Mandatory Septic Inspection Program

Mandatory Septic Inspection Program 

One potential source of contamination to source water is septic systems. All properties with septic systems located within highly vulnerable municipal well head protection areas or intake protection zones are required to have their septic systems inspected every five years.

The most recent inspection program commenced in May 2023.

If your property was included in the 2023 inspection program, please submit all reports and documentation pertaining to the a completed inspection to your municipal building department.

Township of Centre Wellington: building@centrewellington.ca
Town of Erin: building@erin.ca 
Township of Guelph/Eramosa: building@get.on.ca 
Town of Minto: terry@town.minto.on.ca 
Township of Puslinch: services@puslinch.ca 
Township of Wellington North: djones@wellington-north.com 
All other enquires should be directed to sourcewater@centrewellington.ca

There are close to 775 properties requiring mandatory septic inspections within Wellington County. This is an Ontario Provincial government requirement that is being delivered by Wellington Source Water Protection and your municipality to protect municipal water supplies.

Properties requiring a mandatory septic inspection within Wellington County will receive a letter from their municipality and Wellington Source Water Protection. Inspections are completed by either your local municipal Building Department Officials or a consultant hired to complete the inspections.  EnVision Consultants Ltd is the consultant hired to complete the 2023 septic inspection program.

Your system is being inspected because your property is within the designated highly vulnerable area for your local municipal water supply well.  Since it is in this highly vulnerable area, it has a greater chance of affecting the municipal water supply well if it is not functioning properly.  This is mandatory under the Ontario Building Code, the Clean Water Act and each watershed based Source Protection Plan.

Only those septic systems within well head protection areas or intake protection zones with a groundwater vulnerability score of 10 (red areas on maps) and an issues contributing area for nitrates or pathogens require mandatory septic inspections. 

In 2015 to 2017, the first septic inspection program was completed in Wellington County for close to 650 properties with a 78% pass rate.  For the properties that required a remedial action, most only required minor repairs such as pumping out their septic tank or replacing a damaged lid.  Some properties did require major repairs such as replacing or repairing the septic tank or leaching bed.

Regardless of whether you are required to participate in the Septic Inspection program, ALL septic system owners should properly maintain their septic systems to ensure they are running properly. This is a requirement under the Ontario Building Code regardless of whether you live in a WHPA or not.

Please note, there is no cost to residents in Centre Wellington, Erin, Puslinch, Minto or Wellington North.  In Guelph / Eramosa, there is currently a $50 annual fee that is part of a resident’s property tax bill.

For Further Information:

• Septic systems and source water fact sheet 
• Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre - University of Guelph
• Septic Smart! - resources for maintaining your septic system
• Ontario Building Code
• Grand River Source Protection Plan, Wellington County Chapter 
• CTC Source Protection Plan 
• Saugeen Valley Source Protection Plan
• Septic Social Flyer
• Septic Inspection Program Letter

Septic Social Information Sessions

The Townships of Centre Wellington, Guelph / Eramosa, Puslinch, Wellington North, the Towns of Erin and Minto, Wellington Source Water Protection and EnVision invited the public to attend Septic Socials in the spring of 2023. These sessions were open houses for all who are interested to receive more information of the septic inspection program, meet the team administering the program and ask questions.

During the Septic Socials, the general topics addressed were as follows:

• Overview of the program
• How to prepare for the inspection
• What to expect during the inspection
• What documentation will be provided after the inspection
• How to properly care for a septic system.

The next mandatory inspection will occur in 2028 and Septic Social event details will be posted at that time.