• Sewage Treatment & Disposal: Keeping Our Lake Clean

Protecting the water quality of Baptiste Lake is one of our top priorities in Whispering Hills, and proper sewage treatment is a big part of that. To safeguard our environment, our health, and our drinking water, the Summer Village has regulations in place that all property owners must follow.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Approved Sewage Systems Are Required

Every property used for residential, recreational, or commercial purposes must have an approved sewage treatment and disposal system. This includes any home, cabin, RV, or trailer used for more than three days per year.

Approved systems must comply with:

  • The Alberta Safety Codes Act, and
  • The Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standards of Practice
  • If you’re installing a new system or upgrading an old one, you must follow these provincial rules and may be required to get approval from a Safety Codes Officer.
2. Recreational Vehicles

If you use an RV, trailer, or temporary unit on your lot, it must be hooked up to an approved sewage system—you can’t simply dump waste on site or use unapproved containers. This applies even if you only use the RV for a few weekends a year.

3. Connecting to a Future Municipal System

If a municipal sewer system becomes available in the future, all properties currently using private systems will be required to connect to it. Any old tanks or septic systems will need to be properly decommissioned in a provincially approved way.

4. No Outhouses

Outdoor privies or other unregulated systems are not permitted. Only sealed, water-tight holding tanks or certified private systems are allowed. This helps prevent untreated sewage from entering the lake or surrounding groundwater.

Inspections & Enforcement

The Summer Village has the authority to inspect properties to ensure compliance with sewage regulations. Details about inspections, fines, and enforcement actions can be found in the Sewage Treatment and Disposal Bylaw available on the Summer Village website or by request from administration.