Septic hauler calls for more offloading options after Summerside limits drop-off hours
New rules around when septage can be offloaded at Summerside's wastewater treatment plant are backing up sewage haulers, one business owner says.
'I would like to see different offload facilities … spread out across P.E.I.,' says owner
New rules around when septage can be offloaded at Summerside's wastewater treatment plant are backing up sewage haulers, one business owner says.
Earlier this month, the City of Summerside restricted septage offloading to Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Prior to that, septage haulers could offload 24 hours a day.
"As a septic hauler, we really aren't an 8-4 business. We get a lot of emergency calls," said Caitlyn Pocock, the owner and operator of Suck It Up Septic.
"If we have a full truck going into the weekend, then I can't accept any emergency calls."
WATCH | Summerside's new hours for offloading sewage causing 'ripple effect,' says septic hauler:
Summerside's new hours for offloading sewage causing 'ripple effect,' says septic hauler
July 24 | Duration 2:27
The owner of a septic company says new rules around when sewage can be dumped at the wastewater treatment plant in Summerside are taking a toll on her business. She and the city have now come up with a compromise, but she says haulers still need more options across the province. CBC's Camryn Farquharson has more.
Pocock said she's had to turn down about 13 emergency calls since the new rules were put in place about three weeks ago.
She met with city officials on Friday to discuss how the restrictions are affecting her business and clients. Following that meeting, the city adjusted its septage receiving hours to begin at 6 a.m. rather than 8 a.m.
"It's a stepping stone," said Pocock. "Those extra two hours — as small as they seem — that's a big help."
'We're not going to get any less busy'
Pocock said the limited hours have had an effect on her business and clientele.
One of her clients who runs an Airbnb had to relocate guests to a hotel after their sewage system backed up, she said.
"It's a ripple effect," Pocock said. "It affects our community as well as our haulers."
The province mandates all haulers to offload at one of two facilities — the wastewater treatment plants in either Charlottetown or Summerside.
"I would like to see the provincial government, especially the Department of Environment, to get involved," Pocock said.
"We are growing at a crazy rate. We're not going to get any less busy over the next few years, so I would like to see different offload facilities just for septic haulers spread out across P.E.I."
Pocock said it's most convenient for her to offload in Summerside, but other haulers have to make a farther trek.
For example, Charlottetown is the nearest offloading facility for haulers in eastern P.E.I., which could be upwards of an hour-long drive for some.
The City of Summerside said in a statement that it's working collaboratively to "develop a long-term solution that supports the operational needs of the treatment plant and the wastewater servicing needs of rural Prince Edward Island."
