The end of Route 321
Duhamel is where Route 321 ends, and it covers close to 480 km². People live mostly along the Petite Nation valley and on the shores of Lac Simon, Lac Gagnon and Lac Doré. The west side, inside the Papineau-Labelle wildlife reserve, is uninhabited.
The municipal water system is small: Quebec's environment ministry lists it at about 81 people, fed by a well. Other properties have their own well.
For properties far from the village: before calling, check whether the pump's breaker has tripped and note the reading on the tank's pressure gauge. This information helps us plan the equipment we need. More on our wells and pumps page.
Proof of pumping, by October 15
In Duhamel, owners send their proof of septic pumping to the municipality by October 15 every year. The proof is the pumping company's invoice showing your name, the address and the date. The schedule comes from the provincial regulation: every 2 years for a year-round home, every 4 years for a seasonal cottage.
If the pump-out turns up a problem, like a tank backing up or a field that won't drain, we do the replacement. You need a municipal permit before touching a septic system (septic systems).
Winter
A cottage closed for the winter will freeze if there's water left in the lines. Two solutions are possible: heat cable on the water line or a full drain-down before you leave. See thawing and heat cable and our post on closing the cottage for winter.