#1: Guidance on Municipal Sewage Regulation

#1 — Registering a Municipal Sewage Discharge with the
Ministry of Environment

First Issued: August 1999
Last Updated: August 2005

Introduction

The Municipal Sewage Regulation (MSR) and Amendments to the Regulation in April, 2006 and in October, 2006 provide requirements that, if met by dischargers of municipal sewage or providers of reclaimed water, will ensure that their activity is not prohibited by sections 6 (2) and 6 (3) of the Environmental Management Act. In other words, compliance with the MSR provides authorization for a discharge of municipal sewage or use of reclaimed water in British Columbia.

Registration Form

A copy of the Municipal Sewage Regulation Registration Form (PDF: 55 KB / 9 pages) can be obtained from the appropriate Regional Environmental Protection office.

How to Register a Municipal Sewage Discharge

In order to be able to comply with the regulation and to successfully register a discharge under the regulation a number of pre-registration activities are recommended (see Guidance Document #2).

When ready to register a discharge of municipal sewage or use of reclaimed water, complete the Municipal Sewage Regulation Registration Form and submit it, along with an application fee of $200 to the address below:

Mailing address:	Office address for courier:
Ministry of Environment Policy, Standards and Authorizations Unit PO Box 9377 Stn Prov Govt 3rd Floor, 2975 Jutland Road Victoria BC V8W 9M1	Ministry of Environment Policy, Standards and Authorizations Unit 3rd Floor, 2975 Jutland Road Victoria BC

How to Update or Amend Registration Information

In accordance with schedule 1 condition 2 of the MSR, dischargers must notify the manager of any change in previously submitted registration information. The process for doing this is basically the same as for an "original" registration. Dischargers can use the registration form, highlighting the changes and providing any supplemental information.

General Instructions

clearly print or type the information required;
answer all applicable questions as completely as possible;
following submission of your registration form, you will be notified in writing of the acceptance of the registration. Failure to accurately complete all applicable sections of the application form may result in rejection or delay of the application.

Municipal Sewage Regulation Registration Form

complete as applicable to the nature of the discharge or use of reclaimed water

Section 1

refer to Guidance Document #2

Section 2

identify the type of registration

Section 3

complete information as requested

Section 4

describe the type of treatment system listing process components including make, model, and serial number, if applicable. e.g., secondary aerobic utilizing a rotating biological contactor, or for a reuse system, secondary treatment (describe process) followed by coagulation, filtration, sedimentation, and UV disinfection;
describe method of disinfection (e.g. UV, ozonation, chlorination/dechlorination);
describe the disposal system (e.g., outfall with diffuser or ground disposal);
for legally surveyed property, provide the Parcel Identifier numbers (PID) and the associated legal descriptions from the Land Title registry system;
for Crown land that is not legally surveyed, provide the Parcel Identification Numbers (PIN) or the Crown Lands file number from the Crown Land registry system;
provide the longitude and latitude of the approximate centre of the treatment facility;
GPS means Global Positioning System;
provide the name of the registered land owner;
provide the name of the certified treatment facility operator.

Section 5

provide the information requested concerning the quantity and quality of the discharge

Section 6

provide the information requested concerning the reclaimed water project;
refer to Schedule 2 of the regulation to determine which category the proposed use is in. Describe the use (i.e., toilet flushing, irrigation, etc.) including periods of use (continuous, April to October annually, etc.);
provide the name of the local health authority and the name of the health official familiar with the project

Section 7

self-explanatory

Section 8

self-explanatory

Section 9

self-explanatory

Section 10

self-explanatory

Section 11

Indicate the following, as applicable:

scale, north arrow, legal description;
location of effluent and receiving environment sampling locations;
for surface water, distance and depth of discharge at mean low water;
for ground disposal, tile field location, including distribution box, laterals, observation ports and vents;
for use of reclaimed water, identify specific areas of application or use.

Section 12

self-explanatory

Section 13

self-explanatory

Section 14

An application fee of $200 is required under the Permit Fee Regulation. The application fee should be submitted along with the application form to ensure that the registration will be processed without delay. Cheques, money orders or cash (if paid in person) are acceptable. Credit cards are not acceptable at this time. Cheques must be made payable to the Minister of Finance. Application fees are non-refundable.

Section 15

provide any additional information concerning the discharge

Following registration, the registration holder will be assessed an annual fee on the first anniversary date of the registration and each subsequent year. Payment of annual fees is required in order to retain the authorization to discharge municipal sewage under the Environmental Management Act. The value of the annual fee will be determined based on the volume and concentration of contaminants from the authorized discharge identified on the registration application form. The annual fee calculation is outlined in the Permit Fees Regulation and is not discussed in detail here.

Disclaimer

This guidance document does not replace the Environmental Management Act or its regulations. It does not list all provisions relating to municipal sewage discharges. If there are differences or omissions in this document, the act and regulations apply.

Updated: September 2007