Qualified Persons for Drainage Approvals
The Water Security Agency’s (WSA) Agricultural Water Management Strategy requires all drainage works to be approved. Drainage approvals are an important way to manage business risk on farms. They provide security to landowners, reduce risks to the environment and protect downstream neighbours from negative impacts. A registered approval remains on the land title for the term of the approval, even if the land is sold.
Preparation of a drainage application includes mapping all drainage works, securing legal land permission for all lands involved, communicating with all parties including WSA, designing required mitigation works (flow controls, erosion control), identifying wetlands to be retained within the network, and completing all the necessary paperwork.
Many landowners will not have the time to dedicate to a drainage approval project. In most cases, they will need assistance from a Qualified Person (QP) to accurately plan, design and submit the application for approval of a drainage project.
There are two types of QPs: Accredited and Non-Accredited QPs
Accredited QPs are individuals that work directly with landowner clients to complete applications for drainage projects.
The requirements to become an Accredited QP are to:
- complete all of WSAs required QP training courses;
- complete a small network project through mentorship with a WSA Technologist; and
- apply to WSA for QP Accreditation to demonstrate a suitable combination of education and experience for the purposes of submitting a drainage application and/or preparing a report.
Non-Accredited QPs (previously known as Self-Designated QPs) are individuals who do contract work on drainage projects in collaboration with an Accredited QP, or client. Non-accredited QPs are not authorized to complete or submit a drainage application on behalf of a client.
Non-accredited QPs:
- Will have at least one of the following professional designations: licensed under The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act; a practicing member as defined by The Agrologists Act, 1994; or a professional technologist as defined by The Saskatchewan Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act.
- Depending on the technical requirements of the drainage network they are working on, they may be required to complete WSA’s advanced technical QP training courses.
Most drainage projects, except for those with less than one quarter section of drainage, will require a QP to prepare the application for a drainage approval.
Yes, all QPs must carry sufficient professional liability insurance to cover them for the work they do as a QP.
QPs can carry out a wide range of activities on behalf of drainage applicants. Accredited QP’s can provide:
- Communication to liaise between applicants, WSA and other stakeholders.
- Assistance to landowners with completing applications, forms and in obtaining documents necessary for securing land permission.
- Project management support with scheduling, budgeting and project planning.
- Project development assistance to help landowners evaluate options and guide a project through the development process.
- Basic technical skills, such as preparing plans, identifying land impacted by the drainage works, determining the point of adequate outlet, assessing the risk of the project, identifying mitigation requirements, identifying wetlands to be retained within the network, and applying standard design for mitigation works when required.
QPs are responsible for ensuring that they perform tasks within their area of expertise and experience. QPs with the appropriate technical education and experience can provide:
- intermediate technical skills, such as designing low risk mitigation works, sizing of infrastructure, surveying plans, and providing as-built plans for project verification.
- engineering design, such as designing higher risk mitigation works, designing projects with a high dollar value, designing projects with a high level of technical complexity, and conducting hydrology studies.
Typically, the drainage applicant or landowner client hires and pays the QP. The drainage applicant may be able to apply for program funding to help subsidize the cost of the QP. WSAs Ag Water Management Fund provides cost shared funding for QP services on eligible drainage projects.
An Accredited QP is a liaison between the drainage applicant and WSA. QPs are responsible for:
- ensuring they are working within their area of expertise.
- following WSAs QP Code of Practice and Codes of Ethics of their respective professional associations.
Non-Accredited QPs – not all non-accredited QPs will be required to take the QP Training Courses. Although non-accredited QPs may do contract work on drainage projects in collaboration with an Accredited QP, or client, they are not authorized to complete or submit a drainage application on behalf of a client.
These QPs will have at least one of the following professional designations: licensed under The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act; a practicing member as defined by The Agrologists Act, 1994; or a professional technologist as defined by The Saskatchewan Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act. Depending on the technical requirements of the drainage network they are working on, they may be required to complete WSA’s advanced technical QP training courses.
Accredited QPs – all accredited QPs will be required to take the QP Training Course.
In the QP Training Course, WSA will provide QPs with the operating procedures and technical standards used for the preparation of drainage applications, and “how to” training for WSA’s online tools. WSA also expects QPs who have taken the QP Training Course will provide WSA’s technical standards to QPs they are working with, who have not taken the training.
Link to QP Training Courses: Qualified Persons (QP) Training Courses | Water Security Agency
It is your responsibility to check a QP’s background, as you bear the ongoing responsibility of the operation and maintenance of the approved drainage works. When you’re looking to hire a reputable QP, a few questions, and a little investigation, will ensure that you get the right QP for your drainage project.
Checklist for hiring a QP:
current resume – check the QP’s background, verify their credentials.
- Accreditation status – contact WSA to confirm that this person is an Accredited QP.
- list of references – names and phone numbers of previous clients for a basic reputation/area of practice reference check.
- proof of insurance – a QP must carry professional or general liability insurance to protect their clients from unforeseen events that can occur during the project.
- ask for a quote – discuss the costs and payment options.
- get a written contract – insist on a detailed contract before proceeding with any drainage related work.