Frequently Asked Questions

Cleaning up our nation’s wastewater is a priority. Currently, Canada dumps over 150 billion litres of untreated and undertreated wastewater (sewage) into our waterways every year. The Government of Canada worked with the provinces and engaged municipalities and others to establish the country’s first national standards for wastewater treatment.

The Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations published on July 18, 2012, are now in force. The Regulations, developed under the Fisheries Act, set effluent quality standards that can be achieved through secondary treatment, or equivalent, of wastewater prior to discharge. 

The complete Wastewater Systems Effluents Regulations can be found at the Canada Gazette.

What are the benefits of the Regulations?

There are numerous benefits to improved wastewater effluent quality. These include healthier fish and aquatic ecosystems; increasing recreational use, such as swimming; increasing commercial fisheries use; reducing water supply costs for municipalities and industry; higher property values; and increasing value placed on ecosystem and water quality by individuals and households for the benefit of both current and future generations. For instance, the value that affected communities attach to improved water quality is estimated to be $1.7 billion, while the total property value improvements that would likely result are estimated to be worth $14.8 billion in present value terms.

Improved water quality from the Regulations is also expected to result in positive impacts on the fishing and seafood industry. It should reduce contaminant-related harvest closures in the shellfish industry, and it could help to increase Canadian seafood exports from Eastern Canada, such as mussels. Benefits are likely to include fewer beach closures and an increased ability of Canadians and visitors to enjoy water-based recreation throughout Canada. This is expected to boost the tourism industry, which represents approximately two percent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

How is wastewater treated?

Wastewater treatment can be generally categorized into three levels: primary, secondary, or tertiary (advanced) treatment. All of these levels of treatment typically begin with a preliminary screening to remove large solid objects, debris, and grit. Primary treatment is the most basic form of treatment that relies on a mechanical process to physically separate solids from the water.

Secondary level wastewater treatment is typically a combination of physical and biological treatment processes that removes over 95 percent of the total mass of conventional pollutants including oxygen-consuming matter, solid materials and nutrients. Significant amounts of non-conventional pollutants and bacteria that may be present are also removed through secondary treatment.

Tertiary treatment is the most advanced treatment. It is generally used to achieve a desired level of effluent quality for a particular substance. It can be accomplished using a number of physical, chemical or biological processes (e.g., carbon filters, reverse osmosis).

What systems are impacted by the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations?

The Regulations apply to any wastewater system designed to collect an average daily volume of influent of 100 cubic metres (100 000 litres) or more, or that actually collects an average daily volume of influent of 100 cubic metres or more, that deposits specified harmful substances into water frequented by fish, or a place referred to in subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act.  Smaller wastewater systems that do not meet these conditions are not impacted by the Regulations.

The Regulations do not apply to wastewater systems in the far north (Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and northern regions of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador). More research is being done to determine an approach for those areas.

What is required of owners and operators of wastewater systems that are impacted by the Regulations?

Under the Regulations, all owners or operators of wastewaters systems are required to monitor and report effluent quality and quantity. The Regulations specify the type of sample to be collected and minimum sampling frequencies, based on the annual average daily volume of effluent deposited and the type of wastewater system. Systems that deposit larger volumes of effluent are required to monitor more frequently than those with smaller volumes. Owners or operators of wastewater systems may be required to install, maintain and calibrate flow monitoring equipment.

The Regulations take the first step towards managing combined sewer overflows. They require owners and operators of wastewater systems with combined sewers to record information on the quantity and frequency of effluent discharged from them and to submit annual reports and develop a plan of reduction.

Wastewater systems that do not meet the effluent quality standards must upgrade to secondary treatment (or equivalent). This will need to be done within the timeline determined for each system. Approximately 850 facilities across Canada require upgrades under the Regulations.

What are the timelines for implementation?

The effluent quality standards will be phased-in. It is expected that about 75 percent of existing wastewater systems already meet the minimum secondary wastewater treatment standards in the regulations and do not need to be upgraded. The Regulations address how and when the remaining 25% will be required to meet the standards. Wastewater systems posing a high risk will be required to meet the effluent quality standards by the end of 2020, medium risk by the end of 2030, and low risk by the end of 2040.

What are the costs associated with the Regulations?

Over 54 years the total costs to wastewater system owners and operators are estimated to be $5.5 billion discounted at 8% and in 2011 dollars. Capital costs are expected to be approximately $3 billion, operating and maintenance costs around $1.7 billion, and monitoring and reporting related costs of $748 million.

While the estimated costs of the Regulations are significant, the overall quantified benefits are almost three times this amount, totaling $16.5 billion. This results in a net benefit of $11.0 billion and a benefit-to-cost ratio of over 3:1 for the country as a whole.

How will the Government of Canada contribute to wastewater infrastructure upgrades?

Since 2006 the Government of Canada has committed over $2.3 billion to wastewater infrastructure through a number of programs. Wastewater treatment infrastructure is an eligible category under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, the Green Infrastructure Fund, the Gas Tax Fund and the Building Canada Fund. Under the Gas Tax Fund, which is permanent at $2 billion per year, municipalities can choose to spend 100 percent of this funding to upgrade their wastewater infrastructure.

The Government of Canada has committed to work closely with provinces, municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to develop a long-term plan for infrastructure beyond 2014.

How will the Regulations be administered?

Environment Canada intends to establish agreements with provinces and the Yukon to streamline the administration and enforcement of the Regulations. The agreements would aim to reduce duplication where possible for activities such as regulatory reporting.