Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority

Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority

Visit our website to learn more at https://cataraquiconservation.ca/

Cataraqui Conservation has jurisdiction over 3,800 sq. km of land from Greater Napanee in the west to Brockville in the east. In all there are 11 watersheds in our jurisdiction. Cataraqui Conservation's core mandate is to work in partnership with local municipalities, provincial and federal government agencies, environmental organizations and the general public to monitor and protect water, natural habitats, shorelines, and promote sustainable living in the community. 

Crowe Valley Conservation

Crowe Valley Conservation

Visit our website to learn more at https://www.crowevalley.com/

Crowe Valley Conservation Authority (CVCA) watershed covers an area of approximately 2,006 km², and is comprised of three primary sub-watersheds:  the Crowe River, North River and Beaver Creek. Numerous wetlands, natural riverbank corridors and forests are intertwined throughout the watershed, providing essential habitat to many species of fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects that thrive in this region.

For over 60 years, Crowe Valley Conservation Authority has worked in partnerships with its member municipalities, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. CVCA water management dates back to the late 1950s and has continued to evolve and adapt according to climate change conditions that have been observed and recorded.

Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority

Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority

Visit our website to learn more at https://mvc.on.ca/

The Mississippi River is 200 km in length. Draining over 250 lakes and wetlands, the watershed encompasses an area of 3,750 km². From its headwaters at Mazinaw Lake to its confluence at the Ottawa River near Fitzroy Harbour, the river drops 210 m in elevation.

The Mississippi River watershed is home to incredible natural heritage features such as wetlands, areas of natural and scientific interest (ANSIs), woodland and natural heritage systems.

Otonabee Region Conservation Authority

Otonabee Region Conservation Authority

Visit our website to learn more at https://www.otonabeeconservation.com/

Otonabee Conservation is a locally-focused, community-based environmental agency that protects, restores, and manages the natural resources within the Otonabee Region watershed. We work with our eight member municipalities to create a healthy, environmentally diverse watershed that improves the quality of life for residents, makes our area more appealing to visitors and new business, and helps to ensure a more vibrant regional economy.

Quinte Conservation Authority

Quinte Conservation Authority

Visit our website to learn more at https://www.quinteconservation.ca/

We are a local watershed based not-for-profit environmental protection agency. Our services are focused on protecting people and property from the dangers of natural hazards. One of our main roles is to provide flood forecasting and low water information to municipalities and residents within our jurisdiction. Our natural boundaries include the drainage basins of the Moira, Napanee, and Salmon Rivers and all of Prince Edward County.

Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Visit our website to lear more at https://rrca.on.ca/

The RRCA was established on October 10, 1963 and included the Raisin River watershed and its tributaries. It was enlarged on February 29, 1968 to include Hoople Creek, Riviere Delisle and Riviere au Beaudet. The most recent enlargement occurred in 2003, with the addition of the headwaters of the Rigaud River within the Township of North Glengarry.

The RRCA has five member municipalities: the Townships of North Glengarry, South Glengarry, North Stormont, South Stormont, and the City of Cornwall. There are eight members on the Board of Directors: two from the City of Cornwall, South Stormont and South Glengarry, and one from North Stormont and North Glengarry.

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

 Rideau Valley Conservaiton Authority

Visit our website to learn more at https://www.rvca.ca/

The Rideau River drains an area of over 4,000 square kilometres of Eastern Ontario. The main stem of the river flows in a northerly direction from Upper Rideau Lake near Newboro to the City of Ottawa where it tumbles over Rideau Falls into the Ottawa River. Total length of the longest part of the watershed is about 180 kilometres. From the highest point in the valley (Carnahan Lake in the Tay sub-watershed) to the Ottawa River is a drop of 204 metres in elevation. About 620,000 people live in the watershed including a large part of the City of Ottawa, the fourth largest metropolitan area in Canada. There are 18 municipalities within the valley and most people, outside of Ottawa, draw their drinking water from the river or from groundwater.

South Nation Conservation

South Nation Conseration 

Visit our website to learn more at https://www.nation.on.ca/

SNC protects, restores and manages 4,441 km² of land in Eastern Ontario; employs more than 40 staff; and has lead hundreds of stewardship projects to success. regional ecosystems. It does this in partnership with its 16 watershed municipalities, comprising portions of: the United Counties of Prescott and Russell; United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry; United Counties of Leeds and Grenville; and the City of Ottawa. The member municipalities appoint a 12-member, plus past chair, Board of Directors to govern all of our work. We carry out our mandate to manage the natural resources in the watershed, with the help of many forward-thinking individuals, groups, and agencies.

Resources

• Aquatics and Algae Manual 
• Conservation Areas 
  
• Groundwater information 
• Lake Protection Workbook
• Septic Smart - Understanding your Home's Wastewater System
• Les systèmes à fosse septiques - Connaissez votre système domestique de traitement des eaux usèes

Q: What’s our role?

Your local conservation authority may have an agreement with your municipality to to adminster the Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code which focuses septic system approvals . Our role is to enforce any rules and regulations defined by provincial law as stipulated in the Ontario Building Code.

Q: Has the regulations always been governed under the Ontario Building Code?

No — Effective April 6, 1998, the responsibilities of the on-site sewage systems with a total daily flow of less than 10,000 litres per day were legislated from the Ministry of the Environment to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code is a direct transfer of responsibilities from the Environmental Protection Act.

Q: How is a septic system defined under the Ontario Building Code?

The Building Code Act defines a sewage system as a “building” and as such, a sewage system that is discharging effluent onto the surface of the ground, or has not been maintained or operated in accordance with the Ontario Building Code, is determined to be an unsafe "building."

Q: Who can design my septic system plan?

There are three avenues of approach:

1. Licensed designer
2. Licensed installer
3. Property owner

During the design phase of your septic system replacement/new construction project, the following topics are generally covered:

• Site visit to verify lot features like lot lines, current well placement, inventory current dwelling for number of bedrooms/plumbing fixtures/finished floor area
• Tank and bed sizing to accommodate size of dwelling,
• Best placement of system on lot respecting restricted distances to any lot features,
• Elevations of lot, soil and water table conditions This information is required to adequately complete the Application for Demolition/Construction. It is strongly recommended that the licensed installer/designer submit the application on behalf of the property owner. If the property owner engages in this design service, a letter of authorization/agency is required to release any approved applications to an individual other than the property owner

Q: When do I need to submit an application?

1. Building a new home/building that is not serviced by municipal sewer or water
2. Renovating your current home – especially when adding bedrooms, more plumbing fixtures or finished floor area in excess of 15 percent of the current foot print
3. Replacing an aging system, that may have already exhausted its life span.
4. Altering or remediating any part of the tank or leaching bed due to accidental interference (i.e digging a hole to install a deck post, large calliper tree)
5. Failing system that permits raw sewage to exit directly to the surface (i.e., leak in tank, pipe/chamber in bed that is blocked/crushed preventing effluent from tank to flow into bed

Q: What is the septic application process for septic system replacement/new construction ?

For new/replacement systems — obtain copy of Application for Demolition/Construction application (11 pages in total), suggest consulting a licensed installer or qualified designer to determine the septic system design. This completed application is to be submitted directly to our offices:

• Application requirements: Three (3) copies if submitting paper copies.  Electronic submissions are prefered.
• Fee: Payment at time of submission (Fees for residential applications are on our Fee Schedule).
• Supporting documents:
  • copy of site survey,
  • tax bill,
  • agreement to purchase or Title and Deed indicating property ownership/ legal and
  • civic address description of property in question.
• Response Time: The Building Code directs that these be reviewed within a 10 day window, however our offices endeavour to respond within fiver business days — pending submission of all related documents/drawings/information as requested by the area inspector
• Of note, new housing construction — septic applications are required to be approved prior to building application submission directly to the municipal building department.

English Copy

• Septic Smart - Understanding your Home's Wastewater System

French Copy

• Les systèmes à fosse septiques - Connaissez votre système domestique de traitement des eaux usèes

What are the responsibilities of the service provider?

1. To conduct inspections on the treatment unit in accordance to the regime suggested by the manufacturer. Typically this requires at least an annual inspection of the electrical and filter components and testing of the resultant effluent on an as needed basis. Speak to your service provider for exact details, they may vary depending on manufacturer.
2. To provide sufficient notice to property owner that contract is approaching expiry and make necessary arrangements for renewal in a timely fashion.
3. Reflect any changes on contract which may affect adequate servicing as per contract
4. Indicate on contract if property owner account is in good standing or suspended during life cycle of agreement.

What would happen if I don’t renew my service agreement with my current service provider?

Without a current contract or proof of regular servicing the property owner would be in violation of the Ontario Building Code which stipulates that:

“No person shall operate a treatment unit other than a septic tank, unless the person has entered into an agreement whereby servicing and maintenance of the treatment unit and its related components will be carried out by a person who: (b) Is authorized by the manufacturer to service and maintain that type of treatment unit.” O.B.C reference 8.9.2.3.

What are the consequences of not having a valid and current contract?

Failure to have a valid and current contract will result in an Order to Comply issued from our office. If the property owner takes no action, this will result in a summons to appear in court under violation of the Building Code Act, 1992

What are my responsibilities as the property owner?

1. Copy of a service report by a manufacturer trained service provider within the last
   6 months, or
2. Proof of manufacturer training by your selected service provider, if requested by this
   office, or
3. Contact your service provider to renew/renegotiate a service contract. A copy of the renewed service agreement must then be submitted to the conservation authority on or before the existing contract’s expiry date, and
   • a. Contract must be signed by both parties, that being the current property owner on title and the de signate from the service provider, and
   • b. Service provider must indicate on renewed contract that client’s account is in good standing order, which means that it is clear of any service suspensions
4. If change of property owner occurs, current property owner must disclose to prospective purchaser existing treatment unit contract and advise service provider of impending sale and name of new owner.

What are my options if I am not satisfied with my current service provider?

1. Contact the manufacturer
2. Contact the Better Business Bureau Ottawa

How can I get my well records?

Private Wells are regulated by the Ministry of the Environment under the Ontario Water Resources Act, R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 903 Wells.

For more information concerning installation, maintenance and records of wells please contact the Ministry of the Environment at 1-800-267-0974.

How far should my well be from my septic system?

The distance of a well to various components of a private sewage system is covered in Part 8- Sewage Systems sentence 8.2.1.6.(1) of the Ontario Building Code.