When the Source Protection Plan takes effect, the Municipality shall manage existing and future septic systems and septic system holding tanks where they would be a significant drinking water threat through the Ontario Building Code Act, 1992 and Ontario Regulation 315/10 (as amended) in accordance with the On-Site Sewage System Maintenance Inspections Program (MMAH, 2011, as updated). The Municipality shall also ensure that existing septic systems and septic system holding tanks are decommissioned where inspectors determine the need for replacement or when connecting to municipal services. This would require the tank to be pumped out and collapsed/backfilled. The leaching bed can degrade naturally.


Where existing or future septic systems or septic system holding tanks are or would be a significant threat (including large septic systems >10,000 L/day) the Municipality shall, within one year of the Plan taking effect, require connection to municipal sewer services (capacity permitting) by passing a Mandatory Connection By-law (under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001) where services are available at the property line in the following situations:


Failure of a Phase II inspection;
Principal Authority deems the existing system inadequate to service a proposed redevelopment/renovation; or
For new development on existing vacant lots of record.
The Municipality shall also explore the potential of municipal servicing within the significant threat areas which currently have private services.

It is strongly recommended that the City of Ottawa explore the opportunity to deepen the Shadow Ridge Municipal Well to the Nepean aquifer to reduce the significant threats related to septic systems and septic system holding tanks in the Village of Greely within one year of the Plan taking effect.




Note: Additional policies apply. See: MONITORING-3 and MONITORING-5.

MONITORING-3: Prescribed Instruments:
By February 1st of each year, the Ministries shall prepare an annual summary of the actions taken to achieve the outcomes of the Source Protection policies in the previous calendar year and make that report available to the Source Protection Authority.
Additionally, it is strongly recommended that the Ministry responsible for approval, inspections, and enforcement for each Prescribed Instrument include the following in their annual report:
• The number of instruments which have been reviewed and changes made including amendments to Environmental Compliance Approvals, Nutrient Management Plans/Strategies or Non-Agricultural Source Material Plans;
• Compliance and enforcement relating to Prescribed Instruments for significant threat activities; and
• Prioritized inspections in the vulnerable areas

MONITORING-5: Specify Action:
Where a policy requires the Municipality to implement a specific action, the Municipality shall report to the Source Protection Authority annually by February 1st on the steps taken to implement this policy.