Wells, Septic Systems and Plumbing Repair in Richmond Hill: The Oak Ridges Properties Still on Their Own

Wells on the moraine

A private well system is the well, a submersible or jet pump, a pressure tank and switch, and often treatment for hardness, which is common in moraine water. No water at any tap usually means the pump, the pressure switch or the breaker; pulsing pressure means a waterlogged tank or a failing pump; sputtering in a dry summer means the well is drawing down faster than it recharges. The moraine’s sand and gravel recharge wells well but also carry contamination quickly, from road salt, old septic systems and surface runoff, which is why Ontario recommends testing more often than once a year.

Check the breaker and the pressure gauge before calling. A well pump company or a plumber who does wells can test the pump, the tank and the switch in one visit.

Septic: permits and licensed installers

Septic systems in Ontario are regulated under Part 8 of the Building Code, and the City of Richmond Hill is the authority for permits within its boundaries. Installing a new system, replacing a tank or field, or making most repairs needs a building permit and must be done by an installer licensed under the Building Code Act; routine pumping is done by licensed haulers. A handyman or a general plumber cannot legally rebuild a field, and an unpermitted repair becomes a problem at resale, where buyers’ lawyers ask for the permit history.

Symptoms of a failing system are slow drains throughout the house, gurgling, sewage smell in the yard and a wet or lush patch over the field. Pump the tank every three to five years and keep vehicles, pools and trees off the field. Properties inside the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan area may face additional rules on septic siting.

• Location of the well, the tank and the field
• Last water test results and date
• Last septic pumping date
• Pump and pressure tank age
• Permit records for the septic system and the well

Well construction, abandonment and testing

Ontario’s Wells Regulation requires that wells be constructed, altered and abandoned by a licensed well contractor, and a well that is no longer used, common on properties that were later connected to York Region water, must be properly abandoned rather than left open, because an open well is a direct path for contamination into the aquifer. Ask a licensed well contractor to confirm what is on the property and whether an old well has been decommissioned; the record should be on file with the province.

Public Health Ontario tests private well water for bacteria at no charge; York Region Public Health publishes the sampling procedure and drop-off locations. Test at least three times a year and after any work on the well.

Getting a fair quote

For a well repair, the quote should state whether the pump was tested, the pump and tank being replaced, the depth of the well if a new pump is going in, and the warranty. For septic, the quote should come from a licensed installer, state the permit, and describe the tank, the field and the disposal of the old system. Plumbers who only work on municipal systems may not take rural calls; ask. Consumer Protection Ontario’s rules on written contracts apply, and WSIB coverage matters for anyone excavating on your land.