Letterbox: Setting the Record Straight on Pinnacle Ridge Hillside’s Septic Systems

This letter, written by a planner and engineer who have worked on the Anmore Pinnacle Ridge Hillside proposal, addresses concerns about the septic systems planned for the 75-acre development.

Dear editor,

The good news is that some comments made in the Sept. 16 article: Staying on septic poses growing risks as development expands in Anmore, mayor warns, are not accurate — and we’re happy to set the record straight.

Pinnacle Ridge Hillside’s septic systems will be safer, more secure, and more sustainable than Anmore’s existing septic systems. There’s been some discussion about this, so we’re writing to share the facts.

Pinnacle Ridge Hillside’s septic will use Fraser Health–approved Type 3 treatment systems, the most advanced onsite technology available in B.C. These systems use biological treatment and disinfection before any water is released into the soil. While other septic systems in our area are installed by technicians, the Type 3 systems we’ll use are designed by professional engineers, certified with Fraser Health, installed under the supervision of professional engineers, and will all have regular maintenance contracts. They are far safer and more regulated than older systems still in use across Anmore.

They’re also more sustainable. Type 3 systems are designed to protect groundwater and surface water in areas where older systems might fail.

Pinnacle Ridge Hillside will not rely on oversized communal systems. No more than four townhomes will ever share a tank. We will not use the Ministry of Environment commercial fields, designed for large-scale developments, which carry a higher risk of failure. Anmore deserves better.

Type 3 systems are the best because they require less soil and piping, and many now integrate treatment within the tank itself. With modern controls, alarms, and service contracts, they are no different to maintain than any other household utility – like owning a furnace. Pinnacle Ridge Hillside is going slow and doing it right, investing in the best available equipment and technology for the benefit of all in Anmore.

Pinnacle Ridge Hillside is being proposed so we can ensure our parents can age in place, downsizing to a townhome without having to move away from Anmore. And we can build homes for our grown kids, so they can raise their own family here instead of moving to Coquitlam or East Van.

And it’s right-sized for Anmore. It’s 269 homes over 10 years – less than half of what the provincial government mandates for our community. The hillside is already zoned residential, and our development will preserve Anmore’s rural character while providing new trails, a water reservoir for better fire safety than we have today, and financial benefits for the village, all while protecting the treed view of the hillside.

With Pinnacle Ridge Hillside, we want just enough homes for the growing families in our community, the professionals we need and a few young families to help keep our school open, and vibrant.

The residents of Anmore deserve accuracy instead of misinformation, but most of all they deserve development that protects the character of our community.

Sincerely,

Steven Beyer, Chief Planner, EKISTICS, and Graham Watson, Professional Engineer, Landmark