How do I know if there is a problem with my septic system? Why is the Province concerned about my septic system?

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1 Ministry of the Environment Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program Qs & As Septic System Inspections and Upgrades How do I know if there is a problem with my septic system? There are numerous indicators of a troubled septic system, including: Backed-up or slow moving toilets or drain Foul odours The ground surrounding the septic tank or leaching bed is soggy and soft Flooding of sewage or septic tank effluent around the septic system Dosing pumps that run constantly or not at all Unusual green or thick grass growing in or around the leaching bed area Tree roots in and around septic tank Large amounts of algae growth in or around nearby lakes or water bodies Well water test indicates high levels of nitrates, bacteria, or other contaminants Why is the Province concerned about my septic system? The intent of the Clean Water A ct, 2006 is to ensure communities are able to protect their municipal drinking water supplies through developing collaborative, locally driven, science-based protection plans. Communities will identify potential risks to local water sources and take action to reduce or eliminate these risks. Municipalities, conservation authorities, property owners, farmers, industry, community groups, and the public will all work together to meet common goals. One initiative property owners can achieve is taking the responsibility of maintaining their septic system to minimise the risk of health and environmental problems that could affect municipal drinking water sources. How does this program benefit me? Maintaining your septic system not only benefits you, but also protects municipal drinking water sources. The main function of a septic system is to treat wastewater to a safe level. Not maintaining your septic system can result in septic system failure. Therefore, it is up to you to maintain your system to eliminate the risk of contaminating drinking water sources and causing serious environmental and health problems. Regular maintenance will also result in protecting future investments. 1

2 What projects will the program cover and how much? The program will cover the inspections and upgrades of malfunctioning septic systems to properties that are within or extend into the following areas: 100-metre radius around a municipal wellhead 200-metre radius around a municipal surface water intake The two-year time of travel of a municipal wellhead approved by the local municipality and/ or The intake protection zone-one (IPZ-1) of a municipal surface water intake, approved by the local municipality. The following are eligible projects: Replace septic tank and leaching bed Replace septic tank and/ or holding tank only Replace leaching bed only Pump septic tank Over time, septic sludge will build up in the bottom of the septic tank, at which point a licensed pumper needs to pump the sludge from your system. The frequency of septic pumping varies and depends on the household water use and the size of the septic tank. Add plumbing connections/ pump to transfer wastewater to septic tank and/ or leaching bed. Connect to a municipal sewer line and the decommissioning of the existing septic system both projects required to be completed in order to receive funding. If a municipal sewer line is available, the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program (ODWSP) will only pay for an inspection and the costs of connection to that line. The program will pay 80% up to the $7,000 limit. Other upgrades or replacement are not eligible in this case. The ODWSP will cover 80 percent of the project(s) cost, with a grant ceiling of $7,000 for the eligible projects. Alternatively, the program will cover 80 percent of the project(s) cost with a grant ceiling of $15,000 for advanced septic systems. Advanced Septic Systems Many contractors will offer you the option to install advanced septic systems, at an additional cost, for reducing environmental impact. With these advanced systems, you may be paying a higher initial cost, but the trade-off may be worthwhile. For example, by installing an advance septic system, you will reduce environmental impacts and there is less chance of a costly clean-up problem. For more information on innovative septic system designs, please contact a qualified industry professional in your local area or to go: / PageFactory.aspx?PageID=50. 2

3 What are the wellhead protection area and the intake protection zone? Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA): means an area that is related to a wellhead and within which it is desirable to regulate or monitor drinking water threats. The area is made up of zones based on a 100-metre radius area around the well, including a 2-year time of travel capture zone. These are not circles drawn around the wellhead; each is a different shape based on local conditions, the nature of the subsurface area, and the rate and direction of groundwater flow. Surface Water Intake Protection Zone (IPZ): means an area that is related to a surface water intake and within which it is desirable to regulate or monitor drinking water threat. An IPZ-1 is based on a fixed distance from the water intake. For example, for a lake-fed system, this is a 1 kilometre radius and for a river-fed system it would be a 200-metre semi-circle upstream from the intake extending a set distance on land where it intersects land. For river intakes, the semicircle is extended downstream a fixed distance of a minimum of ten metres to account for overland flow, possible backflow, and up gradient diffusion. For more information, please contact your program administrator, the local conservation authority. Can I combine this funding with other programs/ projects? Yes. You are able to apply for additional funding to help cover the costs of your septic inspections and upgrades. However, funding provided from additional programs/ projects (e.g., Water Quality Programs) will be reviewed by the program administrator to determine the grant rate. Therefore, funding from other projects and programs must be disclosed to the program administrator to confirm that you are not receiving more than 100 percent of the total cost of the project. Providing inaccurate information on the portion of project funding received by other agencies is an offence. Contact your local conservation authority, public health unit, or municipality to determine additional stewardship programs in the area. Should I contact the program administrator before I start inspections and upgrades? Yes. It is important to determine if your proposed project(s) will be covered under the ODWSP. You must fill out the application to the best of your knowledge and may seek the assistance of the program administrator, the local conservation authority and/ or a qualified industry professional. A copy of the inspection report is required with the application form to verify the proposed project(s). The program administrator will review the application form and the inspection report. You will be notified if you have been approved/ not approved for the proposed project(s). You are required by law to report any problems to your local authorities before proceeding with inspections or upgrades. An inspection must be performed and a building permit must be granted before you perform inspections or upgrades on your septic system. Also, qualified industry professionals can help determine the required size and location of your septic system. For example, if you are repairing, replacing, or installing a new septic system, you will be informed of legal limitations on where the septic system can be located. 3

4 I have already upgraded/ inspected my septic system. Can I still apply for funding? Yes, as long as it is an eligible project that was implemented after September 19, 2006, and the property is within or extends into the following areas: 100-metre radius around a municipal wellhead; 200-metre radius around a municipal surface water intake; the two-year time of travel of a municipal wellhead approved by the local municipality; and/ or the intake protection zone-one (IPZ-1) of a municipal surface water intake, approved by the local municipality. You are responsible for submitting the application, the inspection report, a statement of expenses incurred with copies of invoice(s), and building permit for the required corrective action(s). Incomplete applications or not submitting proper documentation will delay funding to the applicant. Who can conduct an inspection on my septic system? The Building Code A ct s. 3(1) specifies the regulatory authority for inspectors and also indicates the responsibility of the municipality for the enforcement of the Act and the ability to appoint inspectors if they meet the qualifications specified in the Ontario Building Code. BCA s. 3.1 (2) and 32.1 also provide for the appointment of sewage system inspectors by a board of health, conservation authority, or planning board. Sewage inspectors, also known as qualified industry professionals, must be certified under the Ontario Building Code. Training and certification for On-Site Sewage Inspectors is administered through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Housing Development and Buildings Branch. Contact your local public health unit, conservation authority, or local municipality for more information on septic inspections and administering a Building Permit for the proposed project(s). As well, a list of qualified industry professionals can be found on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing s Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS): / Page1391.aspx. You may also contact a licensed company that installs or repairs septic systems. Septic installers are required to be licensed by the Province and have passed an examination administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. You can find a list of septic installers in the yellow pages of your telephone book under septics. As well, a list of septic installers can be found on the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association s website: / If I upgrade and/ or inspect my septic system will I be required to implement additional practices to protect source protection under the Clean Water Act, 2006? These early actions address a potential risk to drinking water sources. The Source Protection Plans, expected to be finalised in 2012 on a region-by-region basis, will determine the measures necessary to protect wellheads and surface water intakes. Therefore, taking early actions, like upgrading or inspecting your septic system, does not exempt you from implementing additional practices as determined in that local Source Protection Plan. You may be required to implement additional practices in the future to continue to protect drinking water sources. 4

5 Further Information: Ministry of the Environment s website: Ministry of the Environment: The Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing s Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS): / Page1391.aspx. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing: The Building Materials Evaluation Commission (BMEC) / PageFactory.aspx?PageID=50 Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association s (OOWA) website with a list of septic installers: / Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre (ORWC): / orwc/ index.htm Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services (OASIS): / index.html 5