Page 16 - SLPOA Spring 2014 Newsletter

SPRING 2014 NEWSLETTER SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Voluntary Inspection cont’d Water Level Concerns
Kevin Browne
Interaction with property owners during the re-
inspection program this year was very positive. Over In addition to monitoring water quality and invasive
50% of property owners that returned a questionnaire species, it appears that water levels are something else
were able to be present during the re-inspection. that may require increasing attention in the years
Most of the property owners encountered were very ahead. Climate change is creating more severe
supportive of the re-inspection program. Some effort weather conditions. Less rain in the summers, reduced
needs to be made to bring local residents and snowfall in the winters (even though that changed this
particularly campgrounds and cottage rental year) and higher temperatures that increase
locations. evaporation which have combined to lower water
levels in the past year.
The importance of an education component in the
program is significant. Continual education The dramatic impact of drought and low water is
combined with a consistent re-inspection program evident in the photo below showing the total lack of
will result in improvements to operation and water in Fall River.
maintenance of septic systems within the Township
of Central Frontenac.
The following recommendations are a result of
opportunities identified during the 2013 sewage
system re-inspection program:
• Implement a Discretionary Maintenance
Inspection program

The MRSSO heard from property owners that
participated and those that did were concerned that
the program was not mandatory.
Eric Kohlsmith also provided a presentation at the
MVCA Lake Stewardship Network and Watershed Fall River September 2012
Steering Committee Workshop held on April 26,
2014. In this presentation he mentioned the following
points that stood out: The river looked very different this spring as we
reached a new record level on the lake as can be seen
• Every septic system will eventually fail with the following picture where Fall River has too
• In 2006 the building code changed for the much water.
requirement of an effluent filter in a tank (to
ensure that solid matter does not enter the tile
bed)
• Pumping of a septic system is a requirement to
ensure that solid matter does not enter the tile
bed system causing the system to fail

The association contacted our representatives at the
township and we were able to confirm that the
Voluntary Septic Inspection program will continue
for 2014.

Fall River April 2014

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