Class 2 sewage systems: leaching pits specifications
What are Class 2 leaching pits under the Ontario Building Code?
A prescribed standard for the operation of a Class 2 sewage system is that it shall be used only for the treatment and disposal of grey-water.
A Class 2 sewage system shall not be constructed where the daily design grey-water flow to the system exceeds 1,000 litres a day as calculated by 200 litres per fixture unit where there is a supply of pressurized water or 125 litres per fixture unit where there is no supply of pressurized water.
Building a Class 2 leaching pit requires a building permit from Public Health Sudbury & Districts. If you wish to build a leaching pit you must apply (fillable application form PDF <1MB, printable application form PDF < 1 MB) to Public Health Sudbury & Districts and pay the applicable fees.
Ontario Building Code
The following are prescribed as standards for the construction of a Class 2 sewage system:
- The bottom of the pit shall be at least 0.9 meters above the high ground water table.
- The pit shall be constructed in such a manner as to prevent the collapse of its sidewalls.
- Any material used to support or form the sidewalls of the pit shall be open jointed material of a type that will permit leaching from the pit.
- The pit shall be provided with a tight strong cover that shall remain over the pit except when it is necessary to remove it for purposes of adding sewage to the pit, removing sewage from the pit, or performing maintenance to the pit.
- The earth around the perimeter of the pit shall be raised or mounded to a height of at least 0.15 meters above ground level.
- The surface of the ground in the area of the pit shall be so graded that surface drainage in the area will be diverted away from the pit.
- The pit shall be surrounded on all sides and on its bottom by at least 0.6 meters of soil having a percolation time of less than 50 minutes.
This item was last modified on September 1, 2023