Septic Maintenance

Delve into the vital role of septic system maintenance in preserving lake health.

Maintaining the health of our lake must be a number one priority for all cottagers. Your septic system is a sewage treatment facility that requires careful attention to design, construct, operate, and maintain. As a property owner, this is your legal responsibility per the Ontario Building Code.

Deficiencies Identified in 75% of Systems Aged 30+ Years

34%

Leaching bed failure

21%

Deficient outlet baffle

15%

Saturated leaching bed

15%

Heavy tank corrosion and/or structural failure

15%

Sludge in leaching bed

In another re-inspection evaluation summary of over 7,600 properties between 2013 and 2017, the company performing the septic maintenance on behalf of the local municipality reported that 18% of inspected systems had solids in the tank at or greater than one-third of the tank volume and as such, needed solid pump-out. As it is highly likely that a large number of the 700+ septic systems on Kahshe and Bass Lake waterfront properties are well beyond 25-30 years old, i.e. installed before 2000, these re-inspection findings are cause for concern.

Benefits of Regular Septic System Maintenance

Community Wellness

Household wastewater is loaded with disease-causing bacteria and viruses, as well as high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. A properly functioning septic system helps remove these pollutants so well water and nearby surface water do not get contaminated.

Cost Saving

Maintenance fees of a few hundred dollars every few years are a bargain compared to the cost of repairing or replacing a malfunctioning septic system, which can cost tens of thousands.

Asset Protection

A malfunctioning septic system harms our lake health which can in turn substantially drive down property values.  In addition, an unusable septic system or one in disrepair will further lower your property value and pose a potentially costly legal liability.

Ecological Protection

Malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses  and chemicals that eventually enter surrounding bodies of water. The pollutants harm local ecosystems by killing native plants and wildlife.

Legal Obligation

If you own a septic system anywhere in Ontario, you are required by the Ontario Building Code to maintain your septic system and to make sure it is working properly.

Keys to Maintaining a Healthy Septic System

While the Town of Gravenhurst’s septic re-inspection program may eventually identify these problems, this is unlikely to happen in time to prevent a failure from contaminating our lakes, as the Town’s program appears to be seriously underfunded. As such, it is recommended that individual property owners take their legal responsibility under the Ontario Building Code seriously, and retain a licensed professional to have their tank pumped out and the entire system evaluated. This report provides property owners with information they can use to visibly inspect their property for signs of system failure. Although not all specifically related to the maintenance of your septic system, the following four recommendations will ensure that we minimize our impact on the water quality of our lakes:

Prevent Problems

  • Ditch the garbage disposal
  • Only flush toilet paper
  • No cleaning solutions
  • Skip septic tank additives

Watch for Warning Signs

  • Smelly black liquid in drains
  • Toilets that flush slowly
  • Slow or clogged drains
  • Greener grass over septic field

Protect the Drainfield

  • Don't drive or park on any part of a septic system or drainfield
  • Only plant grass (no trees) nearby
  • Don't build on the drainfield

Get Pumped

Septic tanks should be pumped before problems start - frequency will depend on:

  • How many people use the system
  • The size of the tank
  • Volume of solids in the tank

Reduce Water Use

  • Repair leaky faucets
  • Choose low-flow plumbing fixtures
  • Redirect downspouts
  • Don't drain pools or hot tubs into a septic system

Schedule an Inspection

  • Find a qualified inspector
  • Report any concerns
  • Keep accurate recordsedirect downspouts
  • Address any problems noted

In Ontario, the specifications for construction and maintenance of sewage systems with a flow of fewer than 10,000 liters per day are regulated under the Ontario Building Code, and municipalities are responsible for the inspection and approval of all septic installations. For Kahshe and Bass Lakes, the Building Department of the Town of Gravenhurst is the agency with this responsibility. Anyone who is planning to have a new or replacement system installed must have this work carried out by a licensed professional.

Most properties on Kahshe and Bass Lakes already have a septic system in place, the more important questions about these systems and their potential to impact our lakes are discussed below. While this information is current to 2023, it is presented only to give a general perspective on the installation and design of a typical Class 4 septic system in Ontario. For anyone installing a new or replacement septic system, the Town of Gravenhurst is the agency with authority and responsibility for permitting and installation under the Ontario Building Code, and as such, all installation and design decisions must be approved by the Town.

Septic System Longevity

A septic system is like any other equipment in your house. If you operate and maintain the system responsibly, it will work well and should last a long time. A properly functioning septic system provides a safe, reliable way of treating household waste. If you don’t maintain your septic system, you could be endangering your family’s health, the integrity of the natural environment, and the health of our lake. If something goes wrong with your septic system, the replacement cost can be $25K+ or more. This is likely to be significantly higher for waterfront properties on Kahshe and Bass Lakes that do not have road access, as barge rental fees are an extra cost.

DO

  • Familiarize yourself with the location of your system.
  • Keep the tank access lid secured to the riser at all times.
  • Keep an as-built system diagram in a safe place for reference.
  • Keep accurate records of septic system maintenance and service calls.
  • Test your well water at least three times a year - spring, summer and fall for indicator bacteria.
  • Have your tank inspected for sludge and scum buildup on a regular basis (3-5 years) and clean out when a third of the depth of your tank is full of sludge and scum.
  • Have your effluent filter checked and cleaned every year; if you don't have an effluent filter, consider adding one.
  • Divert surface water away from your leaching bed and conserve water in the house to reduce the amount of wastewater that must be treated.
  • Repair leaky plumbing fixtures.
  • Replace inefficient toilets with low-flush models.
  • Consider installing a lint filter on your washing machine's discharge pipe.
  • Spread the number of loads of laundry throughout the week.

DON’T

  • Enter a tank - gases and lack of oxygen can be fatal.
  • Put cooking oils or food waste down the drain.
  • Flush hazardous chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cigarette butts or sanitary products.
  • Use a garbage disposal unit/garburator unless your system has been designed for it.
  • Use special additives that are claimed to enhance the performance of your tank or system - you don't need them!
  • Dig without knowing the location of your leaching bed.
  • Drive or park over your tank or leaching bed.
  • Pave over your leaching bed.
  • Allow livestock on the leaching bed.
  • Plant trees or shrubs too close to the septic tank or leaching bed.
  • Connect rain gutters, storm drains, sump pumps or allow surface water to drain into a septic system.
  • Connect leaching bed or greywater system to agricultural field drainage.
  • Discharge water softener backwash to the septic system unless your system has been designed for it.
  • Drain hot tub and spa water to the septic system.

Credit: AgCan, AgriFood & OMAFRA (2019)

Not mentioned above is the use of phosphate-free or low-phosphate soaps and detergents in the cottage. Cleaning your boat while it is in the water should never happen. That is a land-based activity. The writer addressed the issue of phosphates in cleaners in a 2016 article in the Krier (Pearson, 2016) and the main findings from this article also highlight the need to spread out the operation of high water use operations like dishwashers and washing machines.

Legislative action has effectively eliminated phosphorus from laundry and dishwasher detergents. However:

  • The increased volume of water from these appliances results in greater and more uneven flow through the septic system and can cause phosphorus to be desorbed from the soil and migrate toward the lake.
  • The greater volume of water flow also will carry other more mobile contaminants like chloride and nitrates more quickly and in greater quantities to the lake.
  • Some of the chemicals that have replaced phosphorus in cleaning products have not yet been well studied and may migrate to the lake and adversely affect aquatic life.

How can I minimize the impact of using laundry and dishwashing appliances at the cottage?

  • Spread out the use of the washing/dishwashing appliances to better distribute the water flow and increase residence time within the tank so gravity (settling) and microbial action have time to work.
  • Verify your detergent is labeled as phosphate-free.
  • Minimize the amount of pre-washing/rinsing of dishes and avoid flushing food wastes.
  • Avoid the use of powdered/dry detergents as they contain fillers or extenders that may clog your drain system.
  • Regularly inspect and pump your septic tank, as settling in these chambers removes a major amount of phosphorus that resides in solid wastes.

What are the signs of a failing system?

Based on the Love Your Lake shoreline assessment program Values Survey Summary Report 2019, a large number of Kahshe and Bass Lake property owners expressed concern regarding water quality in general and more specifically about faulty or poorly maintained septic systems. As such, it is important to educate owners regarding signs of problems. If you are experiencing any of the following signs or have doubts about the condition of your system, consider having it inspected:

  • Slowing or backed-up drains in your home/cottage
  • Spongy spots on or near the leaching bed
  • Above normal growth of grass/weeds in patchy areas of the leaching bed
  • The appearance of raw sewage on the ground or close to the tank or leaching bed
  • Septic odors in the basement or outside in the vicinity of the tank or leaching bed
  • Poor well or surface water quality

Who conducts inspections and what are they looking for?

Regular inspections are important for the proper maintenance of your sewage system and can identify ongoing or potential problems. Inspections can help ensure a long, useful lifespan for your sewage system. The Town of Gravenhurst septic re-inspection program takes place on waterfront properties and aims to help keep lakes and groundwater free from pollution.

Gravenhurst staff works with property owners to provide information and increase awareness about their sewage disposal systems. Each year a summer student is hired to complete visual inspections for existing septic systems. Certain lakes are selected each summer to ensure that there are no repeated properties from previous years. This cycle continues until all applicable properties have been inspected. The Town’s Building Department has advised the KBLA that their re-inspection program was implemented in the year 2000 and has been conducted with the intention of: a) targeting private sewage systems that may be causing pollution; and b) identifying pollution caused by the absence of a sewage system. Individual properties are selected with the aid of the Town’s GIS program and the accumulation of information about previous sewage system records. The reinspection student inspector conducts the initial visual site inspection and the following information is noted and recorded:

  • Type of building, tank, and system
  • Evidence of sewage effluent visible and/or odor
  • Evidence of erosion of septic bedside slopes
  • Whether the groundwater flows toward the system
  • If the sewage system and septic tank are properly located on the property
  • Whether the sewage system bed has trees/vegetation growth
  • Whether the system is located more than 15 meters (50 Feet) from the water
  • Whether there is a privy located on the property
  • Whether the property is water access
  • Whether the sewage system serves more than one building
  • If the sewage system uses a pump chamber
  • Whether a sewage system approval exists

Following the site visit, the Town’s Septic/Building Inspector sends a letter to the owner of the property if any deficiencies are noted and a follow-up is conducted in the form of a phone call, another letter, or further inspections if required.

Is the Town’s septic reinspection program working? The answer to this question is that we don’t know. The Town informed the KBLA that their septic inspections on Kahshe Lake were last conducted in 2009 for water-access properties and in 2013 for properties with road access. Inspections were to be carried out in 2019; however, that was then pushed back to 2023 due to COVID-19 and other staffing issues. The KBLA attempted to get clarification on the findings of the Town’s re-inspection program but were informed that the information they had released earlier was all that they had on the program.

What kinds of failures are common in septic re-inspection programs across Ontario?

In a recent study (FOCA, 2019), the effectiveness of several septic re-inspection programs undertaken by septic professionals (funded by the municipal authority) across Ontario was evaluated. Their findings are:

  • No deficiencies or impediments to function or performance (32%)
  • Minor deficiencies requiring repairs/upgrades to ensure performance (27%)
  • Major deficiencies in significant/extreme ways that impeded function and performance (41%)