Community Onsite Septic Inspection Program

The Community Onsite Septic Inspection Program will continue this summer. The Township has retained the services under contract with Envision Consultants to complete the inspections for the 2026 season. The Program will continue to work through the First Stage of Cycle 1. Most inspections will occur west of Highway 21 ( Bluewater Hwy south of Shoreline Road, moving inland to the community of Saltford and the settlement areas of Benmiller, Carlow and Nile. Properties with outstanding deficiencies or missed inspections from 2024 and 2025 will be provided the opportunity to rebook their inspection and demonstrate remedial work through rescheduled appointments. In advance of opening season, the Township will be offering open house for anyone looking to know more about the program and ask questions in advance of their inspection. Stayed tuned for more details. Onsite Inspections are to commence the week beginning June 8, 2026. Residents will receive their appointment letter with a scheduled date and time that the inspector will be available to conduct their onsite septic/sewage system. The appointment letters will be sent out in May and require an immediate response to confirm your desired appointment date. All residents will receive a reminder letter two weeks prior to their confirmed inspection. Residents are encouraged to fill out the Landowner Information Form included with their appointment letter and return it to the Township Office. The form may also be accessed on our website: https://www.acwseptic.ca/landowner-septic-information . Residents are reminded of the following: The resident/owner or their representative must be onsite during the time of inspection. All septic access lids are to be readily accessible and able to be removed by the onsite contact at time of inspection. Most systems have two access lids. Residents will be able to discuss the safe operation of their onsite septic/sewage system with the inspector, receive literature, and learn about resources available to residents to continue maintaining and receiving optimal performance from their systems. An inspection report will be made available to the residents immediately following their inspection and further a Septic Information Package will be prepared for the residents once the inspection process is deemed to be complete and the system is functioning in the manner intended.  We encourage all residents to contact the Building Department if they have questions regarding the operation of the Community Onsite Septic Inspection Program.

​​The Community Onsite Septic Inspection Program will continue this summer. The Township has retained the services under contract with Envision Consultants to complete the inspections for the 2025 season.

The new Community Onsite Septic Inspection Program Fee has been included in the 2024 Final Tax Bills as a separate line item for local improvements. This charge applies only to properties with septic systems. If you believe you have been incorrectly billed for this fee and do not have a septic system, please contact the Township to inquire about reversing the charge.

The Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh COSIP inspections are starting on Tuesday, July 30. If you have received a letter in the mail, your property is included in the first cycle of inspections. Please complete the form and return it prior to your scheduled inspection date. Cycle One inspections will be completed by mid September.

The Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh has started mailing letters to the first stage of properties along the Lakeshore. Included in the letter is the date and time frame for your inspection as well as a form to complete regarding your septic system to return to the Township. The form can also be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3jAdhMmB-t-zY2Uegp486jr6-45UI5iEI_zk5134KgBtYNg/viewform?usp=sf_link

The Township of Ashfield - Colborne - Wawanosh has been hosting outreach presentations to the Lakeshore Associations. The lakeshore communities at the northern end of the Township, working south, will be the first to receive inspection booking letters. Septic information forms will be sent out in the mail commencing this summer. 

The Township of Ashfield - Colborne - Wawanosh Council passed the By-Law 05-2024 to enact the Community Onsite Septic Inspection Program on February 6, 2024. Inspections are expected to start April 2024 in the lakeshore communities at the northern end of the Township, working south. Inspection booking letters and septic information forms will be sent out in the mail in the near future.

Upon receiving direction on January 16, 2024 from Council, staff are proceeding with bringing the Community Onsite Septic Inspection Program By-Law to the February 6, 2024 Council Meeting as proposed. Maintenance Inspections are proposed to start in the Spring of 2024. 

Join us at the Municipal Office for Septic Socials on September 12th, 14th, 19th or 21st from 3:00-4:00 p.m.! This is an opportunity for members of the public to talk to staff about the proposed Community On-site Septic Inspection Program.