As a local home owner, you can apply for the city’s septic rehabilitation loan program and receive money to make repairs to your septic system - or even get it replaced if necessary. The program enables you to upgrade your septic system and obtain financing which you would pay on your taxes at a lower interest rate than you would typically receive through a conventional lending institution. As a rural homeowner, the program allows you to address concerns with your private septic system. City of Kawartha Lakes council has set aside $150,000 for the program and loans will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Repayment schedules vary from five to 20 years, depending on the amount of the loan. If you’re eligible for a loan, it will not exceed 25 per cent of the current value assessment of your property or $35,000, including taxes. And if you’re not the sole owner of your property, all owners must sign the agreement with the city with the loan being a lien against your property. Also, if other financial agreements are attached to your property, you must comply with your obligations to other lenders as this loan takes priority over other registered interests appearing on your title. The program will not provide you with a direct loan. Instead, if your application meets all of the criteria under the program, the city would hire qualified contractors to perform the work on your septic system and the cost would be recovered through your property taxes. (The cheque would be issued jointly to you - the property owner - and the contractor.) The City of Kawartha Lakes has received 15 applications from rural property owners within the municipality to date.
Ailing septic systems threaten local water quality
A compromised septic system is a threat to the protection of source water. But new septic systems or repairs to existing systems are costly. By helping you rehabilitate your septic system and pay the associated costs over time at a reduced interest rate, the city’s program also enables you to help improve local water quality, bolster the environment, and comply with the Source Water Protection Act.
Regulatory changes paved way for septic rehabilitation loan program
A regulation under the Municipal Act was amended to allow a municipality to enter into agreements with willing property owners for the municipality to undertake local improvements on private property and to recover the costs of the work from the property owners. The regulation does not provide the municipality with the authority to simply engage in lending activities. The intent of the change is to allow the municipality to undertake the work or to finance the work if done by contractors, and then recover the amount from the property owners through a local improvement charge. That charge would appear on a property tax bill as a surcharge until the charge is completely paid off. Changes to the Local Improvement Charges Regulation were designed to foster innovative approaches to energy efficiency and water conservation programs at the local level. Further information and an application for the program are available on the city’s website at www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca/residents/water-and-wastewater/septic-rehabilitation-loan-program. You may also pick up an application form at one of the five municipal service centres in the Kawarthas. Here’s where you can find one:
Bethany service centre
Open: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: Box 210, 147 4 Highway 7A, Bethany, Ontario, L0A 1A0
Telephone: (705) 277-2321 or 1-888-822-2225
Fax: (705) 277-1580
Bobcaygeon service centre
Open: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: Box 250, 123 East Street South, Bobcaygeon, Ontario, K0M 1A0
Telephone: (705) 738-2363 or 1-888-822-2225
Fax: (705) 738-5623
Coboconk service centre
Open: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: Box 90, Grandy Road, Coboconk, Ontario, K0M 1K0
Telephone: (705) 454-3322 or 1-888-822-2225
Fax: (705) 454-2392
Kirkfield service centre
Open: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: Box 247, 7 Munroe Street, Kirkfield, Ontario, K0M 2B0
Telephone: (705) 438-3141 or 1-888-822-2225
Fax: (705) 438-5212
Lindsay service centre
Open: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: 180 Kent Street West, Lindsay, Ontario, K9V 2Y6
Telephone: (705) 324-9411
Fax: (705) 324-2051
Photo courtesy of Soil Science - Creative Commons
