Small wastewater systems
The Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (the Regulations) are made under the authority of the federal Fisheries Act.
The Regulations apply to your wastewater system if:
- it collects an average daily volume of 100 cubic meters (m3) or more of influent
- it deposits effluent into water frequented by fish, or into a place that may enter water frequented by fish
The requirements in this factsheet apply to owners and operators of small wastewater systems that deposit an average daily effluent volume of 2,500 cubic meters (m3) or less per day.
Main requirements of the regulations
If these Regulations apply to you, you must comply with the specific conditions outlined below.
1) Effluent quality standards
To protect the environment and human health and to comply with the Regulations, the effluent must meet specific conditions during discharge:
- effluent deposited cannot be acutely lethal
- limits on the concentrations of certain pollutants:
- carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD)
- suspended solids (SS)
- total residual chlorine (TRC) and;
- un-ionized ammonia (NH3)
Pollutant | Limit | Sample | Report Results |
---|---|---|---|
Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand | Average ≤ 25 mg/L | Yes | Yes |
Suspended solids | Average ≤ 25 mg/L | Yes | Yes |
Total residual chlorine | Average ≤ 0.02 mg/L | Not required | Not required |
Unionized ammonia | Maximum < 1.25 mg/L | Not required | Not required |
Acute lethality testing is not required for systems depositing less than 2,500 m3 per day. If you do test it for any reason, results must be reported.
2) Effluent monitoring and reporting
Under the Regulations, you are required to:
- submit, and keep up-to-date, an identification report for your wastewater system
- sample wastewater effluent and monitor effluent volume
- submit ongoing monitoring reports with effluent volume, averages of CBOD and SS results, and acute lethality results (if applicable)
Sampling and reporting frequencies vary depending on the type of wastewater system:
System type: mechanical plant or outfall
Discharge frequency: continuous
Sampling frequency : monthly, at least 10 days after previous sample
Reporting frequency: quarterly
System type: lagoon
Discharge frequency: continuous
Sampling frequency : quarterly, at least 60 days after previous sample
Reporting frequency: annually
System type: lagoon
Discharge frequency: intermittent
Sampling frequency : once at discharge
- if discharge is more than 30 days, sample every 2 weeks, at least 7 days after previous sample
Reporting frequency: annually
Reporting information
- Annual reports are due February 14 of each year
- Quarterly reports are due February 14, May 15, August 14, November 14
- You must create the report in the Effluent Reporting Information System (ERRIS) via the Single Window Information Manager (SWIM) at https://ec.ss.ec.gc.ca/
- Paper reporting forms are available and can be sent upon request
3) Record Keeping
You must keep all related records on site for a minimum of five years.
For more information on the Regulations, please visit canada.ca/wastewater.
For support with regulatory requirements, sampling guidance and reporting, please contact eu-ww@ec.gc.ca.
For Indigenous communities, please contact your regional ECCC representative:
Pacific and Yukon : ec.promconrpy-compropyr.ec@canada.ca
Prairie and Northern : ec.promconrpn-compropnr.ec@canada.ca
Ontario : ec.promcon-on-compro.ec@canada.ca
Quebec : eu-qc-ww@ec.gc.ca
Atlantic : promo-atl-compro@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 Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations is available for your reference.
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