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Local Septic Inspections 

 

Highlands East

 

Notice regarding Sewage Disposal System Maintenance Inspection Program
 

Posted to Building, By-Law, Environmental, News & Notices, Services on Jul 13, 2016 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 

 

Council of the Municipality of Highlands East is committed to the preservation of the environment and natural resources of the area and is therefore considering the implementation of a sewage system maintenance inspection program commencing in the spring of 2017.  The objective of a program of this nature is to aid in keeping our lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater pollution free. Sewage disposal systems that are improperly maintained, outdated or malfunctioning may have a negative impact on the groundwater, the surrounding water bodies and the environment.

Most properties within the Municipality function with private on-site systems which are regulated through the Ontario Building Code (OBC) which is enforced by the Municipality.  It is through Part 8 of the OBC that the Municipality may initiate an inspection program.  This type of program is normally conducted on a 5 year cycle with all properties within the Municipality with systems older than 5 years being reviewed area-by-area on an annual basis until complete.
To date, Council has not determined the type of program that may be conducted; however the program would likely include a visual inspection of the property with respect to:

  • Type and number of buildings on the property
  • Type of system being used ie: privy, grey water or leaching bed
  • Evidence of sewage effluent ponding, odour or unusually green or thick grass growing on or around the tile bed
  • Surface water or ground water flows toward the sewage system
  • Tree or vegetation growth on the tile bed
  • Location of the septic system

A letter would be sent to the property owner following the inspection indicating the results. If any deficiencies have been found these would be noted in the letter. Further inspections may be required which may include opening and pumping of tanks or excavating the tile bed for inspection.

Tips for keeping your sewage disposal system happy

  • Avoid planting vegetation that has a deep root system on the leaching bed
  • Ensure that trees are at least 3m (10 feet) away from the runs in the tile bed
  • Pump the septic tank every 3 to 5 years depending on how often the system is used
  • Do not use a sink garburator
  • Do not connect water softener backwash to the septic system
  • Ensure that materials such as Kleenex, sanitary products, grease, oil, solvents, paints, food waste or excessive laundry soaps do not enter the system
  • Do not park vehicles, trailers, or other equipment or drive on the tile bed.
  • Do not use anti-bacterial products

Let’s all work together to keep our lakes, rivers and streams healthy and pollution free for our children and grandchildren.  Future generations are counting on us.

Minden Hills


Minden Hills to perform lid-off septic inspections

 

By Chad Ingram 
Published Oct. 19, 2017 in The Times

The Township of Minden Hills will create a septic re-inspection program that will entail lid-off inspections of residents’ septic tanks, as well as the pumping of tanks.

Councillors discussed what type of program the township should institute during an Oct. 12 committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Municipalities have been mandated by the province to create septic re-inspection programs, although what type of inspections are performed is up to each individual municipality. 
There are four basic types of septic inspection. Type 1 involves only paperwork and requires no site visit. Type 2 includes a site visit, but inspectors don’t actually look inside the tank. Type 3 involves a lid-off inspection of septic tanks and Type 4 includes a lid-off inspection, and then a second inspection after the tank has been pumped out. 
Councillors have previously discussed inspections, noting the link between healthy septic systems and healthy lakes. Improperly functioning septic systems leach phosphorous into water bodies, phosphorous being a leading cause of algae blooms, which can seriously and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems.

“Is there any reason not to do Type 4?” Minden Hills Reeve Brent Devolin asked his colleagues. (Devolin’s title will officially change to “mayor” when council passes a bylaw at the end of the month.) Councillors seemed in agreement that Type 4 inspections were the way to go.

As to who will perform the inspections, Councillor Pam Sayne said she’d like to see local inspectors or companies involved. 
“There are a lot of people in our community who have inspection certificates,” Sayne said. “I would like to explore hiring people who are qualified under the Building Code, who live here, in Haliburton County.”

However, chief administrative officer Lorrie Blanchard pointed out that legislation prevents municipalities from prioritizing local businesses simply because they are local. 
“If you put out an RFP [request for proposals], there’s legislation that says you can’t favour local bidders,” Blanchard said.

Staff will proceed with the creation of process to facilitate the inspections. In the meantime, anyone who was about to pump their septic systems anyway should do so, chief building official Colin McKnight said. 
“If it’s due to be pumped, I’d get it pumped,” McKnight said. 
Most septic tank pumpings already come with an inspection report.

The county’s other three lower-tier townships have already instituted or are in the process of instituting septic re-inspection programs, each municipality enacting a different type of program. 
Highlands East has started a Type 2 program, where university students visit properties, determining what sort of system is in place and asking residents to fill out a questionnaire. Only in cases where septic tanks are deemed to be high-risk does a lid-off inspection take place. 
In Algonquin Highlands, council voted to hire firm WSP Canada, which will begin lid-off inspections next year. A fee of $180 per inspection will offset the cost of providing the program. 
Like Minden Hills, Dysart et al council has also decided it will create a Type 4 program. 
It is estimated the cost for the program in Minden Hills will be between $1 million and $5 million. With some 5,400 households in the township on septic or holding tank systems, it is estimated the annual sewage volume is 12,150,000 litres.

 

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