Federal

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)

CCME developed a Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent (MMWE) endorsed in February 2009. The Strategy requires that all facilities achieve National Performance Standards and develop and manage site-specific Effluent Discharge Objectives (EDOs). High-risk facilities are required to meet the National Performance Standards first, followed by medium- and low-risk facilities.

The Strategy also outlines risk management activities to be implemented to reduce the risks associated with combined and sanitary sewer overflows.

The national standards for Combined Sewer overflows (CSOs) are:

  • No increase in combined sewer overflow frequency due to development or redevelopment, unless it occurs as part of an approved combined sewer overflow management plan;
  • No combined sewer overflow discharge during dry weather, except during spring thaw and emergencies; and
  • Removal of floatable materials where feasible.

The GMWC has been classified as a high-risk facility and now meets WSER and EDO's.  Requirements for CSO are stated in the Approval to Operate.

Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER)

Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER) made official in June 2012 under the Fisheries Act establish the Canada’s first national standards for wastewater treatment.

WSER require that wastewater facility effluents must not be acutely lethal to the aquatic life and must also meet the following conditions at the final discharge point to be authorized to be discharged:

  • The average carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand due to the quantity of CBOD matter in the effluent did not exceed 25 mg/L;
  • The average concentration of suspended solids in the effluent did not exceed 25 mg/L;
  • The average concentration of total residual chlorine in the effluent did not exceed 0.02 mg/L, if chlorine, or one of its compounds, was used in the treatment of wastewater; and
  • The maximum concentration of un-ionized ammonia in the effluent was less than 1.25 mg/L, expressed as nitrogen (N), at 15°C ± 1°C.

Federal Government - Environment Canada Wastewater http://www.ec.gc.ca/eu-ww/default.asp?lang=En&n=BC799641-1 

Federal Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations WSER-2012 http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2012-139/FullText.html

The GMWC uses the Effluent Regulatory Reporting Information System (ERRIS) to report to the federal regulator National Performance Standards concentrations (quarterly) and Combined Sewer Overflows (yearly).

Provincial

The New Brunswick Department of Environment and Climate Change (NB DECC) issue to the Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission Treatment Facility an Approval to Operate that set terms and conditions for the facility operations (added below). The Province of New Brunswick's current Approval to Operate (S-3374) is valid to November 30, 2025. The CCME Strategy was endorsed by the Province of New Brunswick that committed to incorporate the strategy requirements into its regulatory framework. The NBDELG has incorporated these requirements into the Approvals to Operate issued to system owners including the GMWC:

  • National Performance Standards,
  • Toxicity monitoring,
  • Effluent characterization and discharge objectives,
  • Long term Combined Sewer Overflow plan

Province of New Brunswick – Approval to Operate for the Wastewater Treatment Facility: Download

Province of New Brunswick – Approval to Operate for the Kent County Composting Facility: Download

Province of New Brunswick – Approval to Operate for the Composting Facility: Download

Province of New Brunswick – Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Permit: Download

Province of New Brunswick – Department of Environment and Local Government http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/elg.html

Water and Wastewater Management (Section) Environment and Local Government http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/contacts/dept_renderer.139.200999.201…

Water and Wastewater Operator - Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.201337.Water_and_Wastewater_Operator-Apprenticeship_and_Occupational_Certification.html

Water and Wastewater Operator Information Sheet http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/petl-epft/PDF/Appren/Was…

Clean Environment Act C-6 Clean Water Act C-6.1 Municipal Capital Borrowing Act M-20 Municipalities Act M-22 Control of Municipalities Act C-20: Download

Municipal

Municipal Sewer Use By-laws are essential for implementing source controls for contaminants discharged to sewer systems. Reduction at source focuses on the elimination or reduction of pollutants entering the wastewater sewer system from households, industrial, commercial and institutional sources.

Wastewater facilities can treat some substances; many can only be partially treated or cannot be treated at all. In addition, microorganisms involved in biological treatments as living organisms are sensitive to certain substances which reduce their efficiency to treat organic materials.

The municipalities of Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview regulate and control the discharge of wastewater and storm water runoff through the enforcement of their municipal sewer use by-laws.

Moncton

Bylaw #P-215: A Bylaw relating to the regulation and control of the discharge of wastewater and storm water runoff into the sewerage works of the city of Moncton 

Dieppe

Bylaw #78-5: A by-law of the Municipality of Dieppe respecting the water and sewage systems

Riverview

Bylaw 400-25-02: A bylaw of the municipality of Riverview respecting the water and sewerage systems