Sewage System Maintenance Program

The Province of Ontario requires that all properties with septic systems located within 100 meters of the Lake Simcoe shoreline, water courses within the Lake Simcoe watershed, and septic systems located within an area around a York Region drinking water well must have a septic system maintenance inspection completed every five years. A properly maintained septic system ensures that:

drinking water sources are not polluted (private and public wells)
the environment is not polluted

The Town of East Gwillimbury (EG)'s Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program was substantially completed in 2020 for the Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA). The program required residents with subject properties to hire a qualified person to complete the inspections and to carry out any necessary repairs. The next round of inspections in the WHPA will be conducted in 2025. Residents with septic systems within the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan have already been notified that their septic system needs to be inspected.

The documents on this page are available in other formats, please contact the Building Branch to request.

Properties within the Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA)

Maintenance tips and reminders

Pumping your sewage tank on a regular basis is an important step to protect the health of your family, sewage system and environment. A family of four may be required to pump every two years or up to five years depending on use. While your tank is being pumped, your contractor may check the overall condition of the tank and leaching field to catch any issues early.
Keep a detailed record of maintenance activities, such as repairs, pumping, inspections, and permits issued as this information is useful for future reference. Should an issue arise, or you wish to sell, the records are valuable.
Give your septic system a healthy diet. Avoid excess fats, oils, and grease (FOG) as these items take a long time for the system to process. Avoid bleach as it may kill good bacteria in the system that are required to process the waste. Avoid septic stimulators and additives as they are not required for a well maintained and healthy sewage system to function properly. Proper use and maintenance will extend the “life” of the system.

Take precautions to protect your system, for example:

Do not drive or park vehicles on top of your leaching field, doing so may compact soils and possibly break leaching lines underground.

Do not plant trees or shrubs too close to your field or tank as roots can block lines in your leaching field (especially willows, silver maples and poplars). Blocked lines may back up sewage into the dwellings plumbing causing costly damage.
Do not change your lot's drainage pattern as the system is designed to shed water on the surface to allow for better percolation of the soils below.
Do not bury your leaching field under landscaping materials (such as plastic) or pavers. Water must be allowed to leave the soil and plants through evapotranspiration and air allowed to enter the soils to aid in a healthy system.
Do not bury your septic tank under a driveway or deck, making it inaccessible for inspections and pumping when required.

Applying for a building permit for a septic system

Additional reference material

Request a Search for Septic Plan

Residents can submit requests for a records search to see if a copy of their septic plan is available. Requests can be made online or in-person in Customer Service at the Civic Centre. Requests cost $50* and take approximately 10 business days to complete. If you have any questions, please email the Building Branch.

*A 2.25% service charge applies to online requests.

Request a Search for Septic Plan

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is the Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program taking place?

Regulations were established by the Ontario Building Code on January 1, 2011, in light of the Walkerton tragedy, to help protect drinking water and minimize potential sources of contamination into the environment.

In support of the Clean Water Act and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s (LSRCA) Source Water Protection Plan, this mandatory program will help identify malfunctioning or failed sewage systems (septic) that could contribute to possible bacterial pollution to the vulnerable wellhead catchments and conservation areas.

2. Which areas of the Town does the Maintenance Inspection Program apply?

Properties that are located within 100 meters of the Lake Simcoe shoreline or within 100 meters of a river, stream, lake or pond flowing towards Lake Simcoe and properties within the vulnerable area as defined in the Clean Water Protection Act and identified in the Source Water Protection Plan. They include a significant groundwater recharge area, a highly vulnerable aquifer, a surface water intake protection zone and a wellhead protection area, all regulated by LSRCA.

3. What is the property owner’s responsibility?

Property owners are required to contact a provincially approved and qualified contractor/designer with an authorized (BCIN) who will provide a Sewage System Condition Certificate and if necessary, a Septic Tank Pump-Out Receipt.

The Sewage System Maintenance Program requires property owners to submit a Sewage System Certificate and if necessary, a Septic Tank Pump-out Receipt, every five (5) years thereafter.

4. How do I find a qualified inspector?

The Town will accept any fully insured company that is licensed with the Ministry of Environment for tank pump out services. Inspectors must have a current BCIN registered with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. A list of local inspectors has been provided for convenience purposes only. By providing this list the Town is not endorsing any of those companies listed.

5. What is the inspection looking for?

The inspection will review site conditions of the septic system. This includes clearance to wells, streams, and water bodies, physical location of the system components, signs of system malfunction, and documentation of site attributes for future maintenance inspections. The age of the system is not the key determinant when conducting a visual inspection as many old systems will likely be found to be operating in good condition. Initial inspections are designed to be non-intrusive tests and will generally avoid significant disturbance to the system and surrounding area. However, should deficiencies or unsafe situations be reported, staff will assist you in the steps required to bring the system into compliance.

6. What happens if the inspection fails?

Systems that are not in compliance with standards and regulations will be required to be brought up to standard. This may require the issuance of a building permit for repair or replacement of current systems for major issues. Should your system not be in compliance with standards please contact the Building Branch at 905-478-4283 ext. 1222 or by email at building@eastgwillimbury.ca and speak to your areas Inspector. Assistance will be provided on which the steps to take for compliance.

7. What is the deadline?

The Sewage System Certificate must be submitted by December 6, 2024. If not submitted on this deadline, the Town will be required to engage the services of a qualified person to perform the site inspection and as per the Town’s Building By-law, you will be charged an administration fee of $150 fee a $600 fee for the inspection and pump-out fee by a qualified person.

8. What is an estimated cost to the property owner?

There is no Town associated fee to property owners who submit the required documents by the deadline. The property owner is responsible for paying any fees related to the sewage system inspection and if necessary, the pumping of the septic tank. Inspection fees charged by qualified contractors may vary, however, a typical estimation of an inspection is $350 with an additional $150 for the required certificate.