Continuously discharging wastewater systems

The Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (the Regulations) apply to your wastewater system if: 

• it collects an average daily volume of 100 cubic meters (m³) or more of influent in a given calendar year; and
• it deposits effluent into water frequented by fish, or into a place that may enter water frequented by fish

The requirements set out below apply to owners and operators of continuously discharging wastewater systems that are subject to the Regulations. This type of system refers to continuously discharging systems with a hydraulic retention time less than 5 days, like mechanical plants or outfalls.

1) Submit identification report

An identification report must be submitted and kept up-to-date for each regulated wastewater system. If a wastewater system has multiple final discharge points, one identification report must be completed for each final discharge point.

Information required

• contact details of the owner, operator, contact person and address of the wastewater system
• a statement indicating that the wastewater system is continuously discharging and has an HRT < 5 days
• a description of the type of wastewater treatment (for example conventional activated sludge, MBBR, sequencing batch reactor, etc.)
• a statement whether chlorine, or one of its compounds, is used in the treatment of wastewater and if so, a statement indicating a dechlorination system is installed, operated and maintained according to paragraph 6(7)(h)
• a statement indicating which entity owns and which entity operates the wastewater system
• information on the receiving environment (including latitude and longitude) at the locations below:
  • the final discharge point (that is the final sampling point location after the treatment process)
  • the point of entry for the final discharge point (where the effluent is deposited into the receiving environment)
  • the overflow points for combined and sanitary sewers (point(s) where excess wastewater is deposited into the receiving environment), if applicable
• the average daily volume, of effluent deposited via all of the wastewater system’s final discharge points, expressed in m³
• a statement indicating how the volume is being determined (monitoring equipment or method of estimation) 

Change of information

If any of the information changes, including the contact details for the person responsible for submitting reports, you must update your identification within 45 days after the change.

2) Meet effluent quality standards

To comply with the Regulations, the effluent must meet specific conditions during discharge from the final discharge point(s):

• must not be acutely lethal
• must not exceed the concentrations limits of certain pollutants:

*Note on total residual chlorine: Regulatees that use chlorine, or one of its compounds, in their treatment process must install, operate and maintain a dechlorination system. This is to ensure that the concentration of total residual chlorine does not exceed 0.10 mg/L in a grab sample.

Under the Regulations, you have the option to choose between two different acute lethality test methods (section 15):

Option 1: The procedure set out in Section 5 or 6 (Single or Multi-Concentration Test) of the Biological Test Method: Reference Method for Determining Acute Lethality of Effluents to Rainbow Trout (EPS 1/RM/13, second edition)

Option 2: A combination of the EPS 1/RM/13 method, second edition, and the Procedure for pH Stabilization During the Testing of Acute Lethality of Wastewater Effluent to Rainbow Trout (EPS 1/RM/50)

• There is no requirement to first demonstrate the effluent failed acute lethality testing using the EPS 1/RM/13 method before using the pH stabilization procedure.

For more information on acute lethality testing, consult this factsheet. 

Sampling procedure

Samples must be collected at each of the system’s final discharge point(s).

You must collect grab or composite samples to test for CBOD and suspended solids, depending on the size of the wastewater system (see below).

All samples must be sent to an accredited laboratory for testing.  

3) Submit monitoring reports

Monitoring reports are required for each wastewater system on a regular basis. If a wastewater system has multiple final discharge points, one monitoring report must be completed for each final discharge point.

The reporting period is either quarterly or annually depending on the size of the system (see below). 

Information required

• a statement that indicates whether effluent was deposited via the final discharge point during the reporting period
• if effluent was deposited during the reporting period, indicate:
  • the months that effluent was deposited via the final discharge point
  • the number of days effluent was deposited
  • the total volume in cubic metres (m3) of effluent deposited via all of the system’s final discharge points
  • the average CBOD concentration in mg/L at the final discharge point
  • the average SS concentration in mg/L at the final discharge point
  • for each sample for which a determination of acute lethality was made at the final discharge point, a statement that indicates:
    • the sampling date
    • the procedure used in Reference Method EPS 1/RM/13
    • whether the pH stabilization procedure EPS 1/RM/50 was used
    • if the sample was acutely lethal

Monitoring, sampling and reporting information for your specific size of wastewater system 

System’s average annual daily volume ≤ 2 500 m³ 

• volume determination: use monitoring equipment  
  • if your system was issued a transitional authorization, you can use a method of estimation based on generally accepted engineering practice with a margin of error of ± 15%
• sample type: collect composite or grab samples
• sampling frequency (CBOD/SS): sample monthly, but at least 10 days after any other sample
  • if your system was issued a transitional authorization, you can sample quarterly, but at least 60 days after any other sample
• averaging period: calculate quarterly CBOD and SS averages
• acute lethality testing frequency:
  • not required for systems under 2500 m³ per day. If you do test acute lethality for any reason, results must be reported in the monitoring reports
• reporting period: submit a monitoring report every quarter, no later than 45 days after the end of the quarter (due February 14, May 15, August 14, November 14)
  • if your system was issued a transitional authorization, you can submit a monitoring report once per year, no later than 45 days after the end of the calendar year (due February 14)

System’s average annual daily volume > 2 500 to ≤ 17 500 m³ 

For each final discharge point:

• volume determination: use monitoring equipment
• sample type: collect composite samples
• sampling frequency (CBOD/SS): sample every two weeks, but at least seven days after any other sample
• averaging period: calculate quarterly CBOD and SS averages
• acute lethality testing frequency:
  • normal sampling frequency: sample quarterly, but at least 60 days after any other sample
  • reduced sampling frequency: sample annually, but at least 6 months after any other sample, if samples taken over 4 consecutive quarters were determined not to be acutely lethal
  • increased sampling frequency: sample without delay once a sample is determined to be acutely lethal and do an acute lethality test. Sample every two weeks afterwards, but at least seven days after any other sample, until three consecutive samples are found not to be acutely lethal. Sampling goes back to normal sampling frequency afterwards
• reporting period: submit a monitoring report every quarter, no later than 45 days after the end of the quarter (due February 14, May 15, August 14, November 14)

System’s average annual daily volume > 17 500 to ≤ 50 000 m³ 

For each final discharge point:

• volume determination: use monitoring equipment
• sample type: collect composite samples
• sampling frequency (CBOD/SS): sample weekly, but at least 5 days after any other sample
• averaging period: calculate monthly CBOD and SS averages
• acute lethality testing frequency:
  • normal sampling frequency: sample quarterly, but at least 60 days after any other sample
  • reduced sampling frequency: sample annually, but at least 6 months after any other sample, if samples taken over 4 consecutive quarters were determined not to be acutely lethal
  • increased sampling frequency: sample without delay once a sample is determined to be acutely lethal and do an acute lethality test. Sample every 2 weeks afterwards, but at least 7 days after any other sample, until 3 consecutive samples are found not to be acutely lethal. Sampling goes back to normal sampling frequency afterwards
• reporting period: submit a monitoring report every quarter, no later than 45 days after the end of the quarter (due February 14, May 15, August 14, November 14)

System’s average annual daily volume > 50 000 m³ 

For each final discharge point:

• volume determination: use monitoring equipment
• sample type: collect composite samples
• sampling frequency (CBOD/SS): sample 3 days per week, but at least 1 day after any other sample
• averaging period: calculate monthly CBOD and SS averages
• acute lethality testing frequency:
  • normal sampling frequency: sample monthly, but at least 21 days after any other sample
  • reduced sampling frequency: sample quarterly, but at least 6 months after any other sample, if samples taken over 12 consecutive months were determined not to be acutely lethal
  • increased sampling frequency: sample without delay once a sample is determined to be acutely lethal and do an acute lethality test. Sample every 2 weeks afterwards, but at least 7 days after any other sample, until 3 consecutive samples are found not to be acutely lethal. Sampling goes back to normal sampling frequency afterwards
• reporting period : submit a monitoring report every quarter, no later than 45 days after the end of the quarter (due February 14, May 15, August 14, November 14)

4) Submit combined sewer overflows (if applicable)

If your wastewater system has 1 or more combined sewer overflow points, ensure they are entered in the identification report. You must also monitor each point.

For each day there is a deposit, record the:

• date effluent was deposited via an overflow point
• duration or estimated duration of the deposit in hours
• volume or estimated volume of effluent deposited in cubic meters (m³)

Information required for the report

• a statement that indicates whether effluent was deposit each month via each overflow point
• for each month in which effluent was deposited via an overflow point the:
  • number of days effluent was deposited
  • volume or estimated volume of effluent deposited in cubic meters (m³)

Combined sewer overflow reports are due annually, by February 15.

5) Keep records

You must keep all related records on site for a minimum of 5 years. 

Information required in report

For the month of overflow:

• volume or estimated volume of effluent deposited via overflow point for the month in cubic meters (m³)
• number of days effluent was deposited in the month

Indicate the months where no deposit occurred.

Reports are due annually February 15.

6) Apply for authorizations (if applicable)

There are three authorizations that allow the release of effluent that does not meet the effluent quality standards of the Regulations. Authorizations are for specific reasons and are time limited. The authorizations are: 

• Transitional authorization – extension to allow wastewater systems to upgrade their facilities
• Temporary bypass authorization – authorization to exceed the standards of the Regulations for maintenance and construction activities, and
• Temporary authorization to deposit un-ionized ammonia – for systems that have issues with ammonia but are otherwise complying with the other effluent quality limits

You can apply for an authorization through the online reporting system.

7) Report unauthorized deposits

Any release of deleterious substances that may enter water frequented by fish and that is not authorized by the Regulations is considered an unauthorized deposit under the Fisheries Act. Unauthorized deposits are subject to specific notification, reporting and mitigation requirements under the Regulations and the Fisheries Act. For more information, please consult the factsheet on Procedures for Unauthorized Wastewater Deposits.

For additional information

Visit the Wastewater website.

If the information you need is unavailable on our website, please contact Environment and Climate Change Canada at eu-ww@ec.gc.ca.

Disclaimer

This information does not in any way supersede or modify the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations or the Fisheries Act, or offer any legal interpretation of those Regulations or Act. Where there are any inconsistencies between this information and the Regulations or Act, the Regulations or Act take precedence, respectively. A copy of the Regulations is available.