Septic Re-Inspection Program
The 2025 inspection season (running from May 20th to August 29th) focused specifically on Area 5, Part 2. Here is everything you need to know about how the program operated, from exemptions to the step-by-step inspection process.
📍 Who Was Inspected in 2025?
The focus for this season was Part 2 of Area 5, covering 8 specific lakes within Harcourt Park. If your property is within 30 metres of the water on one of these lakes, it was on the list:
Allen Lake
Big Barnum Lake
East Lake
Straggle Lake
Little Straggle Lake
Charlie George Lake
Kennaway Lake
Long Lake
The goal? To identify systems needing upgrades and ensure compliance with By-Law 2024-24.
🚫 Inspection Exemptions
Not every property on the list required a new inspection. Owners could be removed from the 2025 schedule if they met specific criteria and provided proof:
New Systems: The system was newly installed or fully replaced within the last 5 years.
Advanced Treatment Units: The system uses an improved quality treatment unit with a current service agreement and compliant annual effluent samples.
Recent Compliance: The property completed re-inspection requirements under a previous program within the last 5 years.
🔍 The 10-Step Inspection Process
Curious about what happens when the inspector arrives? The process is thorough but straightforward. While it can vary slightly based on accessibility, here is the standard workflow:
1. Arrival & Intro: The inspector arrives, introduces themselves to the owner (if present), and gathers contact info/email for reporting. 2. Voluntary Walk-Through: The inspector requests a voluntary walk-through of the dwelling to confirm bedroom counts and identify fixtures for flow testing. Water is often run to prepare for the test. 3. Accessory Buildings: A quick check of any bunkies or garages to confirm their use. 4. Visual Tank Check: Lids are lifted off both chambers of the septic tank for a visual inspection of components and levels. 5. Sludge & Scum Check: The inspector uses a "Sludge Judge" tool to measure the thickness of sludge and scum layers. 6. The Flow Test: Water is drained from the house fixtures. The inspector watches the flow into the tank, through the second chamber, and out to the bed to ensure no blockages. (They may also clean the effluent filter if needed). 7. Closing Up: Lids are reinstalled. 8. Property Scan: A final walk-around to ensure the property complies physically (e.g., no unauthorized structures over the bed). 9. Lake Health Assessment: A complimentary assessment of the waterfront is done to educate owners on shoreline health. 10. Reporting: Back at the office, the report is finalized and emailed to the owner with any necessary remedial actions.
🚛 When is a Pump-Out Required?
You don't always need a pump-out, but specific "red flags" will trigger a mandatory pump-out order:
Age: The tank was installed prior to 1980.
No Records: The Municipality has no permit on file.
Material: The tank is made of something other than concrete, plastic, or fiberglass.
Fullness: Scum/sludge levels occupy 1/3 or greater of the settling chamber's capacity.
Malfunction: Any visible issues with tank levels or function.
Note: If you had a pump-out within 1 year of the inspection date, you could submit that invoice instead of doing it again.
📝 Third-Party Inspections
Property owners had the option to hire their own inspector rather than using Municipal staff. However, strict rules applied:
Inspectors must be qualified under Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code.
They must have signed a 10-point agreement with the Municipality.
Only Approved Third-Party Inspectors (listed on the municipal website) were accepted.
Owners were required to submit these reports via the website along with a $50 review fee. In 2025, 108 third-party reports were submitted for Area 5.
💰 Fees and Invoicing
The costs associated with the program are approved by Council under By-Law 2024-24. Invoices were prepared by the Tax Department and applied directly to the property tax account.
Note: If a property required multiple attempts to complete the inspection, multiple $220 invoices were issued.
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