Septic reinspection going well

Matt Pearson of B.M. Ross and Associates of Goderich addressed Huron-Kinloss council at its Oct 15 meeting saying that about 300 of the township’s septic systems will be inspected by the time winter sets in.

So far, out of the 253 septic tanks and nine sand points inspected, four systems were considered to be “high risk.” Of those, one was in the Jardine Creek area of Point Clark, two were in the Bruce Beach area and one was in the Kin-Bruce area. Pearson said they needed total system replacement and were “bad enough to be condemned.” Peason believes that three of the four have since been replaced.

He explained that the pilot year of the program started July 1 and had three main target areas, the Jardine Creek area of Point Clark, the Bruce Beach area, (particularly the first, original 100 cottages) and the Kin-Bruce subdivision, where systems are in the 30-year-old range. Another 80 were in non-target areas, such as those who volunteered to be tested, those wanting inspections before selling their homes and a hand full of rural properties. About half of the main target areas have now been tested.

As for medium risk, 28 per cent fall into that category.

Councillor Jim Hanna asked Pearson to clarify exactly what “medium risk” was. Pearson explained that it was those with tree roots near the tile bed, broken baffles, etc.

“How do you know if people are getting things such as broken baffles fixed,” asked councillor Don Murray. Pearson said that his staff would be doing callbacks to see what action was taken to repair relatively small problems, before they turn into big ones. They will then record the repairs made for future reference. “People are much better off spending $300-$400 now to replace a broken baffle for example, than they would be if sludge made it into the tile bed.” Replacing the tile bed can run thousands of dollars.

Pearson said that things should move along much more efficiently next year, than in the pilot year. He hopes to see it “vamped up to 500-600 systems-per-year.” If that target is reached, the township’s septics could all be inspected in five years, instead of nine years, which was originally expected. “Five years is a good time to start over.”

Hanna said he has gotten comments from some ratepayers saying that the inspections were “not intrusive enough,” complaining that tile drains were not being dug up. He also asked if the method used in Huron-Kinloss was cost effective.

Pearson said that other municipalities involved in septic reinspection programs were not digging up tile drains either and that the township’s program was worth the money. He believes it will be even more cost effective next year, as more systems will be inspected than in the pilot year.

“When you go to a cottage with a new system, what do they get for their money,” asked deputy mayor Wilf Gamble.

“Not as much as the old ones,” replied Pearson, “but they still need to be recorded and put on the system.”

In closing, Pearson said that the inspections are creating awareness and educating people as to the ill effects poorly operating systems have on the environment. “We’re making people think, maybe I should fix this, and maybe I should fix that.”

General stats as of Oct 12, 2007 according to B.M Ross and Associates

Total lots assessed:

253 septic tanks

9 sand points

Within the Jardine Creek area: 112 total lots done

1 high risk

37 medium risk

74 low risk

Within the Bruce Beach area: 42 total lots done

2 high risk

8 medium risk

14 low risk

Within the Kin-Bruce area: 19 total lots done

1 high risk

3 medium risk

14 low risk

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