Municipal Liquid Waste
In order to discharge liquid waste, discharges must be authorized by a Liquid Waste Management Plan approved by the minister or be registered under the Municipal Sewage Regulation. The Municipal Sewage Regulation (MSR) establishes an exemption for dischargers from having to obtain a permit, provided they meet certain conditions; namely, the discharge is registered and ongoing compliance with the regulation is demonstrated.
Liquid Waste Management Planning describes B.C.'s liquid waste management planning process and provides guidance to local governments seeking an approved plan.
Municipal Sewage Regulation provides guidance on meeting the current standards and requirements for the treatment, reuse and disposal of sewage.
Organic Matter Recycling Regulation sets the standards for the beneficial re-use of composted organic matter including biosolids.
On-site Sewage Disposal - Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport Planning's Septic System Program website.
Canada-wide Strategy for Municipal Wastewater Effluent
Since 2007, the BC Ministry of Environment has been involved in the development of a Canada-wide strategy for the management of municipal wastewater effluent through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). The result is the Municipal Waste Water Effluent (MWWE) Strategy, which was endorsed by the CCME in February 2009.
The CCME Strategy is designed to provide a harmonized framework to manage municipal wastewater discharges across Canada through standards that will protect human health and the environment. The standards set a minimum of secondary treatment, or equivalent water quality, for municipal wastewater treatment plants across Canada that discharge to surface waters.
The federal government plans to implement the Strategy by developing the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations under the federal Fisheries Act. For your information, the proposed Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations, was published in the Vol. 144, No. 12 on March 20, 2010 in Canada Gazette, Part I. A copy of the proposed Regulations and the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement is currently available on the Canada Gazette website by following this link: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-03-20/html/reg1-eng.html.
As British Columbia currently authorizes discharges, the BC Ministry of Environment will work on a possible administrative agreement with Environment Canada to formalize a one-window approach to implement the Strategy.
The following presentation also provides information on the Municipal Wastewater Effluent strategy.
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