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:

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:

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

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

Reporting frequency: annually

Reporting information

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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