Thirteen lakes, no town water
Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk has thirteen officially named lakes, including Lac Saint-Émile, Lac des Îles and Lac Quesnel, plus part of Lac des Plages and Lac Lévesque. Quebec's environment ministry lists no municipal water system here, so homes and cottages are on wells (wells and pumps).
Building near the water: 20 metres
Under municipal rules, no main building may be built within 20 metres of the high-water mark of a lake, stream or wetland, unless the lot is too small to put it anywhere else. The provincial regulation also sets distances between the septic system, the well and the lake.
On a waterfront lot, the house, the well and the leaching field have to share limited space. We therefore work in order: site study by a professional, permits, then excavation. Our post new build: before the first shovel walks through the steps.
One contractor for the heavy work
We're also general contractors. On a new build, the excavation, foundation, septic system and plumbing can all be done by the same crew, with our own excavator.
As for upkeep, the town reminds owners that tanks get pumped at least every 2 years for a permanent home and every 4 years for a secondary one.