8 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Fall 2023 COTTAGE By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director and Cosette Shipman, GBA Coastal Protection Project Coordinator When it comes to managing private septic systems in rural Ontario, most of the information available focuses on Class 4 leaching bed systems. This is because they are the most common and popular type of system, especially for flushing toilets. As we put together our Septic System Guide (bit.ly/ GBASeptic), we realized that we needed to provide different information to cover all situations. The GBA membership is 95 per cent water access only and many reside on islands or lots with low or very low soil cover. Therefore, preserving water quality is a high priority and choosing the right system for your property becomes a lot more important. Class 4 systems work much better in areas with higher soil cover. With that in mind, GBA’s septics guide includes information on other systems that may work better for challenging soil conditions. To make the information more accessbile for our members, we also created an executive summary (bit.ly/ Septic-ES) and presentation (bit.ly/Septicpresentation) that provide a brief overview of these options and their pros and cons. The two primary options for most properties in cottage country (and the only options for new systems) are: 1. Class 4 systems, either conventional or advanced treatment units (ATU) 2. Composting toilets with a greywater pit – Class 1 & 2 However, residents who have a Class 5 holding tank in place are permitted to replace it with a new holding tank when necessary. Selecting the appropriate system is important, but taking proper care of it can significantly decrease the likelihood of water quality issues. Your septic system poses a greater environmental risk than anything else on your property, and it is also an expensive investment that you will want to keep in good condition. Therefore, we have made sure that the guide contains information on how to inspect and maintain all the different systems available to you, with links to more detail, if you need it. Please remember that your level of annual use and the capacity of the system you choose are important factors to consider, in addition to the pros and cons we have provided for each system. ≥ You might be surprised by the range of composting toilets that are now available and the innovative technology that has been developed to improve both the experience and functionality. ≥ Advanced treatment units can also make it possible to have a Class 4 system where that option might have posed too high a risk to the water quality at your property. ≥ Conversely, your holding tank system may not be as outdated as you think, and it can often be worthwhile taking advantage of the right to replace one, rather than switching to a system that may increase the risk to water quality. Please keep in mind that the guide is intended to complement the Ontario Building Code (OBC), local regulations, and guidance from industry professionals such as contractors, municipal staff, and installers. The OBC is the ultimate authority, with only limited flexibility at the municipal level. We remain optimistic that the OBC will give more consideration to the challenging property conditions that we face in Georgian Bay and elsewhere on the Canadian Shield. Developing this guide has made it clear that there is a need for the OBC to embrace new technologies that would expand the choices available to you, while potentially reducing the risk of environmental harm. This is likely to become more important as the impacts of climate change accelerate and water levels become more variable. Septic System Guide
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