Septic Systems

Evolution of the residential system

Septic -

In the last thirty years, sewage systems have come a long way. In the early 70's the options were few. Property owners were basically limited to full sized class four septic systems where a three bedroom home required a tile field approximately 20' x 50' x 5' high when constructed on dense or limited soil overburden near bedrock. The sides of a raised bed required slopes of a 2:1 ratio which meant the overall length and width at the base of the tile field was increased to 40' x 70'. Many cottages were reluctant to clear such a large area of trees and vegetation on cottage properties.

Holding Tanks -

Sewage holding tanks were a less expensive and intrusive alternative for a while but owners had to ration water use since these tanks required expensive pump outs.

Aerobic Treatment -

In the mid 70's a new initiative was taken by a local entrepreneur named Robert Hartog. He formed a company called Aquarobic, which created a miniature version of a municipal treatment system. This system introduced aeration or oxygenation into the initial tank stage of the treatment along with mechanical filtration of the effluent before leaving the tank. The resulting dramatically improved effluent quality in the initial stages of treatment meant that tile fields could be dramatically reduced in size. To further improve on conventional septics, a special grade of filter sand was employed to improve the final stage of treatment. The final product was a system, which reduced the overall base area by 2/3. The new aerobic systems were a big hit, particularly among island properties where all materials had to be delivered by barge. The only condition of approval by the Ministry of Environment was that these systems would require service and maintenance every 3 months by a certified technician. Many other companies adapted this same technology over the next few years.

Whitby Filters -

Since these aerobic systems required maintenance, there was a potential margin of error if they were not properly maintained. This prompted the M.O.E. to develop an alternate system called a Whitby Tilter in the late 70's. This system employed the filter sand in the final treatment stage the tile field but it skipped the very important pre-treatment aerobic tank stage. These systems all but destroyed the good work done by aquarobic and others. The new "Whitby Filters" were welcomed whole heatedly by the public since they were a reduced size system without the mechanical treatment stage that required maintenance. In my view the aerobic systems were far superior in improving effluent quality over the Whitby Filters. They did however cost more to install and maintain, which made them less attractive. Whitby Filters are the most popular system today in the Georgian Bay area.

Alternate Technologies -

In the 90's many new technologies exist and are being approved by environmental authorities. There are bio-filters, peat moss filters, and shallow buried trench systems. These systems are very specialized and can be used in a variety of applications under the right conditions.

 

Domestic Sewage treatment has become quite sophisticated in the new millennium. The inspection and approval of most systems has been transferred recently to municipal building officials.

In my opinion this is a positive development which has improved the quality of inspection standards and personnel. Accountability for these systems remains with the property owner, but the installers share the responsibility.

All the more reason to choose a knowledgeable and competent contractor.

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