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Septic_reinspections

Feature Article

Feature Article

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Councils Differ on Septic ReinspectionAt a recent conference on the development of Lake Plans, township councillors from Tay Valley Township and Central and South Frontenac revealed the wide range of responses municipal governments have made to the question of septic reinspection.

Septic systems are inspected when they are put in place, and there is a requirement that any new lot that is created must be capable of handling a septic system, but once a system is in place, there is no process for it to be re-inspected at any time. This is of concern on lakes, where there are many older septic systems which may be leaching sewage into the lakes.

Jack Nicolson, the deputy Mayor of Central Frontenac said we do not have the resources in the township to deal with septic reinspection at this time. David Hahn of South Frontenac, where septic problems have led planners to propose a controversial water treatment plant for the Village of Sydenham, said we have a committee that has been looking at doing septic reinspection but as of yet nothing has happened.

On the other hand, Mayor Mike Mosher of Tay Valley Township in Lanark, told the audience that a septic reinspection process is now in place in Tay Valley. We have looked at 150 systems in the two years we have been doing this, and it is a slow process getting this up and running, but we are trying to increase what we do each year.

Jack Nicolson did point out that the situation is not necessarily as grim in Central Frontenac as his earlier comment may have implied. We contract septic inspection with the KFL&A Health Unit. Any property that is being renovated is subject to a septic inspection, as are all new constructions. Septic reinspection would be a good thing for Central Frontenac, but the taxpayers are more concerned with keeping roads clear and keeping taxes from rising too high.

With the participation of the Government of Canada