Septic Inspection Program

Septic systems treat wastewater for homes not connected to municipal sewers. Over time, they can fail without obvious signs, which can impact our water and environment.

In order to ensure that all septic systems in Severn are properly maintained and functioning, the Township of Severn follows the Discretionary and Mandatory On-Site Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program outlined in our Discretionary and Mandatory On-Site Sewage System Maintenance By-law, and supported by the Ontario Building Code and the Clean Water Act.

Protecting your home, your health, and your local water

A healthy septic system does more than serve your property. It helps protect your home, supports household health, and reduces the risk of contamination in local water sources.

Why this matters

Regular inspections are a practical way to catch small problems before they become larger, more expensive ones.

How this helps homeowners

Protect your home

Regular inspections can identify issues early, helping you avoid more serious and costly repairs later.

Protect your health

A properly functioning septic system supports a safe and healthy living environment for your household and neighbours.

Protect local water

Well-maintained systems help safeguard groundwater, drinking water, and nearby lakes for the benefit of the whole community.

What to expect

Inspections are designed to support homeowners through early problem detection and clear information.

The process is non-intrusive, respectful of private property, and handled professionally.

Information collected through the program is treated confidentially.

This program is intended to help homeowners identify issues early and understand next steps, not to penalize residents first.

Program areas and exemptions

View the program areas and exemptions to see if your property is included in the inspection program.

Mandatory inspection program area

Properties that are a part of the Mandatory On-Site Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program are located within the predetermined vulnerable areas of the Wellhead Protection Area and the Intake Protection Zone.

Discretionary inspection program area

The Discretionary On-Site Sewage System Maintenance Inspection program applies to all properties serviced by a sewage system and that are located on the following bodies of water within the Severn:

Severn River
Gloucester Pool
Little Lake
Maclean Lake
Matchedash Bay
Lake Couchiching
Lake St. George
Green River
Black River
Sparrow Lake
Tea Lake

Program exemptions

If your sewage system was installed within two years of the intended inspection date, your property is exempt from the inspection. We will inspect your system in five years.

If you have an Advanced Treatment Unit, your sewage system will be exempt from this program as long as you submit:

a current service agreement
annual service reports

Please submit these documents to us every year.

If you don't submit these documents, we'll inspect your sewage system to ensure that the Advanced Treatment Unit is in compliance with our Discretionary and Mandatory On-Site Sewage System Maintenance By-law and the Ontario Building Code

Inspection schedule

Properties in the mandatory and discretionary inspection program areas are inspected once every five years.

If your property is scheduled for inspection in the current year, you’ll receive a letter with program details and information about what to expect during the upcoming inspection.

You do not need to be home for the inspection. Because of the number of properties included in the program and the limited inspection season, we’re unable to schedule individual appointment times.

Septic inspection schedule 2025 to 2030

Year	Area to be inspected	Number of properties (approximate)
2026	MacLean Lake, Little Lake, and Gloucester Pool	462
2027	Tea Lake and Severn River	451
2028	Sparrow Lake and Severn River	436
2029	Lake Couchiching, Black and Green Rivers, Matchedash Bay	451
2030	Lake St. George	309

Fee

On September 24, 2025, Council approved an increase to the Septic Reinspection Program fee from $150 to $200. The previous fee, which had been in place since 2020, no longer covered the cost of delivering the program. As a result, the remaining costs were being paid through general property taxes.

This meant the broader community, including many residents who already pay separate water and sewer fees, was helping fund a program used only by properties with private sewage systems.

On November 27, 2025, Council approved a further increase, bringing the program fee to $370. This updated fee reflects the full cost of delivering the program and allows it to operate without affecting property tax rates.

Invoicing

An invoice will be sent after the inspection is completed. Payment is due within 60 days of the invoice date and should be made payable to the Township of Severn.

This fee only applies to properties that:

are located within the inspection program areas, and
have a private sewage system.

Properties connected to municipal sewers are not included in the program.

The inspection fee is separate from your property taxes.

Deficiency report

If any deficiencies are identified during the inspection, you’ll receive a report outlining what needs to be completed in order to meet the program requirements. The report will also include a deadline for completing the work.

Once the required work is complete, please let us know so we can arrange a re-inspection.

If the work is not completed by the deadline, an extension may be granted where appropriate, or an order may be issued under the Ontario Building Code.

What we're looking for

During an inspection, the Septic Inspector will look for signs of damage or system failure. This includes:

ponding (or water) on the top or sides of the bed
sewage odours
damage or cracking of the septic tank
any washing away of the septic bed soil

For older systems, the Septic Inspector will look for components that are no longer considered acceptable, such as

steel septic tanks
direct deposits of gray water
weak or no lid structures on gray water pits
outhouses that are in poor condition

The program also checks that required maintenance is being kept up to date, including:

septic tank or holding tank pumping
vegetation removal
electrical and alarm maintenance
soil maintenance
grading around the septic bed

Additional resources

Septic Inspection Program Review presentations

Township staff provide an update to Council annually on the results of the program.

Learn more about the program results:

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: SepticSmart!

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website includes:

videos and information about how your septic system works
options for alternative septic systems for more challenging locations
detailed descriptions on how to take care of your system
how maintaining your system can save you money and protect water quality

SepticSmart! Understanding Your Home's Septic System

The SepticSmart! Understanding Your Home's Septic System booklet includes:

images and descriptions of a class 4 rural septic system
overview of the advantages and disadvantages of leaching beds and filter beds
guidelines on minimum separation distances for leaching or filter beds
best management practices for care of your septic system

SepticSmart! Advanced Treatment Systems

Some properties may not be suitable for a conventional septic systems due to property conditions or location. In this case, you may may need to consider an advanced treatment system. The SepticSmart! Advanced Treatment System booklet includes:

an introduction to advanced treatment units
type of final distribution and soil treatment that can be used (aerobic treatment units and filtration units)

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Why is this program important?

This program helps protect homes, health, and local water resources. Regular inspections can catch issues early, reduce the risk of costly repairs, and support long-term environmental protection.

How does this help homeowners financially?

Early detection can help prevent larger, more expensive problems later. Maintaining your septic system regularly is one of the best ways to protect your property and avoid unexpected repair costs.

How does this benefit the wider community?

Having a well-maintained and properly operating septic systems help protect local groundwater, lakes, and public health. It also helps preserve the long-term value and livability of the community.

Will I receive a notice of when the inspection will be?

This program runs on a 5-year cycle. Every five years, you will receive a notice in the mail in spring to notify you that your property will be inspected that year. Due to the considerable number of inspections, no appointments will be made.

Can the Inspector go onto my property without me there?

Yes, the Building Code Act (Section 15.10.1 (1)) allows the Inspector to enter upon land at any reasonable time without a warrant for the purpose of conducting a maintenance inspection.

Will my privacy be respected?

Yes. Inspections are conducted with care and professionalism, and information collected through the program is treated confidentially.

What happens during an inspection?

Inspections are non-intrusive and carried out respectfully. The goal is to assess system performance, identify potential concerns early, and provide homeowners with clear information about next steps if needed.

I already pay property taxes. Why does this program has a separate $370 fee?

This fee is intended to cover the full cost of delivering the program. The costs incorporate the Inspector’s time, transportation costs, and a portion of the administrative fees (paper, printing, postage, supplies, etc.). This cost is not included on taxes, as not everyone in Severn has a privately owned sewage system.

Is the program mainly about enforcement?

The program is designed to help homeowners identify issues early and understand what support or action may be needed. The first priority is awareness, prevention, and protection.

Why was the Inspector was only here for 5 minutes to inspect?

If the Inspector was only there a short amount of time, that could indicate a positive inspection.

When on-site, the Inspector checks that:

your property has records for your sewage system.
the location and layout match what is on file.
there are no deficiencies.

If all of that is confirmed, then the on-site inspection is complete. If any deficiencies are noted, you will receive a notice in the mail detailing the deficiency and how to fix it. While your property may have been in compliance with the program, Inspectors do also have many systems that require a more exhaustive review and require additional time to assess and follow-up.

When does the fee need to be paid?

Payment will need to be paid within 60 days. Any outstanding balances will be added to the property tax account where penalty/interest will accrue at 1.25% per month.

Can I pay online?

Yes, you can pay online. Email water@severn.ca to arrange online payment. You can also pay your inspection fee in person at the Administration Office located at 1024 Hurlwood Lane in Severn. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We accept payments by credit card (Mastercard and Visa only), cash, debit or cheque. Please make your cheque payable to Township of Severn. You can also mail you payment to Township of Severn, PO Box 159, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 6J3.

Why do I need a pump out and/or an assessment? My system works fine.

If your system is 40-years or older you are required to get a pump-out completed by a licenced sewage hauler and then submit that pump-out report to the Township. This is to ensure your aged system is working as it should be.

Sewage systems without records are required to get a septic site assessment completed by a licenced Septic Contractor, and a pump-out completed by a licensed Sewage Hauler. The property owner should then submit the pump-out report and septic site assessment to the Township. This is to confirm you have a legal functioning system and to create a record for your system.

Source protection plan

The Source Protection Plan identifies the source protection area for Severn and threats to our drinking water. Septic systems located on residential and agricultural properties have been identified as a potential threat within this plan. View our Source Water Protection page to see how we are working collaboratively to address threats to our drinking water system.

1024 Hurlwood Lane
Severn, Ontario

Phone: 705-325-2315
Fax: 705-327-5818
Contact us