Committee moves to protect drinking water sources close to septic systems

The City’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee today approved a revised inspection program for septic systems located near municipal wells. The City’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee today approved a revised inspection program for septic systems located near municipal wells. The program aims to meet legislative requirements outlined in local Source Protection Plan policies, which help safeguard drinking water quality and public health. For areas near municipal supply wells, septic systems and septic holding tanks are considered a significant threat to drinking water sources. Policies require that septic systems in the most vulnerable areas near municipal wells be inspected every five years. Council approved a two-year inspection program in Greely in 2015, and the revised permanent inspection program will be implemented citywide. Inspections would be conducted according to an ongoing five-year schedule, with a budget of $40,000 per year. At present, the program only applies to 128 private septic systems in Greely, but new septic systems installed within the most vulnerable areas will be included in the future. The inspection program will be delivered by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the Ottawa Septic System Office. Landowners would be responsible for any required repairs or mitigation measures. To fertilize fields, the agriculture industry often needs to transport manure from a farm storage site to fields. Doing so with tanker trucks can be inefficient and, instead, manure drag lines can be used to pump manure to fields with pumps and hoses. The Committee received an update about what is required when such systems cross the City’s right of way to reach fields that are separated from a manure storage site. Any encumbrances or risks of damage to the right of way can be addressed through existing permits and with City staff approval. The memo received today outlines the required signage and permits that would be needed in different cases, including where drag lines might run parallel down the right of way in a ditch, cross the roadway’s surface, cross under the roadways via an existing City culvert, or where a proponent might seek to install private infrastructure below grade across the City’s right of way. The City will post updated information for prospective proponents on ottawa.ca. The Committee also approved funding for applications to the Rural Community-Building Grants Program. The program supports rural community improvement projects undertaken by non-profit organizations. The three projects approved today would receive a total of $65,400.

• The Cumberland Township Agricultural Society would receive just over $19,100 to upgrade its website and provide website maintenance training, review technical needs and acquire appropriate audio-visual equipment, and install Wi-Fi in multiple buildings and across the fairgrounds.
• The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 589 (Osgoode) would receive just over $44,000 to demolish and reconstruct the accessible ramp and entry to its building.
• Metcalfe Community Association would receive just over $2,300 to cover the fee for a sign minor variance permit that would enable retrofitting a digital message sign at the Metcalfe Fire Station.

The City will continue to accept grant applications until the annual budget is fully allocated. Please consult the grant program guidelines for information on how to apply. Recommendations from today’s meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, May 14.