After three years, officials believe the mandatory septic system inspection program in Huron Kinloss is showing positive results.
It’s a partnership between the township, engineering firm B.M. Ross, and the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
Matt Pearson of B.M. Ross says it’s mandatory, but run on a voluntary basis, and nearly a thousand systems have been inspected so far.
There are an estimated 28 hundred septic systems in the township, and seven to eight years will have passed by the time all of them have been looked at once.
Pearson says Huron-Kinloss is a leader with septic inspections, noting the province is just starting to consider requiring them in the building code.
He says homeowners are generally positive towards the inspections, saying dozens often show up for demonstrations that are held at other people’s properties.
Pearson says they get good response and participation, noting they want to leave a legacy and that people are now more aware of how septic systems operate and how they connect to the health of Lake Huron.
The program is funded by a yearly 55 dollar charge on the property tax bill to all Huron-Kinloss ratepayers who do not use sanitary sewers.
So far, inspections show 63 percent of the septic systems have a low risk of contaminating surrounding soil and water.
33 percent have a medium risk, and four percent are a high risk.
Mayor Mitch Twolan says roughly one third of the systems have some form of issue and he believes health unit inspectors will take care of the high risk ones.
The township is also considering applying for a grant through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative to have phosphorous filters installed in waterways leading to Lake Huron.