COVID-19 and your septic system
While many of us are currently spending more time at home, septic systems are receiving more waste water each day than usual.
Follow these tips to help reduce the stress on your septic system:
- Conserve water and try to spread water use over the course of the week, especially laundry.
- Do NOT put food, compost or grease down your drains.
- Avoid excessive use of bleaches and harsh cleaning products.
- Consider having the septic tank pumped if it has not been done in the last three to five years. This will increase the space available in the tank for the sewage coming in.
- Clean the effluent filter in the tank (these will be in newer tanks only).
- Holding tanks will need more frequent pumping. PLAN AHEAD and set up pumping appointments before the tank is full.
- Make an appointment for an annual maintenance inspection if you have a treatment unit.
- Check for leaking plumbing inside the house.
- Do NOT put backwash waste from a water softener into the septic system.
Spring is also a good time to inspect the sewage system and make changes on your property that will help prolong the life of your sewage system.
- Inspect septic tank lids for signs of cracks or evidence of sewage leaking out.
- Make sure that surface water from gutters and sump pumps is directed away from the septic tank and leaching bed area.
- Check for signs of malfunction (e.g. grass over the leaching bed is unusually spongy, sewage odour in the yard, surface ponding of sewage and/or algae growth around the septic tank or leaching bed).
- Do NOT plant shrubs or trees in the area of the leaching bed.
- Do NOT drain hot tub or pool waste water to the septic system or on the ground in the area of the septic system.
Building permits, building addition applications and COVID-19
Building permit and building addition applications continue to be accepted and reviewed. Permit applications can be obtained and dropped off at the following locations:
Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- 101 Consumers Drive, Whitby (east entrance)
Please note that all residents picking up or dropping off permit applications must be screened and pass in order to submit a permit application in person. For questions please contact the Durham Health Connection line at (905) 668-2020 (choose option “3”).
- 181 Perry Steet, Port Perry (Drop off box is located inside the east entrance of Township of Scugog office on the first floor)
Please note that this is a drop off location only. There is no staff onsite to process payments or to answer questions. All documents must be clearly labelled with the property owner’s information and required payments must be in cheque form.
Public health inspectors are available by phone should you have questions about sewage systems, the permit application process or your specific application.
Durham Region Health Department is responsible for approving the design and building of private septic systems in Durham Region. The City of Oshawa is an exception.
Applications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
You need to fill out an application to get a permit for a septic system. The application can be used to get a permit for:
Property Roll Numbers must be filled out on all applications. Complete both the Permit to Construct or Repair form and schedule A Additional resources
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Building additions |
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Use the Building Addition application form when a building department asks for our comments. You might need this if you are building an addition and your property has a septic system. Property Roll Numbers must be filled out on all applications. Additional resources
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Septic system records |
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Note:
Give us as much information as you can for the property. This will help us find a record if we have one. This could include:
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Types of sewage systems |
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There are five different kinds of sewage systems.
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Maintenance Inspection Program (Lake Simcoe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently asked questions
For further information contact us at 1-866-845-1868 ext. 4939. |
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