Septic installation and replacement

What a septic system includes

• The tank, concrete or plastic, where solids settle out
• The leaching bed, a network of perforated pipes in stone or sand, where treated effluent soaks into the soil
• A pump and alarm, if the bed is higher than the tank or far from the house
• A treatment unit, on some properties with tight lots or poor soil, that cleans effluent before it reaches the bed

The soil decides the system

Before anything is designed, the installer or designer looks at the soil: how fast it drains and how high the water table is. Sandy soils, like parts of Norwich Township, can often take a conventional in-ground bed. Heavier clay and high water tables, common elsewhere in Oxford County, often need a raised or filter bed built up with imported sand, or a treatment unit. That's a big part of what the system costs.

Permits

New septic systems and replacements need a permit under Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code, with a design and an inspection before the system is covered. The installer or designer usually handles the application. Start with your municipality's building department, which will confirm who reviews septic permits for your property. Installers must be licensed, so ask for their licence number.

Replacing a failed bed

A failing bed shows itself with sewage surfacing in the yard, backups in the house or strong smells. Replacing it usually means a new bed in a different spot, so the old one can be left or removed. Our guide to septic replacement costs explains what's involved.