​Township considering options to enforce septic re-inspection program

Huron-Kinloss council is looking into options to enforce its septic re-inspection program.

That decision was in response to a report by Lisa Courtney of B.M. Ross and Associates, providing an update on the program, at the committee-of-the-whole meeting, Monday morning (Jan. 15).

Courtney said the program began in 2007 and is in the first year of its third cycle; its goal is to have inspections done on all septic systems throughout the township to ensure they are running properly.

She said 45 permits were taken out in 2023 for new (19) and replacement (26) septic systems.

Fifty-two systems were installed last year, including 24 permits taken out in 2022 (17 new and seven replacement), and four permits taken out in 2021 for new systems. Eleven permits were taken out last year for advanced treatment units – four installed in 2023, 10 from 2022 permits and four from 2021 permits.

Last year, 69 permits were issued – 66 systems were installed and one was cancelled.

“From the inspection data, we know that age is the most common reason for systems needing replacement,” said Courtney, noting that of the 26 replaced in 2023, 18 were high-risk systems, six were medium-risk, and two were low-risk.

She said that many of the replacements are made when a system is due for inspection, and usually, the inspection has identified problems with the septic system. In addition, old systems are being replaced for new houses.

Replacements are being done evenly between Point Clark and the rural areas of the township, said Courtney, which is not surprising, given that these are where many of the older septic systems are located.

She said the target for 2023 was 471 properties – 336 due that year, 128 past due, and eight well-head protection areas. Of that, 408 inspections were completed, including 52 for new properties/replacement systems.

“In 2023, we made more than 1,050 attempts to connect with property owners between May and October,” she said, adding that 664 letters were sent out, more than 424 telephone calls were made and E-mails sent, and staff knocked on the doors of 116 properties.

Of those, 85 per cent of the properties due in 2023 were booked by the end of September, and 91 per cent were booked by October.

Pertaining to the advanced treatment units (tertiary treatment), Courtney said there are 91 units in Huron-Kinloss, up from 79 in 2022. Of these, 44 have submitted a record of annual reports or contracts, 12 were just installed last year, 18 have never submitted records, 11 have become delinquent in submitting records, and six property owners have refused to sign contracts with a provider or are unhappy with the current provider and are without contracts.

Property owners are sent letters outlining the requirement under the Building Code to have a service contract in place and annual maintenance inspection, said Courtney. Letters are sent out annually in February, asking for documentation confirming this requirement.

She said advanced treatment systems are included in the re-inspection program because they are installed in areas where a higher level of treatment is required, and property owners often do not understand the requirements associated with these systems.

Looking ahead to 2024, year two of cycle three, Courtney said 420 inspections were due in 2023, 66 are past due from 2015-23, and three well-head protection area inspections are due, for a total of 489 inspections this year.

For advanced treatment units, the plan is to develop a “new owner” guide for these units, and stress the importance of proper maintenance and annual inspections, said Courtney, and to continue to follow up with property owners who have not provided records and contracts.

Mayor Don Murray thanked Courtney for her report.

Committee-of-the-whole requested a future report on what options are available to the township, to enforce septic re-inspection requirements on delinquent residents.