Now that spring weather conditions are taking hold across our region many cottage owners are returning to their summer properties for the first time this weekend.
Many of them face a long “to-do” list following a lengthy and often bitter winter.
The Goderich-based Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation advises that at the top of that list should be a thorough inspection of your cottage’s septic system.
The Centre’s Coastal Resources Manager Geoff Peach says the condition of a septic system largely relies on its age and type.
He says some older summer properties may still have a metal barrel to trap waste.
Peach tells Bayshore Broadcasting News that septic systems need to be inspected every two to three years and pumped out every three to five years.
He recommends any inspection be performed by a licensed contractor.
He warns that failure of a septic system poses a health threat to residents and neighbours because the content can go into the ground and eventually reach the closest watercourse.
Peach also recommends against putting harsh chemicals down the drain because they can compromise the effectiveness of a septic tank and possibly cause it to fail.
