Communities such as Innerkip and Thamesford now have municipal services
By
Mark Schadenberg
Selling
rural real estate always includes a requirement for knowledge about septic
systems.
Knowing
what you need to know about septic systems is not limited to living on a family
farm.
The
village of Sweaburg is still on septic (no waste-water sewage system), as is
Beachville and Princeton.
There
is a ‘system’ in place in Mt Elgin, which resembles a sewer network, but it’s
not what exists in larger communities. Innerkip, Embro and Thamesford will
continue to have the opportunity to expand their horizons and subdivisions with
the arrival of services.
The
County of Oxford has introduced a program called SepticSmart! and there’s lots
of info on the county’s website.
The
Sentinel-Review had a good story noting the introduction of SepticSmart! From
The Sentinel-Review:
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“We
thought it would be important for qualified sewage inspectors from Oxford
County public health to share their knowledge and expertise with homeowners
around the operation and maintenance of their system,” Peter Heywood, who is
the county’s health protection manager, said.
“There
certainly are some homeowners who don’t know the do’s and don’ts around the
operation of their septic system,” he added. “For example, a septic tank should
be pumped out every three to five years. So this is just an opportunity to
share our knowledge and expertise with them, through various mechanisms
including workshops.”
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Oxford County Administration
21 Reeve St, Woodstock
(519) 539-9800
One of the reasons taxes are lower in rural residential
areas is that the septic a system is the responsibility of the home owner. There
is a true advantage to be connected to a wastewater management operation, but
it costs a lot of money, and that’s why some home owners balk when they see the
heavy construction equipment arrive to add sewers to their street, especially
in areas which have been accumulated by a municipality through boundary
adjustments (Example: Pittock Park Road in Woodstock). It’s noted on the Oxford
website that residents of existing homes in Mt Elgin (South-West Oxford
township) have until 2020 to join the sewer system there.
In my opinion, the leaching bed area might be the most
important feature of a properly running septic system. It certainly becomes an
area of your property which limits an ability to have either an in-ground or
even an above-ground pool. You can’t park vehicles on it, or plan large landscaping
projects, and you certainly wouldn’t want your family fire pit on top of it.
The large subdivision in Innerkip comprised of streets like Stonegate, Oakridge
and Northwood was created about 20 years ago with large lots due to the
necessity of septic systems. One generation later, Innerkip has a sewer system
in place and many home owners on many streets are considering the creation of in-fill
lots due to retiring septic systems.
Current Oxford County Council
From: www.oxfordcounty.ca
Home owners should have basic knowledge on subjects like
carbon monoxide, mould, basement egress, lot line set backs, and also septic
systems. Whether it be free water testing by the Oxford Board Of Health or the
thorough information supplied on the county website about the new SepticSmart!
Initiative, the homework is there.
One of the links below will also direct you to the
provincial government’s SepticSmart! program, which includes on-line videos and
offers a free DVD you can order, and features a 12-page PDF which you can
download.
LINKS:
Mark Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
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