The Mississippi and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities offer a re-inspection program to interested municipalities through the Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office.

Why Re-inspect Septic Systems?

Malfunctioning on-site sewage systems can have both human health and environmental impacts beyond the property on which it is located. Nutrient and bacteria-rich effluent can travel through soil and rock fractures to surface water bodies, and ground water sources. Contamination of surface water can cause excessive aquatic plant growth, depletion of oxygen in lakes, and impact the natural habitat for aquatic species. Ground water contamination can cause illness and even death. This makes it crucial that property owners be aware of the location and operation of their septic system. Under the Ontario Building Code it is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that their sewage system is working properly, not only for their health, but also that of the surrounding community and environment. This re-inspection program gives property owners the confidence that their system is operating property — avoiding contamination of surface and groundwater.

History of the Program

Tay Valley Township has led the way locally for the sewage system re-inspection program as well as other initiatives that work towards protecting the quality of surface and ground water. Since the sewage system re-inspection pilot program in 2000, the Township has now inspected thousands of waterfront properties. The program combines the education of the homeowner regarding the maintenance of their sewage system with an inspection component. A follow-up component is also essential to ensure that the program effectively manages identified sewage system problems.

Voluntary Vs. Mandatory Inspections

Municipalities, under the Ontario Building Code, can run voluntary septic system re-inspection program or a discretionary program with mandatory inspections.

The steps taken for the septic re-inspection program are exactly the same for the voluntary and mandatory programs. The only difference is that property owners under the mandatory component are required to participate in the program when their property has been identified, whereas property owners under the voluntary component can choose whether or not to participate.

The Mandatory Re-inspection Program applies to all properties located in the following regions:

1. Within the Tay Valley Township on:

• Adam Lake
• Bennett Lake
• Bob’s Lake
• Farren Lake
• Little Silver Lake
• Long Lake
• Otty Lake
• Pike Lake
• Rainbow Lake

2. Township of Rideau Lakes
3. Central Frontenac

The Voluntary Re-inspection Program encompasses waterfront properties in the following townships:

1. The remainder of Tay Valley Township
2. North Frontenac

To book your inspection or learn more about the program, contact: 

Eric Kohlsmith, Septic Inspector
Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office
10970 Highway 7, Carleton Place Ontario K7C 3P1
613-253-0006 ext. 256

Members of the public are invited to an upcoming open house to review hazard maps. The RVCA has just completed a review and update of existing hazard maps (floodplain and steep slopes) along the Rideau River from Hogs Back to Rideau Falls.

These maps are typically known as “floodplain mapping,” but they also show areas that are prone to natural hazards such as flooding, erosion and unstable slopes and natural environment features such as wetlands. The mapping takes these features into consideration and will be used by the City of Ottawa and the Conservation Authority when updating Official Plans and Zoning Schedules and in the review of other related Planning Act applications. RVCA will also use this mapping to guide the review of for construction applications in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, shorelines and waterways and along steep slopes.

The goal of this mapping is to help ensure that sound planning decisions are made — keeping people and property safe. Accurate engineered hazard mapping is the foundation of effective floodplain and resource management.

Members of the public are encouraged to the open houses and/or provide comments on the draft mapping.

Open House
November 8, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Brewer Park Pool
100 Brewer Way, Ottawa
Lounge Room

Conservation Authority staff welcome historical records of past flood events, news clippings, photographs and even anecdotal stories to help confirm the reasonableness of calculations and resulting hazard mapping. Local residents are encouraged to share their knowledge to help the Conservation Authority further refine these maps.

For those unable to attend an open house, mapping can also be seen online at www.rvca.ca and comments sent to . The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) is one of three Conservation Authorities working on updating and improving hazard maps on behalf of the City of Ottawa. Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority and South Nation Conservation are also working on similar projects in their watershed.

Rural Clean Water Grants help to improve water quality in our local rivers, streams and creeks by reducing pollution and volume of water running off the land. Teaming up with rural residents, financial support and technical assistance are available for on-the-ground projects that improve and protect water quality.

Rural Clean Water Grants are available through one of two programs based on location:

• Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program for properties in the City of Ottawa
• Rideau Valley Rural Clean Water Program for properties outside the City of Ottawa, but in the remainder of the Rideau Valley. 

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority in collaboration with NCC and the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund have designed and enlarged the Black Creek wetland located in Ottawa’s Greenbelt. This enhanced wetland improves water quality, increases biodiversity and provides important wetland habitat in the headwaters of Black Rapids Creek.

The wetland has doubled in size from 3,444 square metres to almost 7,000 square metres. A tributary that had previously bypassed the wetland now flows into it providing a larger aquatic feature that supports amphibian breeding, fish habitat, bird foraging, and acts as a water supply for wildlife. The wetland now boasts a variety of side slopes, woody debris (i.e. root wads, basking logs and sweeper trees) and re-planting of native trees, shrubs and wetland vegetation. The project was completed in September 2016.

Staff returned to monitor the wetland in 2017 and 2019, and will return again in 2021.

BLOG: Restored Black Rapids wetland keeping Rideau River clean 

Benefits of the project:

• Improves water quality for Black Rapids Creek and the Rideau River
• Increases biodiversity of aquatic/terrestrial plants and fish and wildlife
• Provides winter and summer refuge areas for wetland wildlife, including nursery area for waterfowl and area for shorebirds to feed
• Includes functional spawning, nursery, rearing and food supply habitat for fish allowing for wetland and
• Presents a unique habitat feature along the National Capital Commission Greenbelt Pathway allowing for wetland and habitat restoration activities

Construction Plans:

• Plan View Contours
• Plan View Habitat Structures
• Plan View Landscape

Project Partners:

Information:

The Ottawa Septic System Office (OSSO) is a partnership of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, South Nation Conservation and the RVCA. The OSSO administers Part 8 (sewage systems) of the Ontario Building Code on behalf of the City of Ottawa.

The OSSO is responsible for reviewing septic designs and plans, issuing Building Permits for new and replacement sewage systems and inspections for installations to ensure compliance with approvals. Before building or renovating your home or cottage, contact the OSSO for application information. 

Contact information:

phone: 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504
fax: 613-692-0831

Where to find us:

The Ottawa Septic System Office is located at the RVCA's Conservation Centre
Box 599, 3889 Rideau Valley Drive
(at the corner of Rideau Valley Drive and Prince of Wales Drive)
Manotick ON K4M 1A5

Hours:

8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday

The Conservation Authorities Act enables Conservation Authorities to undertake programs to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources throughout the watershed.  A significant component of this work is the protection of public health and safety and minimizing property damage from risk associated with natural hazards.

Conservation Ontario, on behalf of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities, has a memorandum of understanding with the Ministries of Natural Resources and Forestry and Municipal Affairs and Housing whereby Conservation Authorities have delegated responsibilities for the management of natural hazards (floodplains, hazardous slopes, unstable soils and erosion). In keeping with this responsibility, RVCA provides comments to our municipalities on Planning Act applications and other development related applications from several perspectives; watershed based resource management, planning advisory service, technical advisory service and regulatory responsibilities. RVCA provides planning and technical advice to assist our municipalities in fulfilling their responsibilities as defined in their official plans and the Provincial Policy Statement with respect to water resources, natural hazards and, where requested to do so, natural heritage features. We also assist our municipalities and landowners with the coordination of planning and regulatory requirements under the “Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation (Ontario Regulation 174/06).

Planning applications circulated to the RVCA typically include:

• Official plans and official plan amendments
• Zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments
• Plans of subdivision and condominium
• Site plan control
• Applications for consent (severances and lot line adjustments)
• Minor variances
• Lifting of reserves
• Part lot control

Development related reviews undertaken by the RVCA also includes proposals under the:

• Environmental Assessment Act and equivalent process under the Planning Act
• Aggregate Resources Act
• Ontario Water Resources Act

The planning services RVCA provides are defined in memorandums of agreement with the City of Ottawa and our upper tier counties (County of Lanark, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville). The agreements are joint agreements between RVCA, the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, South Nation Conservation Authority and the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority where a municipality’s boundary includes more than one Conservation Authority’s watershed. There have been changes to related legislation and other memorandums with senior levels of government since these agreements were formalized and some sections are no longer applicable.  In particular, memorandums of agreement between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and RVCA are no longer in place.

Memorandums of agreement:

• MOA RVCA – City of Ottawa
• MOA RVCA – County of Lanark
• MOA RVCA – United Counties of Leeds and Grenville