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BYLAW NO. 1541
CONSOLIDATION OF A BYLAW OF THE CITY OF MEDICINE HAT regulating the use of
Public and Private Sewers and Drains and the Disposal of Sewage and the Discharge
of Waters and Waste into the Medicine Hat Sewer System.
WHEREAS the City of Medicine Hat has constructed and now maintains a sewerage system
consisting of storm and sanitary sewers and a sewage treatment lagoon system, and,
WHEREAS it is deemed just and proper to levy a sewerage service charge on all persons
occupying property connected with the sewerage system of the City to assist with the costs
of constructing and maintaining the system including the cost of treatment and disposal of
sewage.
NOW THEREFORE THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MEDICINE HAT DULY
ASSEMBLED ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
PART I
DEFINITIONS
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this bylaw
shall be as follows;
101.
B.O.D. (Denoting "BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND") - shall mean the
quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under
standard laboratory procedure in parts per million by weight.
102.
BUILDING DRAIN - shall mean that part of the lowest horizontal piping which
receives the discharge from soil waste or other drainage pipes within a
building and conducts it to the building sewer beginning 3 feet outside the
building wall.
103.
BUILDING SEWER - shall mean that part of a drainage system outside a
building commencing at a point 3 feet from the outer face of the wall of the
building and connecting the building drain to the public sewer or place of
disposal of sewage.
104.
CITY ENGINEER - shall mean the City Engineer of the City of Medicine Hat
or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.
105.
COMBINED SEWER - shall mean a sewer receiving both surface run-off and
sewage.
Amended by:
105.1 DWELLING UNIT - shall mean self-contained premises occupied or intended
Bylaw 3083
to be occupied as a separate place of residence, including, but not limited to
Mar. 18, 1997
a single family home, mobile home, townhouse, apartment or condominium
and premises within a duplex, triplex or fourplex.
106.
GARBAGE - shall mean solid wastes from the preparation, cooking, and
dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.
107.
GREASE - shall mean material recovered as grease using the method set out
in the latest edition of "Standard Methods" of the American Public Health
Association.
108.
HEALTH OFFICER - shall mean the Medical Officer of the Medicine Hat
PAGE 2 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
Health Unit, or any person to whom he may delegate a particular duty.
109.
HIGHWAY - shall mean any thoroughfare, street, road, trail, avenue, parkway,
driveway, viaduct, lane, alley, square, bridge, causeway, trestleway or other
place, whether publicly or privately owned, any part of which the public is
ordinarily entitled or permitted to use for the passage of vehicles but does not
include a place declared by the Lieutenant Governor in Council not to be a
highway.
110.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES - shall mean liquid wastes from industrial processes.
111.
NATURAL OUTLET - shall mean any outlet into a water course, pond, ditch
or lake, or other body of surface or ground water.
Amended by:
111.1 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY - shall mean any property other than
Bylaw 3083
residential property.
Mar. 18, 1997
112.
OWNER - shall mean the registered owner of a property or the purchaser
thereof who is entitled to occupy and enjoy the property.
113.
PERSON - shall mean any individual, firm, company, association, society,
corporation or group.
114.
pH - shall mean the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions
in moles per liter of solution and denotes alkalinity or acidity.
115.
PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE - shall mean the waste from the
preparation, cooking or dispensing of food that has been shredded to such a
degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally
prevailing in public sewers, with no particles greater than quarter inch in any
dimension.
Amended by:
115.1 RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY - shall mean property consisting of one or more
Bylaw 3083
dwelling units.
Mar. 18, 1997
116.
SANITARY SEWER - shall mean a sewer which carries sewage and to which
storm and surface waters are not admitted.
117.
SEWAGE WORKS - shall mean all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating
and disposing of sewage.
118.
SEWAGE - shall mean a combination of the water carried wastes from
residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments,
together with such ground waters as may be present.
119.
SEWER - shall mean a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
120.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT - shall mean any arrangement used for
treating sewage, and without restricting the generality of the foregoing shall
include a sewage lagoon disposal system.
121.
STORM SEWER OR STORM DRAIN - shall mean a sewer which carries
storm and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and polluted
industrial wastes.
122.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS - shall mean solids that either float on the surface of,
or are in suspension in, water, sewage or other liquids and which are
removable by laboratory filtering.
PAGE 3 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
123.
WATER COURSE - shall mean a channel in which a flow of water occurs,
either continuously, or intermittently.
Amended by:
In this Bylaw when quantities are expressed in both metric and Imperial units, the
Bylaw 2832
conversion factor used is 1 m3 = 219.97 Imperial Gallons.
Jan. 18, 1993
PART II
USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS REQUIRED
201.
No persons shall place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any manner that
which is unsanitary in the opinion of the Health Officer upon public or private
property within the City of Medicine Hat or in any area under the jurisdiction of
the City, any human or animal excrement, garbage or other objectionable
waste.
202.
No person shall discharge to any natural outlet within the City of Medicine Hat
or to any area under the jurisdiction of the said City, any sanitary sewage,
industrial waste, or other polluted waters except where suitable pre-treatment
has been approved in accordance with the subsequent provisions of this
bylaw.
203.
The owner of every house, building or property used for human occupancy,
employment, recreation, or other purpose, situated within the City and abutting
on any highway, or right-of-way, in which there is now or hereafter located, a
public sanitary or combined sewer of the City, is hereby required at his
expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities
directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of the
City Plumbing bylaw within sixty days after the date of notice from the Health
Officer to do so.
PART III
PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
301.
Where a public sanitary sewer or combined sewer is not available under the
provisions of section 203, the Building Sewer shall be connected to a private
sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this bylaw, the City
Plumbing Requirements and the regulations of the Provincial Board of Health.
302.
At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a
private sewage disposal system, the provisions of section 203 shall then apply
to the property and a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in
compliance with this bylaw and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar
private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with suitable
material.
303.
The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in
a sanitary manner at all times at no expense to the City.
304.
No statement contained in this bylaw shall be construed to interfere with any
additional requirements that may be imposed by the Health Officer.
PAGE 4 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
PART IV
BUILDING SEWERS AND CONNECTIONS
401.
No authorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening
into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenances thereof.
402.
All building sewers when approved shall be constructed by municipal forces
from the public sewer to the property line. Any person desiring to connect his
premises with any sanitary, combined or storm sewer, shall sign and file with
the City a written application on a City form for a permit to make such
connection.
403.
All building sewers on private property shall be constructed by the owner to
the requirements of this bylaw and of the City Plumbing Bylaw No. 1148, dated
1956, as amended. Permits for constructing such building sewers must be
obtained from the City Plumbing Inspector and applications for such
permission shall be made on approved forms furnished by the City. The
permit applications shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or
other information considered pertinent to the judgment of the City Engineer.
404.
The City shall maintain the sewer from the main to the property line at the
expense of the City; from the property line to the building connection, shall be
maintained by the property owner at his expense.
405.
When any sewer connection is abandoned, the owner or his agent shall
effectively block up the connection at a suitable location within his property so
as to prevent sewage backing up into the soil, or dirt from being washed into
the sewer.
PART V
USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS
501.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface
water, ground water, roof run-off, sub-surface drainage, cooling water or
unpolluted industrial water to any sanitary sewer provided that the City
Engineer may on application authorize such discharge where exceptional
conditions prevent compliance with the foregoing provisions.
502.
Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such
sewers as are specifically designated, as storm sewers or to a natural outlet
approved by the Engineer.
503.
No persons shall discharge or cause or permit to be discharged any of the
following described waters or wastes to any storm and/or sanitary sewer;
(1)
any liquid or vapour having a temperature higher than 170 degrees F.
(2)
any gasoline, benzene, naptha, fuel oil, or other flammable or
explosive liquids, solvent or gas.
(3)
any ashes, cinders, sand, potters clay, mud, straw, shavings, metal,
glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood or other solid or viscous
substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow of sewers or other
interference with the proper operation of the sewage works.
(4)
(a)
Any paunch manure or intestinal contents from horses, cattle,
sheep or swine;
(b)
All animal hooves, toenails, or bone scraps;
PAGE 5 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
(c)
Animals intestines or stomach casings;
(d)
Bones;
(e)
Hog bristles;
(f)
Hides or parts thereof;
(g)
Animal fat or flesh in particles larger than will pass through a
1/4 inch screen;
(h)
Horse, cattle, sheep or swine manure;
(i)
Poultry entrails, heads, feet, feathers, or eggshells;
(j)
Fleshings and hair resulting from tanning operations.
(5)
Any waters or wastes having pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 9.5 or
having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or
hazard to structures, equipment, biological sewage treatment
processes, and personnel of the sewage works.
(6)
Any waters or wastes containing a toxic poisonous substance in
sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment
process, constituting a hazard to humans or animals, or create any
hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant.
(7)
Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a
public nuisance.
504.
Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided on private property for all
garages, gasoline service stations and vehicle and equipment washing
establishments; interceptors will be required for other types of businesses
where they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid waste containing
grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand and other
harmful ingredients, except that such interceptors shall not be required for
private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and
capacity as to conform to standards specified in sections 11-17-25 to 11-17-
31, inclusive, of the Provincial Plumbing and Drainage Regulations and shall
be so located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and
inspection. Where installed, all grease, sand and oil interceptors shall be
maintained by the owner at his expense in continuously efficient operation at
all times.
505.
In case any blockage, either wholly or in part, of said sewage system is caused
by reason of failure, omission or neglect to comply strictly with the foregoing
provisions, the owner, proprietor or occupant concerned therein shall, in
addition to any penalty for infraction of the provisions hereof, be liable to the
City for all costs of clearing such blockage.
Amended by:
506.
If a person discharges industrial waste or sewage into the City sewage system
Bylaw 4715
exceeding any of the following characteristics and limits:
Nov. 22, 2022
(1)
a five day B.O.D. greater than seven hundred parts per million by
weight, or,
(2)
containing more than four hundred parts per million by weight of
suspended solids, or,
(3)
containing more than one hundred parts per million by weight of fat, oil
or grease either singly or in combination,
then such person shall pay a charge computed as set out in Schedule "A" of
this bylaw.
PAGE 6 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
Provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the City Engineer may require
that the sewage or industrial waste discharged by any person into the City
Sewage system shall not exceed the characteristics and limits specified in
subsections (1), (2), (3) of this section, or such greater limits as the City
Engineer may specify if in his opinion such limitation is necessary in view of
the load capacity of the City sewage treatment facilities. Any person so
restricted may appeal the limits established by the City Engineer to Council
who shall hear the appellant and the City Engineer or the Council or agent of
either, together with such other technical or expert witnesses as the Council
shall deem appropriate.
507.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into any sewer within, or
entering, the City sewers, waste waters, domestic sewage, commercial
sewage, industrial or factory waste in a greater volume than one hundred
thousand (100,000) cubic feet per month without obtaining a license so to do
from the City Engineer in the manner provided, but no such license shall be
given by the City Engineer, until:
(a)
such a person has made application in writing for permission to
discharge industrial or factory waste or sewage into a sewer within, or
entering, the City system; and
(b)
such applicant shall have given the chemical and physical analysis,
quantity and rate of discharge or sewage to be so discharged, and any
other detailed information that is required, including all pertinent
information relating to any proposed pre-treatment before discharge,
and
(c)
the application has been formally approved in writing.
508.
Where preliminary treatment facilities are provided for any industrial waste or
sewage, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective
operation by the applicant at his own expense.
509.
The owner of any premises discharging industrial waste, shall at his expense
install a suitable control manhole in the sewer connection to facilitate
observation, sampling and measurement of the waste. Such manhole, when
required, shall be accessibly and safely located and shall be constructed in
accordance with plans approved by the City Engineer. The manhole shall be
installed by the applicant at his own expense and shall be maintained by him
so as to be safe and accessible at all times.
510.
All measurements, texts and analysis of the characteristics of industrial waste,
sewage, or water to which reference is made in this bylaw shall be determined
in accordance with the "Standard Method for the Examination of Water and
Sewage" of the American Public Health Association, and shall be determined
at the control manhole provided for in section 509 of this bylaw, or upon
suitable samples taken at said manhole. In the event that no special manhole
has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest
downstream manhole in the common sewer to the point at which the sewer
connection of the licensee enters.
Amended by:
511.
No statement contained in this bylaw shall be construed as preventing any
Bylaw 4715
special agreement or arrangement, for a period not exceeding one year,
Nov. 22, 2022
between the City and any existing industrial concern, whereby industrial
wastes exceeding the limits set forth in section 506 will be accepted under the
PAGE 7 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
conditions specified in the above special agreement or arrangement.
Provided that any such agreement or arrangement can be entered into only
with a person already carrying on the business in Medicine Hat for which the
agreement is contemplated, and that any such agreement shall terminate not
later than one year following the date on which this bylaw comes into effect,
and further provided that no such agreement shall permit any rebate of the
sewerage service charge described in Schedule "A" of this bylaw except as
compensation for the installation by a person of sewage pre-treatment
facilities.
PART VI
POWER AND AUTHORITY OF INSPECTOR
601.
The City Engineer and any authorized employees of the City shall be permitted
to enter upon all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation,
measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this
bylaw. If such inspection discloses any failure, omission or neglect to clean
out such sumps, or discloses any defect in the location, construction, design
or maintenance of any of the sewer system or any connection there from the
City system, the person making such inspection shall in writing notify the said
owner, proprietor or occupier to rectify the cause of complaint.
PART VII
SEWER SERVICE CHARGE
Amended by:
701.
All persons owning or occupying property connected with the sewage system
Bylaw 4715
of the City shall pay sewerage charges as set out in Schedule "A" of this Bylaw.
Nov. 22, 2022
702.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 701, of this bylaw, the City Council,
on the recommendation of the City Engineer, shall have the right to make
special agreements on terms fixed by the Council with certain industries or
others to whom large quantities of water are sold but whose uses of such
water do not involve the return of comparable amounts of sewage to the
sanitary sewer.
PART VIII
PENALTIES
801.
(1)
If the owner or occupier of any building which, under the provisions of
this bylaw, is required to be connected with the water main or common
sewer, or both, shall neglect or refuse to commence the work
necessary to cause such building to be so connected in accordance
with the provisions of this bylaw for the period of sixty (60) days after
notice in writing, which has been given to him personally or to some
adult person at the building required to be connected, by the Health
Officer or his authorized agent, or to prosecute the work without delay
or to the satisfaction of the City, then such person, shall on summary
conviction, be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty five ($25.00)
Dollars, exclusive of costs, for each and every day such default is
continued.
(2)
The person giving notice above provided for, shall also post up a copy
of such notice on the front door or some other conspicuous part of the
PAGE 8 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
building referred to in the notice. Any person tearing down or defacing
the copy so posted up shall be guilty of an infraction of this bylaw.
Amended by:
802.
Repealed.
Bylaw 2832
Jan. 18, 1993
Amended by:
803.
Except in a case where section 801 applies, a person who contravenes
Bylaw 2832
a provision of this Bylaw is guilty of an offence and liable upon summary
Jan. 18, 1993
conviction to pay a fine of not less than $250.00 for the first offence and not
less than $1,000.00 for a second or subsequent offence, or to be imprisoned
for a period of not less than five days and not more than six months in
default of payment of the fine.
PART IX
GENERAL
901.
In case of any dispute as to the proper charge to which any property is subject
by reason of the provisions herein contained, the matter shall first be referred
to the City Engineer and where the dispute is not then settled to the
satisfaction of a property owner, such owner may refer the matter to City
Council. Final appeal may then be made in the manner provided for in the
Arbitration Act of the Province of Alberta.
This bylaw shall come into effect the first day of June, 1970.
READ A FIRST TIME in Open Council this 2nd day of February, A.D. 1970.
READ A SECOND AND THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED in Open Council this 2nd day
of March, A.D. 1970.
PAGE 9 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
Amended by Bylaw
4836 December 17,
2024
SCHEDULE "A" TO BYLAW NO. 1541
AS AMENDED BY BYLAW NO. 4836 - DECEMBER 17, 2024
(EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025)
THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SEWERS AND DRAINS AND THE DISPOSAL OF
SEWAGE AND THE DISCHARGE OF WATERS AND WASTE INTO THE MEDICINE
HAT SEWER SYSTEM BYLAW OF THE CITY OF MEDICINE HAT
1. RATES FOR SEWER SERVICE CHARGE:
Sewer Service Charge - Based on water meter size charged at a daily rate of:
Meter Size (mm)
Meter Size
(inches)
Effective January
1, 2025
Effective January 1,
2026
15
5/8
$1.8587
$1.9052
20
3/4
$1.8587
$1.9052
25
1
$1.8587
$1.9052
40
1 ½
$1.8587
$1.9052
50
2
$1.8587
$1.9052
75
3
$1.8587
$1.9052
100
4
$1.8587
$1.9052
150
6
$1.8587
$1.9052
200
8
$1.8587
$1.9052
250
10
$1.8587
$1.9052
Where a Residential Property contains multiple Dwelling Units and the owners or occupants
of such Dwelling Units are not billed directly for sewage service, the Person receiving the
monthly utility bills for such Residential Property shall be charged the daily rate set out above
for the 15mm (5/8 inches) Meter Size multiplied by the number of individual Dwelling Units in
the Residential Property.
PAGE 10 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
2. RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL SEWAGE CHARGE
Sewage Charge
Effective January 1,
2025
Effective January 1,
2026
Based on the cubic metres
of water consumed*
$0.00
$0.00
*Low season sewage volume for residential customers - sewage volumes billed between
November 1st to March 31st will be equal to water usage in cubic meters.
High season sewage volume billed between April 1st to October 31st inclusive, shall be equal
to the winter average sewage volume during the immediate previous winter period.
The low season average sewage volume shall be determined by averaging the water usage
recorded during the five monthly utility statements that were billed November 1st to March 31st
inclusive. For purposes of this calculation, all monthly water usage figures of less than X cubic
meters shall be replaced with X cubic meters prior to averaging.
3. RATES FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL SEWAGE CHARGE
Sewage Charge
Effective January 1,
2025
Effective January 1,
2026
Based on the cubic metres
of water consumed
$1.9416
$1.9901
4. RATES FOR PROPERTIES CONNECTED TO THE CITY'S WASTEWATER SYSTEM BUT
SERVED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITH WATER FROM A SOURCE OTHER THAN THE
CITY:
Provided the waste or sewage is within the limits set out in section 506, the charge is to follow
the table below. The customer shall, at their own expense, install and maintain an approved
meter upon which the sewage charge shall thereupon be determined.
Sewage Charge
Effective January 1,
2025
Effective January 1,
2026
Based on the cubic metres
of water consumed
$1.9416
$1.9901
PAGE 11 OF BYLAW NO. 1541
5. RATES FOR SEWAGE DISCHARGE EXCEEDING ANY OR ALL LIMITS SET OUT IN
SECTION 506 SHALL BE CHARGES AS FOLLOWS:
N x NON-RESIDENTIAL SEWAGE CHARGE
Where N = 1 plus (A / 2100) + (B / 1200) + (C / 300)
-
'A' is the difference between the actual B.O.D. in parts per million and the allowable
B.O.D. in parts per million.
-
'B' is the difference between the actual suspended solids in parts per million and the
allowable suspended solids in parts per million.
-
'C' is the difference between the actual fat, oil or grease in parts per million and the
allowable fat, oil or grease in parts per million.
The minimum charge shall remain at the non-residential sewage charge per cubic metre of
water consumed. To determine the rate charged each month, the City will run tests of the
sewage being discharged into its sewer system by each industry at varying times during the
year and the charges will be based on an average of the readings of such tests. The test will
be conducted in accordance with standard tests defined in section 510.