Know Your Responsibilities: Maintaining Your Septic System

Published on April 7, 2025

Is your septic system aging and showing signs of failure, such as odours, surface seepage, a spongy and waterlogged ground above the system, water backup, and slow drainage in your bathtub? If so, your system may have reached the end of its service life, and corrective measures must be taken promptly.

Untreated wastewater discharges pose a high risk of contaminating groundwater and surface water, which are often used as sources of drinking water.

Before undertaking any work on a failing treatment system, it is essential to have it evaluated by a qualified professional to obtain an accurate diagnosis and determine the appropriate solutions to address the issue at its source.

Be cautious of the solutions being proposed, as the property owner is responsible for any environmental contamination resulting from work commissioned to a contractor.

Some companies operating in Baie-D’Urfé offer a technique called “septic field regeneration” through pressurized air injection. However, the effectiveness of this method has not been proven. Furthermore, it raises concerns regarding groundwater contamination risks, as the network of cracks created could allow untreated wastewater to infiltrate directly into the water table without proper soil filtration.

This technique may also cause irreversible damage to the treatment component and compromise its performance.

If such work is observed on your septic system, a statement of offence could be issued in accordance with Regulation Q-2, r.22.

© Copyright Town of Baie-D'Urfé. All rights reserved. | Privacy policy
Top