Meeting with the Mayor - 2007.12.12

1. There are about 1600 lakeside residences in the Muncipality of La Pêche. Seven years ago, the Municipality of La Pêche began to work toward ensuring that it meets provincial standards to have, by 2009, a program for regular septic tank pump-outs for all residences - both located on lakes and otherwise.

2. With respect to the lakeside properties within the Municipality, inspections and improvements where necessary have been completed at lakes such as Lac Gauvreau and Lac des Loups, a total of over 150 inspections of septic systems at residences requiring over 200 inspection visits. 

3. There have been successes.  In particular, the Mayor indicated that after a number of years of effort by the Municipality and the residents, Lac Gauvreau's water quality has improved substantially. The efforts by the Municipality and Lac Gauvreau residents have been recognized by the Quebec Ministry of Environment - provincial officials have spent time in La P êche  learning from the Lac Gauvreau experience.

4. The plan for Lac Bernard to address septic systems is the following:

• winter 2008: documentation for all residential properties will be reviewed by the Municipality to establish whether permits exist for septic systems.  Any property owner having no documentation on file with the Municipality will be sent a letter requesting that:
  • documentation be provided to the Municipality of the installation of a septic system that meets the municipal/provincial standards; and
  • if no septic system has been installed, then, by a certain date, the property owner to provide the Municipality with the name of the company that will install a septic system in accordance with the municipal/provincial standards.
• summer 2008: inspections by the Municipality of all of the properties for which there is no documentation either available on file or sent in response to the Municipality's letter.
• 2009: beginning of regular pump-out of septic tanks within the Municipality - sector by sector - each pump-out to be accompanied by an inspector who can assess non-conforming septic systems that will be required to be modified by the Municipality.

5. The Municipality's experience at Lac Gauvreau has provided some important lessons that may help deal with obstacles to an efficient septic system program.  For instance, in an effort to accelerate inspections and any following modifications that may be necessary, the Municipality is looking at the legal avenues available including the possibility of levying fines for non-compliance in relation to inspections. 

6. The Municipality is aware that, in addition to septic systems, there are other important aspects to water quality and prevention of blue-green algae including shore regeneration, stopping the use of lawn and garden fertilizers and the use of products such as detergents containing phosphates.  The Municipality needs the support of the Lake Association to provide public information and change attitudes and daily activities.

7. Water quality testing is an important part of the picture and the Municipality has expressed a desire to work with the Lac Bernard Association to establish a baseline and trend for water quality data.  In particular, in 2008, the testing of bacteria in water in front of every lakeside residence was discussed since this can be helpful in pointing out problem areas.

8. A small water quality group will be established to meet every two months made up of 5 members from the Lake Association, Mayor Bussi ère, M. Marcel Marchildon and Jacqueline Lambert-Madore.

9. The next meeting will take place early in February 2008.