omissions."

The decision listed multiple technical details and requirements which he didn't follow.

"The soil texture description on the Record of Sewerage System (report) does not match the observations contained in Soil Pit Observation Record... (and) the depth of natural soil to restrictive layer and total vertical separation on the (report) are stated to be 182cm, but the Soil Pit Observation Record... indicate that there was no excavation below 1270mm," the decision said about one project.

For one septic system on Lawrence Lane in Vernon, Bartel admitted that he failed to do numerous site and soil evaluations before he drew up the plans and specifications that weren't consistent with standard practice. 

For a septic system on Eastside Road in Vernon, he again failed to conduct an adequate site and soil evaluation, along with a list of technical failures.

Engineers and Geoscientists BC said Bartel "demonstrated unprofessional conduct" in the numerous projects that date back to 2014.

There was no mention in the decision of what effect building the sewage systems had on the surrounding environment and if they were ever brought up to standard. There was also no mention of how Bartel was found to have signed off on systems that didn't meet government standards.

Engineers and Geoscientists BC said Bartel became registered in 1985 and has been disciplined before.

In 2012, he was reprimanded for unprofessional conduct for designing six sewerage systems that were too close to a well or source of drinking water. The projects stretched from Lumby to 70 Mile House.

Following the finding of unprofessional conduct, the regulator had all his wastewater treatment systems peer reviewed. He applied to have it lifted in 2014.

In 2021, he was fined $3,500 for failing to attend an interview when under investigation for a system he'd designed at the Shuswap Lake RV Resort in Celista.

Bartel owns Point One Engineering and has been sued over his designs.

In 2023, Calgary resident Greg Ogrodnick took Bartel to the small claims court.

The notice of claim stated that Bartel installed a septic field at Ogrodnick's lake house in Lumby.

"The septic field was found to be 25 inches out of level with the lower portion of the field sloping towards my newly constructed house," the court document said. "If not corrected the field would not operate due to sewer back up into my house."

"The septic field was installed by Herb Reynolds, a contractor demanded by Point One Engineering and inspected by Dick Bartel," the notice of claim read.

Ogrodnick successfully sued for $14,000 to cover the cost of having to get the septic site redone by another engineer and contractor.

Bartel signed a consent order with the Engineers and Geoscientists BC admitting to the regulator allegations.

He was ordered to pay $2,000 and had his licence cancelled.

Engineers and Geoscientists BC says he will not be able to reapply "at any time in the future."

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