Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association

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    News

    You are here: Home » News

    Greater Golden Horseshoe and Southern Ontario Regional Round Ups Postponed.

    27 Nov 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    OOWA has decided to postpone and reschedule our Greater Golden Horseshoe and Southern Ontario Regional Round Ups to a later date in 2020 yet to be determined.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  In any event that OOWA offers we always want to be sure that they provide significant value to attendees and our supporters.  We will be notifying all the members in each of these areas to notify them and will keep them all upraised of rescheduled date for these events.  If you have any questions about this don’t hesitate to contact us: 1-855-905-6692 ext. 101 or outreach@oowa.org.

    2020 Convention Keynote Announced

    07 Oct 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    OOWA is excited to announce that The Water Brothers will be providing our keynote address at the Annual Convention and Expo on the morning of Monday, March 2nd at the RBC Place in London, ON. Learn more about who the Water Brothers are and what they do to help educate the public about important water issues on their website here.

    OOWA Supported Study on Municipal Re-Inspection Programs Now Available

    23 Aug 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    Last year, OOWA partnered with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations (FOCA) and a number of other organizations to produce a review of the best practices of a number of municipal re-inspections that have been conducted in Ontario. 

    The study was conducted by Masters students and faculty from the University of Guelph and Memorial University of Newfoundland.  OOWA members WSP Canada and ESSE Canada provided some vital statistics from their respective work in re-inspecting septic systems. OOWA thanks FOCA for taking the lead on this project and for their ongoing work in educating waterfront property owners and rural municipalities on the importance of proper septic maintenance and management. 

    Download the full report (PDF).

    Summer Newsletter Out Now!

    11 Jul 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    Read more →

    Improving Approvals: Progress in the Process!

    28 May 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    An OOWA External Relations Committee Update

    Trish Johnson
    OOWA BOD & Co-Chair of External Relations Committee

    If you were fortunate enough to attend OOWA’s Annual Convention and Exhibition at Deerhurst Resort, hopefully you heard the keynote address by Andrea Kahnjin, MPP Barrie-Innisfil, Parliamentary Assistant to Rod Phillips, Minster of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP). In her speech, she committed the MECP’s help to “ensure that oversight and approvals keep pace” with our industry needs, as well as support to the Open for Business initiative through increased in collaboration between the MECP and OOWA on small systems needs. Read more →

    OOWA’s Convention Newsletter is now available!

    21 Mar 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    If you missed out on OOWA’s 2019 Convention & Expo you can check out the agenda, review the speakers and see what companies sponsored and exhibited.  Other highlights include:

    • Past Onsite Newsletter articles
    • 6 Steps to Grow Your Onsite Business
    • Communal Systems in Ontario:  Obstacles and Opportunities
    • OWTS:  Consistency Between Certification & Results
    • Redesigning Septage Lagoons
    • More Member Profiles

    Download the desktop friendly version (PDF).

    Download the mobile friendly version (PDF).

    Convention Agenda Now Available!

    16 Jan 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    The Convention Organizing Committee is excited to release the draft agenda for our 2019 Convention and Expo.  As in past years we’ve got quality speakers and excellent content that will be of interest to all of our members.  The theme of our agenda this year is “20 Years:  Looking Back and Moving Forward”.

    Read more →

    CBC Broadcaster, Bob McDonald, Keynote Speaker at 2019 Convention & Expo

    08 Jan 2019 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

     All of us here at OOWA are excited to announce that best selling author and popular science broadcaster, Bob McDonald, will be the keynote speaker at our 2019 Convention & Expo on Monday, March 18th! Stay tuned for our full Convention agenda due out in the coming days on our website. You can register and get more details at Eventbrite.  We look forward to celebrating our 20th anniversary with you in Huntsville!

    Ministry Responses to OOWA and FOCA’s Request for Regulatory Review

    26 Jul 2018 / Comments Off / in Uncategorized/by Mike Gibbs

    On Friday, February 23rd, 2018, OOWA submitted a Request for Review to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario in collaboration with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations.  This joint submission requested that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs review the efficacy of the provisions in the Building Code that deal with Maintenance and Management of onsite sewage systems (Reg 332/12, Building Code, Division B, Part 8, Section 8.9 -Operation and Maintenance).  In addition, the submission also requests that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change consider the need for new provisions and/or Regulation under the Ontario Water Resources Act to govern the operation and maintenance of onsite septic systems.

    Outcome Summary

    Under conditions set out by the Environmental Bill of Rights, each Ministry had 60 days to respond to our request.  Despite significant data and a detailed analysis of the shortcomings in the current regime, neither Ministry acknowledged or commented on any of the information provided in our case in their responses.  Instead, both Ministries affirmed that the status quo is adequate in protecting the public.  The MOECC cited activities that protect municipal sources of drinking water and suggested that rural residents are sufficiently protected by a provision under the Building Code that allows municipalities to deliver reinspection programs at their own discretion.  The MMA argued that a recent technical review of Part 8 of the Building Code and a political decision not to make tank pump outs mandatory were factors contributing to current regulatory efficacy.

    OOWA and FOCA are currently preparing responses to both Ministries challenging their perspectives and their lack of consideration for our supporting data that was generously provided by WSP and ESSE Canada.  OOWA and FOCA will continue to advance the discussion for improved record keeping of all systems in Ontario and will push for regulatory triggers requiring ongoing maintenance and management.  Please read the responses by the MOECC and MMA below.  You can read our full Request for Review to the Environmental Commissioner here (PDF).

    Ministry of Municipal Affairs response letter. (PDF)

    Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change response letter. (PDF)

    If you have any questions please contact us.

    MMA Provides Clarification Regarding CAN/BNQ 3680/600 Standard in the OBC

    14 May 2018 / Comments Off / in 2018, OOWA News/by Mike Gibbs

    As we know, the Ontario Building Code (OBC) implemented changes to the requirements for Treatment Units as outlined in Article 8.6.2.2. which took effect January 1, 2017.  These changes included the removal of Supplementary Standard SB-5 for Approved Treatment Units, and a new reference to the CAN/BNQ 3680-600 standard for certification of treatment units.

    In the code change proposals, records of public consultation, and statements previously made by Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA) staff and Minister over the last several years, it was very clear that the intent was to make certification to CAN/BNQ 3680-600 mandatory for all treatment units in Ontario, as the new minimum standard. The emphasis was for treatment units that are to be used with smaller final polishing and dispersal options including Shallow Buried Trenches, Type A and Type B Dispersal Beds, or reduced size Filter Beds and Absorption Trenches to be tested rigorously in a cold climate for 12 continuous months with realistic stress conditions.  Read more →

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