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Sewage System Applications and Permits

The Township Building Department reviews septic/sewage system permits and regulation for sewage system permits up to the flow rate of 10,000L/D.

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit ceased accepting applications September 30, 2022. Permits issued by the Health Unit prior to this date will be overseen to completion by the Health Unit.

Sewage Application/Maintenace Requirements

New Construction

  • Any form of residential dwelling including but not limited to:
    • Single DetachedDwelling
    • Semi-Detached Dwelling
    • Duplex
    • Accessory Dwelling
    • Accessory Dwelling Unit
    • Apartment Dwelling
    • Accessory Apartment
    • Floating dwelling
    • Multi-Residential Dwellings
    • Row House Dwelling
    • Street Row House Dwelling
    • Seasonal Worker Accommodations
    • Second Residential Unit
    • Tiny Dwelling
    • Triplex
    • Underground Dwelling
  • Bunkie/bunk house/sleep cabin
  • Construction of accessory buildings which are within the minimum required setback to a sewage system or contain any form of plumbing.

Renovations to Dwellings

Renovations to existing dwellings may reduce the performance level of the sewage system in the following situations:

  • the number of bedrooms in the dwelling are increased
  • the proposed construction exceeds 15 percent of the gross area of the dwelling unit
  • new plumbing fixtures are added to the dwelling, or
  • if the addition, expansion, alteration or change proposed encroaches upon the sewage system or any of its components, or area required for future replacement

If any of the above applies and the results show that the daily design sewage flow of the dwelling exceeds the capacity of the sewage system components, then the system must be upgraded to accommodate the increased flow rate.

Other structures, including garages (attached or detached), swimming pools or buildings that may reduce the performance level due to its proximity to the sewage system, are also included in the requirements for an application if it is within a 15 metre distance.

Commercial/Industrial New Construction or Renovation

For any system up to 10,000 litres per day, a review by the Township will be required to determine if a new system or maintenance inspection is required. For any system proposed at 10,000 litres or above will require approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Pre-consultation through the Development Review Team is encouraged prior to the submission of a sewage system or building permit application.

Home Based Business/Commercial Kitchen/Bed and Breakfast

The creation of a home based business may require the submission of a sewage system maintenance application depending upon the nature of the business. The creation of a commercial kitchen and a bed and breakfast will require a maintenance inspection to ensure the existing sewage system will accommodate the additional usage. Upgrades to a sewage system may be required based on the outcome of the maintenance inspection should the system be found to not be operating according to design.

Consent (Severance) Applications (New Lot Creations and Lot Additions)

An application for the creation of a new lot will require a sewage system maintenance inspection. A lot addition may also require a review of any existing or proposed sewage disposal systems if there is the potential for impact on the system. Staff will review the proposal to determine if there is an acceptable location for a new sewage system on a property for new lot creations.

 

 

Properties in the Village of Lansdowne

Properties within the Village of Lansdowne are on Municipal Water and Sewer. Approval for new dwelling construction is required through the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). Renovations to dwellings or businesses may require OCWA approval. Please visit their website for further information.

  • Class 1 - Earth Pit Privy (Outhouse)
    • Please contact the Building Department for information required for setbacks.

  • Class 1-Privy Vault, Pail Privy and Class 2 - Grey Water System
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a well with watertight casing to a depth of at least 6m:
      • 10m
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a spring used as a source of potable water or well other than a watertight casing to a depth of at least 6m:
      • 15m
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a lake, river, pond, stream, reservoir, or a spring not used as a source of potable water:
      • 10m
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a Property Line:
      • 3m
    • Note: The Township's Zoning By-Law requires a minimum of 30m from a recognized watercourse/water body. Other provisions apply for the replacement of an existing system. The installation of new sewage systems on Red Horse Lake and Charleston Lake may have site specific requirements. Please contact the Township's Planning department for additional information.
  • Class 3 - Cesspool
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a well with watertight casing to a depth of at least 6m:
      • 30m
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a spring used as a source of potable water or well other than a watertight casing to a depth of at least 6m:
      • 60m
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a lake, river, pond, stream, reservoir, or a spring not used as a source of potable water:
      • 15m
    • Minimum horizontal distance in metres from a Property Line:
      • 3m

 

Class 4 - Minimum Clearances for Treatment Units

  • Structure – 1.5m
  • Well – 15m
  • Lake – 15m
  • Pond – 15m
  • Reservoir – 15m
  • River – 15m
  • Spring – 15m
  • Stream – 15m
  • Property Line – 3m
  • Note: The Township's Zoning By-Law requires a minimum of 30m from a recognized watercourse/water body. Other provisions apply for the replacement of an existing system. The installation of new sewage systems on Red Horse Lake and Charleston Lake may have site specific requirements. Please contact the Township's Planning department for additional information.

Class 4 - Minimum Clearances for Distributing Piping

  • Structure – 5m
  • Well with a watertight casing to a depth of at least 6m – 15m
  • Any other well – 30m
  • Lake – 15m
  • Pond – 15m
  • Reservoir – 15m
  • River – 15m
  • Spring not used as a source of potable water – 15m
  • Stream – 15m
  • Property Line – 3m
  • Note: The Township's Zoning By-Law requires a minimum of 30m from a recognized watercourse/water body. Other provisions apply for the replacement of an existing system. The installation of new sewage systems on Red Horse Lake and Charleston Lake may have site specific requirements. Please contact the Township's Planning department for additional information.

Class 5 - Minimum Clearances for Holding Tank

  • Structure – 1.5m
  • Well with a watertight casing to a depth of at least 15m
  • Any other well – 15m
  • Lake – 15m
  • Pond – 15m
  • Reservoir – 15m
  • River – 15m
  • Spring not used as a source of potable water – 15m
  • Stream – 15m
  • Property Line – 3m
  • Note: The Township's Zoning By-Law requires a minimum of 30m from a recognized watercourse/water body. Other provisions apply for the replacement of an existing system. The installation of new sewage systems on Red Horse Lake and Charleston Lake may have site specific requirements. Please contact the Township's Planning department for additional information.

 

 

Application and Maintenance Forms

Sewage System Application Forms

Class 1 - A chemical toilet, an incinerating toilet, a recirculating toilet, a self-contained portable toilet and all forms of privy including a portable privy, an earth pit privy, a pail privy, a privy vault and a composting toilet system. A sewage system permit is not required for these systems, however approval from the Township's Planning Department is required. Please submit a detailed plot plan demonstrating the proposed location of the system to the Building Department for review prior to construction or installation. Approval from other agencies such as the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, St Lawrence Parks Commission and the Ministry of Transportation may be required.

Class 2 Application Form – A class 2 sewage system can only be used for the treatment and disposal of greywater (non-human body waste) i.e., kitchen sink wastes, bathtubs, washing machines, etc. This type of system is ONLY adequate to treat small amounts of greywater (less than 1000 litres per day) for premises such as cottages and hunt camps, etc.

Class 3 Application Form – a cesspool. Please contact the Township Office for additional information.

Class 4 Application Form – The most common type of sewage system, which is used to service single-family dwellings, multiple units, and commercial premises is Class 4. It is typically composed of a two-compartment septic tank and a leaching bed. The septic tank collects the raw sewage and helps in settling and digestion. The liquids then flow out to the tile bed where they are further treated as they pass through the soil.

Class 5 Application Form – a system which requires or uses a holding tank for the retention of hauled sewage at the site where it is produced prior to its collection by a hauled sewage system.

Maintenance Inspection Forms

Class 2 Maintenance Form - A class 2 sewage system can only be used for the treatment and disposal of greywater (non-human body waste) i.e., kitchen sink wastes, bathtubs, washing machines, etc. This type of system is ONLY adequate to treat small amounts of greywater (less than 1000 litres per day) for premises such as cottages and hunt camps, etc.

Class 3 Maintenance Form - a cesspool. Please contact the Township office for additional information.

Class 4 Maintenance Form - The most common type of sewage system, which is used to service single-family dwellings, multiple units, and commercial premises is Class 4. It is typically composed of a two-compartment septic tank and a leaching bed. The septic tank collects the raw sewage and helps in settling and digestion. The liquids then flow out to the tile bed where they are further treated as they pass through the soil.

Class 5 Maintenance Form - a system which requires or uses a holding tank for the retention of hauled sewage at the site where it is produced prior to its collection by a hauled sewage system.

Other Agency Approvals

In addition to the Township, other agency approvals may be required prior to the issuance of a building permit for a sewage system

Approval from the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) may be required if the existing or proposed sewage system is within 50 metres of a watercourse or waterbody, 50 metres of a Locally Significant Wetland (LSW) or Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), 120 metres to a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) and within 200 metres of a Species of Risk (SR) area. All applications are forwarded to the CRCA for review as there are other factors that may affect their office's approval. 

If the property is adjacent to, or within the controlled area, of the 1000 Islands Parkway, approval from the St Lawrence Parks Commission may be required. Please visit their website for further information. All applications are forwarded to the St Lawrence Parks Commission for review as there are other factors that may affect their office's approval. 

If your property is adjacent or within the controlled area of a Provincial Highway approval from their office is required. Please visit their website for further information. All applications are forwarded to the Ministry of Transportation for review as there are other factors that may affect their office's approval. 

What Steps Can I Take to Ensure My Septic System Functions Properly

A sewage system which has been properly installed, should, with proper care and maintenance provide many years of service. There are, however, some things which individuals need to be aware of which will help the system function properly.

  • Fats, oils and grease
  • Gasoline, antifreeze
  • Varnishes, paints and solvents
  • Caustic drain and harsh cleaners
  • Photographic solutions, bleach, pesticides
  • Nail polish remover
  • Cat box litter
  • Tampons, sanitary napkins, diapers, paper towels, condoms
  • Plastics
  • Coffee grounds, egg shells and other kitchen waste

  • roof drains
  • sump water
  • Surface water
  • inground, onground or above ground pool water

Discharge water from softeners and iron filters should not be directed into the sewage system unless the system has been designed to accept such discharges.

Water usage in the home should be kept to a minimum. Excessive use, such as doing numerous loads of laundry in one day, could flush solids from the treatment unit (septic tank) into the leaching bed.

There should be no need to use “starters”, “bacterial feeds” or “cleaners”.

The treatment unit should be inspected at regular intervals and pumped out whenever sludge and scum occupy 1/3 of the working capacity of the tank. Septic tanks contain deadly gases and should only be inspected by firms specializing in this work.

Vehicular traffic (including snowmobiles) should not be allowed over the tank and leaching bed.

The area over a leaching bed should have a good cover of grass allowing for adequate sunlight and ventilation to be maintained. Avoid planting shrubs, flowers, gardens and trees over this area.

How Do I Know If My Septic System is Having Problems

Diagram of Sanitary Sewage in Foundation
Diagram of Blockage in Inlet Pipe
Diagram of Blockage in Outlet Pipe
Diagram of Bio Mat

Septic Re-inspection

The Township, in conjunction with the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, initiated a Sewage System Re-inspection Program.

The Township intends to review all the sewage systems in the Municipality. Areas considered most likely to have defective sewage systems, or where the consequences of defective systems are most severe, will be reviewed first.

Some of the areas which have been completed to date include properties on, or adjacent to, Gananoque Lake, Killenbeck Lake, Lyndhurst Lake, White Fish Lake and Red Horse Lake.

Property owners will be notified by mail and provided a list of Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit approved qualified inspectors in the area. Property owners are required to pay for the inspection and any follow up repairs/fees. If you require repairs, a list of licensed installers is available. Once the Health Unit is satisfied the sewage system is in proper working order, a completion certificate will be issued to the property owner.

For further information refer to By-law 17-030 or contact us.

Contact Us

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands
1233 Prince St., P.O. Box 280
Lansdowne, ON K0E 1L0
Phone: 613-659-2415
Toll Free: 1-866-220-2327

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