What the regulation requires
In Quebec, a home that is not connected to a municipal sewer needs a septic system that complies with the Regulation respecting waste water disposal systems for isolated dwellings, usually called Q-2, r. 22. Your municipality enforces it and issues the permit.
According to the Environment ministry's guide for owners, you need that permit before building a house, adding a bedroom, changing what the building is used for, and before building, modifying, moving or replacing the septic system itself. If you plan to add a bedroom at the cottage, contact your municipality before starting the work.
A new system starts with a site study
The choice of septic system depends on the site. The regulation (section 4.1) requires the permit application to include a site and soil characterization study done by a member of a qualified professional order, for instance an engineer or a professional technologist. The study looks at slope, soil, bedrock and groundwater levels, and determines which type of system suits your lot.
The municipality then reviews the application and issues the permit. We then carry out the work: we excavate and build the tank and leaching field to the professional's plans, using our own excavator. Depending on the municipality, a certificate of compliance may also be required once the work is done, so check with yours.
Signs your field is failing
The ministry lists several warning signs: a sewer smell near the system, slow drains throughout the house, grass that's much greener or spongy over the field even in dry weather, water surfacing near the system, or contamination showing up in your well water or a neighbour's.
If you notice any of these signs, the first step is to have the system assessed by a professional. When it needs replacing, we take over the excavation and construction. If it's the pipe between the house and the tank that's blocked, a camera inspection can often show it without digging.
Extending the life of your system
The regulation (section 13) requires a tank used year-round to be pumped at least once every two years, and a seasonal cottage tank at least once every four years. Some municipalities organize pumping for everyone, so ask yours.
The ministry also lists a few precautions: do not build a deck, shed or parking area over the field, do not drive on it, and do not plant trees near the drain lines. Eavestroughs and foundation drains must not be connected to the septic system. Never enter a septic tank: the gases inside can be fatal.
