Whereas the Sewerage System Regulation, under the Public Health Act, does not require an environmental impact study for sewerage systems including septic systems that receive a flow of less than 22,700 litres per day 5,000 Imperial gallons; And whereas there is no requirement for provincial review of the cumulative effect of multiple systems on a parcel of land or their location relative to water sources that may be present, as part of the onsite sewerage system permitting process: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request, that as part of the onsite sewerage system permit approval process, the Ministry of Environment be required to review all permit applications for onsite sewerage systems when the combined septic effluent from a parcel exceeds 80 of the Municipal Wastewater Regulation threshold of 22,700 litres per day and a septic system malfunction could contaminate a municipal water source.
Ministry of Environment and Parks In the province, sewage disposal is governed under two distinct but complementary regulatory frameworks. The Public Health Act and the Sewerage Systems Regulation SSR, administered by local health authorities, and the Environmental Management Act and the Municipal Wastewater Regulation MWR, administered by the Ministry of Environment and Parks ENV. These frameworks are non overlapping, and each regulators jurisdiction is defined in statute. Requiring ENV review of discharges exceeding 80 percent of the MWR threshold would undermine the statutory authority of local health authorities and would not enhance environmental protection. The MWR does not apply to sewage discharges regulated under the SSR, and ENV has no authority to assume jurisdiction over systems that fall within the SSR framework. ENV, the Ministry of Health and the local health authorities maintain a formal referral process to determine the appropriate jurisdiction when a proposed discharge presents uncertainty. Both local health authorities and ENV rely on Qualified Professionals to ensure that wastewater systems are designed, constructed, and operated in a manner that protects public health and the environment. Qualified Professionals are accountable to their governing bodies under the Professional Governance Act, which establishes rigorous standards of practice and oversight.