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BUILDING ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS
If your cottage or house is serviced by a private sewage system, this sewage system was most likely designed and installed to meet the exact design characteristics of your particular house. Any addition or renovation you propose for this dwelling might adversely effect the safe operation of the sewage system and might be subject to a review by Public Health prior to the issuance of a building permit.
Most sewage systems for cottages and homes in Ontario are regulated by the Ontario Building Code (OBC). The OBC requires the performance level of a sewage system to be the same after construction as the performance level before construction. If the performance level of the sewage system will be reduced by the proposed construction, compensating construction is required. The Chief Building Official will review and screen your building permit application to determine if a review of the sewage system by Public Health is required.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit uses a process called the Building Alteration Appraisal Application to help us review the suitability of private sewage systems for proposed construction. The Public Health Unit regularly reviews applications for such things as the addition of bedrooms and laundry rooms, and for interior renovations to dwellings. Quite often, this review will include renovations of a seasonal cottage to a year-round retirement home. The review is an excellent proactive tool to help prevent premature failure of private sewage systems and also to prevent the over development of a property serviced by a private sewage system. Through this process, small inadequate sewage systems can be upgraded and potentially harmful situations avoided before they become more of a problem. Groundwater protection is the fundamental goal of this program.
For further information call Public Health Unit at 376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456, or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca - 30 - |
We work with the Grey Bruce community to protect and promote health
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