Sewage Disposal Systems

Introduction
 

The Environment program of the Grey Bruce Health Unit is responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Building Code Act and Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code within 8 municipalities of Bruce and Grey counties. Sewage systems included are:

• Class 1 (privies),
• Class 2 (grey water),
• Class 3 (cesspools),
• Class 4 (tank/treatment unit and leaching bed),
• Class 5 (holding tanks).

The Health Unit delivers this program from our head office in Owen Sound through a staff of registered Building Code Inspectors.

Purpose of the Environment Program

The Environment Program strives to prevent the spread of disease and protect the health of the citizens of Bruce and Grey Counties through the protection of our ground and surface waters.

Bruce and Grey counties have extensive water resources, including many streams, lakes, and high quality groundwater. Much of the region is natural areas largely unaffected by human intervention. The Public Health Unit strives to protect these valuable resources from contamination for future generations.

Due to the variety of challenging natural conditions in the regions environment , careful attention to our sewage system design and installation is required to ensure these systems function properly. The site challenges range from heavy clay soils to highly porous cobblestone and sand soils, to shallow overburden and fissured rock areas of the Niagara Escarpment, and high groundwater table areas. Many of these areas contain sensitive ecosystems, easily affected by excessive nutrient loading.

We strive to protect our area and meet our objectives through:

• the approval and inspection of sewage systems,
• the investigation and resolution of sewage related complaints,
• working with local planning departments on planning issues involving sewage treatment and disposal,
• working in close relationship with building inspectors, engineering consultants and other professionals, municipalities, cottage associations and a great many other agencies, individuals and businesses.

For a look at Grey County's Septic Management Plan, see Septage Management Plan for the Municipalities of Grey County.

Forms:

• Sewage System Permit Application Form:
      Guidelines
      Application Form - PDF format  
      Application Form - MS Word format
              (NOTE: Application form is designed to be printed on 8.5" x 14" paper.
                          Please select this paper size when printing.)
  
• Permit & Application Fees
• File Search Request Form - for Lawyers
• Building Alteration/Change of Use Application

Fact Sheets:   (Applications are in Adobe PDF Format. If you don't have a PDF reader then click here to get one)

• Operation and care of your septic tank system
• Information for obtaining a Sewage System Permit for a sewage system

 
Frequently asked questions: 

• Do I need a sewage system permit to install a sewage system?
• Is there an application fee for my sewage system permit?
• What do I do when my sewage system fails?
• How do I know if my sewage system is not working properly?
• What causes a sewage system to fail?
• What are the different types of sewage systems?
• Can I install my own sewage system?
• Can I make repairs to my sewage system?
• What are the minimum horizontal separation distances for my sewage system?
• Do I need Health Unit approval for an addition on to my dwelling/business?

Drawings and Diagrams:
 
Click on the diagram to see full size.