Frequently asked
Questions We Get About Septic Systems
Campbell River Septic gets the same twelve questions from homeowners across Campbell River, Willow Point, Campbellton, Quadra Island and Oyster River. Here are the answers, with the numbers where we have them. If yours is not here, send it through and we'll reply within 24 hours.
- How much does a new septic system cost in Campbell River?
- A new Type 1 system with a tank and a gravity field runs about $18,000 to $30,000. A Type 2 system with a treatment unit runs about $25,000 to $45,000 or more. We walk your property first, then we put the price in writing — the full range is in our septic cost guide.
- Do I need a permit for a septic system in Campbell River?
- You need a filing with Island Health, not a permit. Your Authorized Person files the plans, the specifications and a site plan before construction, then submits a signed letter of certification within 30 days of finishing. You cannot use the system until that letter is in. Our permits and filing guide sets out each step.
- What is a ROWP and why does it matter?
- A Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner is one of the two kinds of Authorized Person the Sewerage System Regulation recognizes, alongside a professional. We hold that registration through the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Association of BC, so we can design and install Type 1 and Type 2 systems under 9,100 litres per day.
- Can I repair my own septic system?
- Not on your own. Every repair and every maintenance task has to be done by an Authorized Person, or under the supervision of one. You can build your own system, but an Authorized Person still has to design it, file the documents and supervise the construction.
- Which septic repairs need a new filing?
- Replacing the distribution field, replacing the tank, or changing from gravity to pressure distribution all need a filing. A broken distribution box lid, a failed effluent pump, a float switch, an effluent filter or ten feet of crushed distribution line do not. We tell you which one you are looking at before we start.
- How much does a septic tank pump-out cost?
- A single-family tank pump-out runs $400 to $750. Cleaning or replacing the effluent filter runs $150 to $300, and locating and uncovering a buried tank runs $150 to $400. We quote your pump-out before we come out, and we clean up before we leave.
- How do I know my septic system is failing?
- Failure usually starts with sinks, showers and tubs draining slowly. Left longer, it shows as sewage ponding on the surface, odorous and grey. You are required by law to remedy a failing system as soon as possible, so call us as soon as you see either one.
- Do you need a building permit on Quadra Island?
- No. The Strathcona Regional District requires building permits in Electoral Area D only. Areas A, B and C have no building bylaws. That is a building-permit rule, though — your Island Health septic filing is provincial and applies on Quadra Island exactly as it does in the city.
- Does Island Health have a record of my septic system?
- Island Health should hold records for every system built from 2005 onward, and for most built between 1990 and 2005. Older than that and a record is less likely. You request one on Island Health's Request for Release of Information form, and Island Health charges $50.00 per property for it.
- What areas does Campbell River Septic serve?
- Campbell River Septic serves Campbell River, Willow Point, Campbellton, Quadra Island and Oyster River. Willow Point and Campbellton are neighbourhoods inside the city. Quadra Island sits in Electoral Area C, and Oyster River sits in Electoral Area D.
- Should I use a septic tank additive?
- No. Additives are not recommended, there are no proven benefits, and in some cases they harm the system. Put the money into a maintenance plan instead. Not maintaining a system is one of the leading causes of premature failure.
- Are you insured?
- Yes. We carry business insurance and a business licence, and we are registered as a ROWP with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Association of BC. We reply to every quote request within 24 hours.
Ready for a quote on septic in Campbell River?
We quote for free, and we reply within 24 hours.