water + sewer
VICTOR REID, CMM III
Manager of Environmental Services
vreid@marmoraandlake.ca
613-472-6285
Drinking Water Quality Management System
The Municipality of Marmora and Lake and its water supply systems shall comply with all relevant legislation and regulations for consistent delivery of safe drinking water. The Municipality shall also:
Be committed to quality and customer satisfaction and continue to strive to make improvements with respect to the production and delivery of drinking water.
Communicate openly and effectively with the public concerning matters of drinking water quality.
Continuously review and improve the Quality Management System.
If you should have any questions or would like to view the Operational Plan for the Drinking Water System, please contact the Municipality’s Compliance Coordinator direct at 613-472-6285.
Connection Policy
No connections shall be made to sanitary sewers, which would permit the ingress of surface or subsurface water, or water from drains, downspouts, gutters, or the flow from weeping tile.
Door-to-Door Water Testing
No one coming door-to-door is authorized to make a health-based test on your water
Door-to-door water tests do not tell you about water safety
Chemical trickery may make your water look brown because of natural mineral content
If you have any concerns about water safety, contact us or your local health unit
Water Conservation Information
Lawn Care:
Raise the height of the blade on the lawn mower so that grass is never less than 1.5 inches - longer grass has stronger roots, crowds out weeds, requires less water and helps the soil retain moisture longer.
Leave the grass clippings on the lawn – grass clippings contain valuable nutrients which help grass develop stronger root systems and help retain moisture.
Keep lawn mower blades sharp – dull blades tear grass and cause damage which can lead to heat stress and disease.
A thorough, less frequent watering encourages deeper, healthier lawn roots, making for a stronger, greener lawn.
Water your lawn for only 1/2 to 1 hour at a time. Most lawns only need approximately one inch of water per week.
Never water your lawn throughout the night – this is almost as bad as under watering your lawn.
Many types of sprinklers can lose as much as 50% of water to evaporation – using a soaker hose directly waters the lawn with no loss to evaporation.
Garden Care:
Add a mixture of peat moss and compost to your garden – this not only provides valuable nutrients, making for healthier plants, but the soil will actually retain moisture longer.
Add a layer of mulch, approximately two to four inches in depth, to your garden.
Use plants which are native and are drought resistant.
Use rain water collected from your downspout into a rain barrel for watering plants – it is better for your plants than tap water.
Use direct watering methods which soak the area around the plants, such as a soaker hose.
Miscellaneous Property Care
Use a broom to clean off your driveway instead of hosing it down.
Instead of using a hose, use a bucket to wash vehicles.
Putting a cover on your swimming pool reduces evaporation.
Fix leaky faucets as soon as possible – one drip per second can amount to 60 litres of water per day.
Fix leaky toilets as soon as possible. Leaky toilets are also big water wasters, wasting as much as 750 litres of water per month
Water & Sanitary Sewer Services
The Municipality owns and operates the portion of the water and sanitary sewer service that runs from the main line to the property line. The landowner is responsible for all maintenance and repairs of the section of the service that runs from the building plumbing systems to the property line.
In the event of a leak or sewer blockage, it is the owner’s responsibility to repair and clear any obstructions from the house to the mainline. Blockages are usually caused by a build up of solids (excess paper, grease, solids, grit, etc.) originating from the existing building or residence.
Septic Information
What is a septic system?
A septic system is a small-scale private sewage treatment system. Septic systems are common in rural areas, where hook-up to sanitary sewer mains is unavailable, but may also exist in urban areas. The design of your septic system will depend on the characteristics of the soil, and surrounding landscape, as well as the amount of space available, where you live.
How does it work?
Traditional septic systems are composed of an underground septic tank, a distribution box, and a leaching field (also called a drainfield).
Sewage flows from your house into the septic tank, where the solids settle to the bottom forming a sludge layer. Fats and greases float to the surface, forming a scum layer. The remaining wastewater flows into the distribution box, then into the leaching field. In the leaching field the water is filtered through porous materials, such as sand and gravel, before seeping into the ground.
Signs of problems:
Sewage backup in drains or toilets
Slow flushing toilets, sinks or drains
Visible liquid on the surface of the ground near the septic system. It may or may not have an odor associated with it.
Lush green grass over the drain field, even during dry weather, often indicates that an excessive amount of liquid from the system is moving up through the soil instead of downward. While some upward movement of liquid from the drain field is good, too much could indicate major problems.
Build-up of aquatic weeds or algae in lakes or ponds adjacent to your home. This may indicate that nutrient-rich septic system waste is leaching into the surface of the water.
Unpleasant odors around your house
Poor Septic
Healthy Septic
Use and Care of Septic Systems
Divert rainwater from the septic system
Don’t overload the septic system
Keep trees away from the septic system
Be aware of what goes into the septic system
Use garbage disposals wisely
Limit the amount of heavy duty cleaners
Avoid hazardous chemicals
Don’t pour grease down the drain
Protect the system from damage
Perform routine maintenance - get the septic tank pumped regularly, every 3-5 years
