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Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (SOR/2012-139)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2015-01-01. Previous Versions

PART 1Authorization to Deposit (continued)

Volume of Effluent

Marginal note:Average daily volume deposited annually

  •  (1) The owner or operator of a wastewater system must, for each calendar year, calculate the average daily volume of effluent deposited via the system’s final discharge point by

    • (a) determining, in accordance with subsection (2), for each day during that calendar year when effluent was deposited, the volume of effluent deposited via the final discharge point, expressed in m3;

    • (b) calculating the sum of the daily volumes of effluent referred to in paragraph (a); and

    • (c) dividing that sum by the number of days in that calendar year.

  • Marginal note:Daily volumes

    (2) The volume of effluent during each day referred to in paragraph (1)(a) must be determined

    • (a) for an intermittent wastewater system,

      • (i) by using monitoring equipment referred to in section 9 that provides

        • (A) a continuous measure of the volume of influent, or effluent deposited via the final discharge point, during that day, or

        • (B) a measure of the rate of flow of the influent or that effluent upon which that daily volume may be estimated, or

      • (ii) by using a method of estimation in accordance with subsection (4);

    • (b) for a continuous wastewater system, by using monitoring equipment referred to in section 9 that provides

      • (i) a continuous measure of the volume of influent, or effluent deposited via the final discharge point, during that day, if the average daily volume of effluent deposited via the final discharge point during the previous calendar year was more than 2 500 m3, and

      • (ii) a continuous measure of that volume or a measure of the rate of flow of that influent or effluent upon which that daily volume of effluent may be estimated, in any other case.

  • Marginal note:Estimate of daily volume based on measured rate of flow

    (3) The estimation of the volume of effluent deposited during a day referred to in paragraph (1)(a) based on a measured rate of flow, referred to in clause (2)(a)(i)(B) or subparagraph (2)(b)(ii), is to be done as follows:

    • (a) measure the rate of flow of influent, or effluent deposited via the final discharge point, in any chosen unit of volume for any chosen unit of time; and

    • (b) calculate that volume based on that rate of flow for the duration of the deposits of effluent made on that day and, if applicable, convert it to m3.

  • Marginal note:Method of estimation — intermittent wastewater systems

    (4) The owner or operator of an intermittent wastewater system who has established a method of estimation of the volume of effluent must ensure that it is based on generally accepted engineering practices and use it to estimate the daily volume of effluent deposited via the final discharge point with a margin of error of ±15%.

Marginal note:Default measurement

  •  (1) If the average daily volume of effluent deposited via the final discharge point of a wastewater system for a previous calendar year cannot be determined under paragraph 7(2)(a) or (b), as the case may be, that average daily volume must be determined on the basis of the system’s average design rate of flow of influent.

  • Marginal note:One-time use of default measurement

    (2) If subsection (1) has been applied in respect of a wastewater system for a calendar year, it is not to be applied in respect of the wastewater system for any subsequent calendar year.

Monitoring

Monitoring Equipment

Marginal note:Requirements

  •  (1) The owner or operator of a continuous wastewater system must — by January 1, 2013 — have installed monitoring equipment that provides

    • (a) a continuous measure of the volume of influent or effluent, if, during the previous calendar year, the average daily volume of effluent deposited via the system’s final discharge point determined in accordance with section 7 or 8, as the case may be, was more than 2 500 m3; and

    • (b) either a continuous measure of the volume of the influent or effluent or a measure of the rate of flow of the influent or effluent, if, during the previous calendar year, the average daily volume of effluent deposited via the system’s final discharge point determined in accordance with section 7 or 8, as the case may be, was 2 500 m3 or less.

  • Marginal note:Maintenance and calibration

    (2) The owner or operator of a wastewater system who has installed monitoring equipment must maintain and calibrate that equipment so that it may be used to determine the volume of effluent deposited via the final discharge point in accordance with, as the case may be, subparagraph 7(2)(a)(i) or paragraph 7(2)(b).

  • Marginal note:Frequency of calibration

    (3) The owner or operator must calibrate the monitoring equipment at least once in every calendar year and at least five months after a previous calibration.

  • Marginal note:Accuracy

    (4) The monitoring equipment must determine the volume or rate of flow with a margin of error of ±15%.

Composition of the Effluent

Marginal note:Taking of samples — intermittent wastewater system

  •  (1) The owner or operator of an intermittent wastewater system must, during each period referred to in paragraph 3(a), take at the system’s final discharge point a grab or composite sample of effluent at the following minimum frequency:

    • (a) if the period is more than 30 days, every two weeks but at least seven days after any other sample; and

    • (b) in any other case, once.

  • Marginal note:Taking of samples — continuous wastewater system

    (2) The owner or operator of a continuous wastewater system that — during the previous calendar year in respect of the calendar year, quarter or month in question — deposited via the system’s final discharge point an average daily volume of effluent set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection must, for that calendar year, quarter or month, take at the final discharge point a sample of effluent of the type set out in column 2 at the minimum frequency set out in column 3.

    TABLE

    ItemColumn 1Column 2Column 3
    Average Daily Volume Deposited Annually (m3)Type of Sample to be TakenMinimum Sampling Frequency
    1≤ 2 500Grab or compositeMonthly but at least 10 days after any other sample
    2> 2 500 and ≤ 17 500CompositeEvery two weeks but at least seven days after any other sample
    3> 17 500 and ≤ 50 000CompositeWeekly but at least five days after any other sample
    4> 50 000CompositeThree days per week but at least one day after any other sample
  • Marginal note:Sampling and frequency for certain continuous systems

    (3) Despite subsection (2), the owner or operator of a continuous wastewater system with a hydraulic retention time of five or more days must

    • (a) take a grab or composite sample; and

    • (b) reduce the minimum sampling frequency to quarterly, but at least 60 days after any other sample was taken, if the system deposited via its final discharge point an average daily volume of less than or equal to 2500 m3 of effluent during the previous calendar year referred to in subsection (2).

  • Marginal note:Determination of certain deleterious substances

    (4) The owner or operator must, for each sample taken under subsection (1), (2) or (3), determine, or cause the determination of

    • (a) the carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand due to the quantity of CBOD matter in the effluent, in accordance with section 12; and

    • (b) the concentration of suspended solids in the effluent, in accordance with section 13.

  • Marginal note:Before July 1, 2014 — additional determination

    (5) Until July 1, 2014, the owner or operator must, for each sample taken under subsection (1), (2) or (3), determine, or cause the determination of, the concentration of un-ionized ammonia in the effluent, in accordance with the formula and a test method referred to in section 14.

Acute Lethality Testing

Marginal note:Taking samples

  •  (1) The owner or operator of a wastewater system that — during the previous calendar year in respect of the calendar year, quarter or month in question — deposited via the system’s final discharge point an average daily volume of effluent set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection must, for that calendar year, quarter or month, take at the final discharge point a grab sample of effluent at the minimum frequency set out in column 2.

    TABLE

    ItemColumn 1Column 2
    Average Daily Volume Deposited Annually (m3)Minimum Sampling Frequency
    1> 2 500 and ≤ 50 000Quarterly but at least 60 days after any other sample
    2> 50 000Monthly but at least 21 days after any other sample
  • Marginal note:Acute lethality

    (2) The owner or operator must, for each sample taken under subsection (1), determine, or cause the determination of, whether or not it is acutely lethal in accordance with section 15.

  • Marginal note:Additional test

    (3) If a sample is determined to be acutely lethal in accordance with section 15, the owner or operator must take a grab sample twice a month, but at least seven days after any previous sample, and determine, or cause the determination of, whether or not it is acutely lethal in accordance with section 15.

  • Marginal note:Consecutive samples — not acutely lethal

    (4) If three consecutive samples are, under subsection (3), determined not to be acutely lethal, subsections (1) and (2) apply to subsequent samples.

  • Marginal note:Subsequent samples

    (5) For greater certainty, subsection (3) applies to any subsequent sample referred to in subsection (4) that is determined to be acutely lethal when tested under subsection (2).

  • Marginal note:Change in sampling frequency

    (6) The minimum sampling frequency set out in column 2 of the table to subsection (1) is reduced

    • (a) for item 1, to yearly, but at least six months after any other sample, if samples were taken under subsection (1) for each of four consecutive quarters and those samples were tested under subsection (2) and determined not to be acutely lethal; and

    • (b) for item 2, to quarterly, but at least 60 days after any other sample, if samples were taken under subsection (1) for each of 12 consecutive months and those samples were tested under subsection (2) and determined not to be acutely lethal.

Test Methods

Marginal note:CBOD matter

 The demand due to the quantity of carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demanding matter in the effluent must be determined in accordance with a five-day biochemical oxygen demand test with nitrification inhibition.

Marginal note:Suspended solids

 The concentration of suspended solids in the effluent must be determined in accordance with a total suspended solids test.

Marginal note:Un-ionized ammonia

  •  (1) The concentration of un-ionized ammonia in the effluent must be determined in accordance with the following formula:

    total ammonia × 1 ÷ (1 +109.56 – pH)

    where

    total ammonia
    is the concentration of total ammonia — namely, un-ionized ammonia (NH3) plus ionized ammonia (NH4+) — determined in accordance with subsection (2), expressed in mg/L as nitrogen (N); and
    pH
    is the pH of the effluent adjusted to 15°C ± 1°C and determined in accordance with subsection (3).
  • Marginal note:Concentration of total ammonia

    (2) The concentration of total ammonia in the effluent must be determined by using an aliquot of the same sample of effluent from which the pH of the effluent was determined and testing it in accordance with a total ammonia test.

  • Marginal note:pH

    (3) The pH of the effluent must be determined by using an aliquot of the same sample of effluent from which the concentration of total ammonia of the effluent was determined and testing it in accordance with a pH test.

Marginal note:Acute lethality

 The acute lethality of the effluent must be determined in accordance with

  • (a) Reference Method EPS 1/RM/13 using the procedure set out in section 5 or 6 of that Method; or

  • (b) paragraph (a) using the Procedure for pH Stabilization EPS 1/RM/50.

Accredited Laboratory

Marginal note:Accredited laboratory

 A determination referred to in subsection 10(4) or (5) or 11(2) or (3), paragraph 34(1)(a) or (b) or (4)(a) and any determination necessary to make that determination — other than the determination of pH of water necessary to make the determination referred to in subsection 34(3) — must be made

  • (a) by a laboratory

    • (i) that is accredited under the International Organization for Standardization standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005 entitled General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, as amended from time to time, by an accrediting body that is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement, and

    • (ii) whose accreditation includes the analytical method used to make the determination; or

  • (b) by a laboratory

    • (i) that is accredited under the Environment Quality Act, R.S.Q., c. Q-2, as amended from time to time, by an accreditation body that is recognized in accordance with that Act, and

    • (ii) whose accreditation includes the analytical method used to make the determination.

Record Keeping

Marginal note:Information to be recorded

 The owner or operator of a wastewater system must keep the report on each determination made by an accredited laboratory referred to in section 16 and a record that contains the following information:

  • (a) for the final discharge point,

    • (i) the date of each day on which effluent was not deposited via the final discharge point,

    • (ii) the date of each day on which effluent was deposited via the final discharge point, and

    • (iii) for each of the days referred to in subparagraph (ii)

      • (A) for a wastewater system whose daily volume of effluent referred to in paragraph 7(1)(a) was determined using monitoring equipment referred to in section 9

        • (I) the daily volume of the effluent, expressed in m3, if that volume is yielded by a continuous measure, and

        • (II) the estimated daily volume, expressed in m3, as determined in accordance with subsection 7(3) and the results of the measurement and the calculation referred to in paragraphs 7(3)(a) and (b), in any other case, and

      • (B) for an intermittent wastewater system whose daily volume of effluent referred to in paragraph 7(1)(a) was determined using a method of estimation in accordance with subsection 7(4), the estimated daily volume, expressed in m3, and

    • (iv) the average daily volume of effluent deposited annually, expressed in m3, determined in accordance with subsection 8(1), if applicable;

  • (b) for each combined sewer overflow point via which effluent is deposited because of precipitation, including the melting of snow or ice, that resulted in excess wastewater in the wastewater system,

    • (i) the date of each day on which effluent was deposited via the overflow point,

    • (ii) for each of those days, the duration or estimated duration, expressed in hours, of the deposit, along with an indication of whether it is the duration or an estimated duration and

      • (A) the daily volume of the effluent deposited, expressed in m3, if that volume is yielded by a continuous measure, and

      • (B) the estimated daily volume of the effluent deposited, expressed in m3, in any other case,

    • (iii) the volume or estimated volume, expressed in m3, of effluent for each month during which effluent was deposited via the overflow point, and

    • (iv) the number of days in each of those months during which effluent was deposited via the overflow point;

  • (c) for any monitoring equipment referred to in section 9,

    • (i) a description, including its type,

    • (ii) if applicable, the manufacturer’s specifications, the year of manufacture and the model number,

    • (iii) each date on which the equipment was calibrated and its degree of accuracy after each calibration, and

    • (iv) the date on which the equipment was installed and, if applicable, the date on which it ceased to be used for monitoring and on which it was replaced;

  • (d) for each sample referred to in subsection 10(1), (2) or (3), as the case may be, and, if applicable, subsection 6(4),

    • (i) the results of the determinations referred to in subsection 10(4), and

    • (ii) a statement as to whether the sample is a grab sample or a composite sample and the date on which the sample was taken;

  • (e) for each sample referred to in subsections 10(5) and, if applicable 6(4),

    • (i) the results of the determination referred to in subsection 10(5),

    • (ii) the results of the determination of the concentration of total ammonia in the effluent and of the pH of the effluent referred to in subsections 14(2) and (3), respectively, that were used to make the determination referred to in subsection 10(5), and

    • (iii) a statement as to whether the sample is a grab sample or a composite sample and the date on which the sample was taken;

  • (f) for each sample referred to in section 11 whose acute lethality was determined in accordance with section 15, the information referred to in section 8 of Reference Method EPS 1/RM/13 and, if the acute lethality of the effluent was determined in accordance with that method used with the Procedure for pH Stabilization EPS 1/RM/50, section 3 of that procedure;

  • (g) if the owner or operator holds of a temporary authorization issued under subsection 36(1),

    • (i) for each sample referred to in paragraph (d),

      • (A) the result of the determination referred to in paragraph 38(b),

      • (B) the results of the determination of the concentration of total ammonia in the effluent and of the pH of the effluent referred to in subsections 14(2) and (3), respectively, that were used to make the determination referred to in clause (A),

      • (C) a statement as to whether the sample is a grab sample or a composite sample and the date on which the sample was taken, and

    • (ii) the result of the determination referred to in paragraph 38(c) for each August and a description of how that determination was made.

 

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