The Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance believes that water quantity and water quality should be the single most important considerations for the preservation of Georgian Bay area and we believe the commitment to pristine water quality is not something that can be “grandfathered away”. Leaching septic systems have been a longstanding issue for the Bay and continues to be a major source of phosphorus in the Lake.
These concerns were included in all of our comments submitted as part of the Official Plan Review, the Zoning By-Law Review and budget submission, and while we made some progress in this, there remains significant work to do to create a complete and thorough septic re-inspection program.
Septic Certification Business Plan
The Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance has taken the initiative to create a Septic Certification Business Plan that would tackle the Township of Georgian Bay’s ineffective and weak Septic Re-Inspection Program. This new Septic Certification Program is based on these guiding principles:
- The program should be self-funding and add no new costs to the Township;
- All systems should be certified compliant by technically competent resources, with the latest standards every five years; and
- No systems should be grandfathered.
With the Plan completed, it has been reviewed by experts to ensure we present Council with a plan that is rigorous, cost effective, and most importantly, protects our water. Qualified experts in urban planning/engineering, septic system installers and ESSE Canada have reviewed the plan, with the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association having evaluated it as part of a best practice procedure development for municipal re-inspection programs.
To view the plan, please click here.
The GBPA has presented the Septic Certification Program Business Plan before the Township of Georgian Bay Council and requested a clear process to review the plan and determine a path forward for a new Septic Certification Program. This request was turned down.
Next Steps
It is unfortunate that Council continues to question the need to increase the resources available to the Township’s septic re-inspection program and to introduce a fixed cycle of inspections to ensure that ALL systems are inspected on a 5-year cycle as recommended by the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association.
Despite the frustrating lack of progress over the past several years, it is encouraging that the hard work of Township staff has improved the monitoring of systems.
Concerned residents should contact the Mayor and their local councilor and let them know that improving the Township’s septic re-inspection program should be Council’s top priority.
| Larry Braid Mayor Phone: (705) 756-2884 E-Mail: [email protected] |
Brian Bochek Area Councillor Ward 3 Phone: (705) 538-1748, (705) 241-6891 E-Mail: [email protected] |
| Peter Cooper District and Area Wards 2 & 4 Phone: (905) 727-0088 E-Mail: [email protected] |
Cynthia Douglas Area Councillor Ward 1 Phone: (705) 241-1559 E-Mail: [email protected] |
| Patrick J (Pat) Edwards Area Councillor Ward 2 Phone: (416) 481-0867, (416) 505-3965 E-Mail: [email protected] |
Kathy Kay Area Councillor Ward 4 Phone: (705) 427-5277 E-Mail: [email protected] |
| Paul Wiancko District and Area Wards 1 & 3 Phone: (705) 730-9133 E-Mail: [email protected] |
As Georgian Bay Biosphere Charter members and custodians of the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, and designated UNESCObiosphere, it is of utmost importance that the Township’s septic program have the resources necessary to ensure that no threat is posed to the Bay or surrounding waterways from septic systems.
Testimonials
”I have reviewed the proposed plan by the Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance and I believe it is the most effective and comprehensive plan I have seen for septic systems in the Province.”
Rick Esselment – ESSE Canada
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