| Monthly
Board Report
- March 2001
The
Role of the Health Unit on
Activities under the Building Code
Act
Submitted by Mark
Green, Senior Public Health
Inspector, Chief Building Official
(Part 8)
The Leeds, Grenville and
Lanark District Health Unit has
been conducting approvals and
inspections to private sewage
disposal systems for over 50 years
of its existence.
In 1997, the Ontario
Provincial Legislature passed Bill
152, the "Services
Improvement Act". Schedule B
of the Bill addressed amendments
to the Building Code Act in
particular the transfer of Part
VIII of the Environmental
Protection Act (Private Sewage
Systems) to the Ontario Building
Code. The intent was to provide a
"one window" approach to
the issuance of building permits.
Municipalities
were given the option of:
- Enforcing
the legislation themselves,
or
- Entering
into an agreement with local
public health units or
conservation authorities
giving them the authority to
act on their behalf.
Presently, the Leeds,
Grenville & Lanark District
Health Unit has agreements with
all but 2 municipalities in the
Tri-County area. Rideau Lakes
Township & Bathurst, North
Burgess & South Sherbrooke are
administering their own programs
under the Act.
The
major activities carried by the
Health Unit in respect to this
legislation include:
- Issuing
all permits related to
private sewage systems.
Copies of these permits are
routinely forwarded to the
appropriate municipality.
- Completing
inspections and providing
comments on applications for
minor variances and zoning
by-law amendments.
- Inspecting
and commenting on all
applications for land
severance and plans of
subdivision where private
services are proposed.
- Attending
municipal council meetings
and other related meetings
upon request to discuss
issues related to sewage
systems.
- Providing
annual in-services to sewage
installers and contractors.
- Maintaining
a high level of provincially
certified staff with
knowledge on sewage systems
and related topics
The program is funded on
a fee for service basis at no cost
to the municipality. All records
are maintained by the Health Unit
in accordance with the legislative
requirements.
As public health
inspectors responsible to enforce
Part 8 of the Building Code Act,
our staff provides a high quality
service, especially, in respect to
health issues related to the
proper and safe disposal of human
wastes and the protection of
ground water. |
Leeds,
Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit -
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