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BYLAW
Public Sewer Bylaw
No. 112, 1990
Consolidated for convenience only January 2023
This Consolidation includes the following Bylaw Amendments:
112-1, 1994
112-6, 2013
112-2, 1995
112-7, 2017
112-4, 2011
112-8, 2023
112-5, 2012
Note: 112-3, 1996 was not proceeded with.
This version of this bylaw is a consolidation of amendments to the original bylaw as of the date
specified. This consolidation is done for the convenience of users and accurately reflects the status of
this bylaw as of the specified date but must not be construed as the original bylaw and is not
admissible in Court unless specifically certified by the Corporate Officer for the District of Sechelt.
Persons interested in the definitive wording of this bylaw and its amendments should view the original
bylaws at the District of Sechelt.
DISCLAIMER
Unless an image, photograph or diagram is explicitly referred to in the text of the Bylaw as being part of
a bylaw, any image, photographs or diagrams do not form part of the Bylaw and are provided as
supplementary materials for convenience only.
AMENDMENTS
Number
Date
Amendment
Page 3
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
DISTRICT OF SECHELT
BYLAW NO. 112, 1990
A bylaw for the administration and regulation of public sewers
WHEREAS the Community Charter provides for the establishment of public sewer systems and
the operation thereof:
NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Corporation of the District of Sechelt in open meeting
assembled hereby enacts as follows:
TITLE
1.
This bylaw may be cited as the "District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112,
1990".
DEFINITIONS
2.(1)
In this bylaw, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings hereinafter
assigned to them, that is to say:
(a)
B.O.D. (denoting biochemical oxygen demand) means the quantity of oxygen
utilized in the biochemical exodation of organic matter under standard laboratory
procedure in five (5) days at 20o Celsius, expressed in milligrams per litre;
(b)
BUILDING SANITARY SEWER means the section of sewer piping from the
sanitary sewer connection to the building it serves and is intended to receive only
sanitary sewage;
(c)
BUILDING STORM SEWER means the section of sewer piping from the storm
sewer connection to the building it serves and is intended to receive only storm
water;
(d)
COMBINED SEWER means a sewer intended to receive both storm water and
sewage;
(e)
ENGINEER means the Director of Engineering and Public Works for the
Municipality or duly authorized assistant or agent.
(f)
FOOD SECTOR ESTABLISHMENT means any premises, except premises used
solely as a private residence, where food is prepared, packaged, served, sold, or
otherwise handled in a manner that results in the formation of fats, oils and grease,
including restaurants, delicatessens, fast- food premises, cafeterias, hospitals, bars,
grocery stores, bakeries, butcher shops, and other similar premises where food is
handled.
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District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
(g)
GARBAGE means solid wastes from the domestic or commercial preparation,
cooking and dispensing of food and from the handling, storage and sale of produce;
(h)
INDUSTRIAL WASTES means the waste water from industrial business
processes as distinct from sanitary sewage;
(i)
MAIN SEWER see PUBLIC SEWER
(j)
MUNICIPALITY means the District of Sechelt.
(k)
pH means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams
per litre of solution;
(l)
PERMISSION means permission given by the Engineer or his duly authorized
assistant or agent.
(m)
PROPERLY COMMINUTED GARBAGE means the wastes from the
preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to such a
degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally
prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than six millitres (6 mm.) in any
dimension;
(n)
PUBLIC SEWER means a sewer installed on Municipal property, highways or
rights-of-way and shall include main sewers, lateral sewers, sewer extensions and
sewer connections, and is controlled by the Municipality;
(o)
RIGHT-OF-WAY means an acquired legal right for the specified use of land
owned by others;
(p)
SANITARY SEWAGE means any liquid or waste water containing animal or
vegetable matter in suspension or solution and includes waste water from plumbing
fixtures and appliances;
(q)
SEWAGE means waste water from buildings, lands and industrial establishments,
together with such storm water that is not intentionally admitted;
(r)
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT means any arrangement of devices and
structures used for treating sewage;
(s)
SEWER means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage or storm water;
(t)
"SEWER CONNECTION" means that section of the public sewer connecting the
main sewer, lateral sewer or sewer extension to the property it serves;
(u)
STORM SEWER means a sewer which carries storm and surface waters and
drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling
water;
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District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
(v)
STORM WATER means rainfall, ground water, subsurface water or unpolluted
water from any source;
(w)
SUSPENDED SOLIDS means 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;
(x)
UNPOLLUTED WATER means water of quality equal or better than the effluent
criteria in effect or water that would not cause a violation of receiving water quality
standards and would not be benefitted by discharge to the sanitary sewers and
sewage treatment facilities.
(y)
WATER COURSE means a natural or artificial channel for the passage of water
either continuously or intermittently.
REQUIREMENTS TO CONNECT SEWERS
3.
(1)
The owner of every parcel of land to which a sewer connection can be or has been
made, and on which a building or other structure with a plumbing system is situate
shall connect such plumbing system to the sewer connection.
(2)
In the event of the owner failing to make the necessary connection to the sewer
connection within thirty (30) days after being notified in writing by the
Municipality to do so, or as required by Section 12 (1) of this bylaw, the Engineer,
by his workmen or others, may have the work done at the expense of such owner,
and the Municipality shall recover the expense thereof with costs in like manner as
municipal taxes.
(3)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an owner failing to connect his building or structure
to the sewer system within the aforesaid period of thirty (30) days shall be liable to
the penalties provided by this Bylaw.
(4)
Notice in writing required to be given by the Engineer pursuant to this Section shall
be sufficiently given if sent by registered mail to the owner at the address shown on
the last revised assessment roll of the Municipality.
(5)
For clarity of Section (1) above:
a)
where a sewer line extension is built as a response to a petition for the
service, connection to abutting properties is mandatory;
b) where a sewer line extension is built as a Council initiative whereby the
assent of the electors has been gained or an alternative approval process
used, connection to abutting properties is mandatory;
c)
where grant funds are used for a sewer capital project, connection to abutting
properties is mandatory;
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District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
d)
where Gas Tax grant money is to be used for a project that is in the District's
five year capital forecast, connection to abutting properties is mandatory;
e)
where a developer has provided the funds for a sewer line extension, the
abutting properties will be required to connect to the sewer only under
the following criteria:
i.
change of ownership;
ii.
improvement within the property that requires a building permit; and
iii.
failure of the septic on the property.
(6)
Property owners who appeal an obligation to connect based on physical lot
characteristics or financial hardship be dealt with by Council on a case by case
basis.
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
4.
(1)
Pursuant to the provisions of this Bylaw, all drainage and sewerage works provided
by persons other than the Municipality shall be constructed and installed strictly in
accordance with the plans and specifications annexed to the Subdivision Control
Bylaw of the Municipality and shall comply with the provisions of the British
Columbia Plumbing code.
APPLICATION FOR SERVICE
5.
(1)
Each application for a sewer connection shall be made to the Municipality by the
owner or his authorized agent in the form prescribed in Appendix "A" attached to
and forming part of this Bylaw.
(2)
Such owner shall, on making application, pay to the Municipality the applicable
connection fee. If such connection is practicable, the Engineer shall, within ninety
(90) days, weather permitting, provide and install a sewer connection to the
applicant's property. If such connection is not practicable, the Engineer shall so
notify the applicant within sixty (60) days and the Municipality shall refund the
charges or fees paid by the applicant.
(3)
Each property shall have its own sewer connection which shall be installed by the
Municipality. Where two or more buildings exist on one parcel of land and where
such parcel of land can be subdivided, each building or structure shall have a
separate service connection.
(4)
Where possible, the sewer connection will be located at the location requested by
the applicant. In the event the applicant's preferred location is not practicable due to
the existence of installed surface improvements or is in conflict with installed
underground utilities the Engineer shall designate the location of each service
connection to each parcel of land or premises.
Page 7
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
FEES AND PERMITS
6.
(1)
To defray the District of Sechelt's cost to install sewer connection to land on which
buildings or structures are to be served, all such costs are to be borne by the owner
of said land pursuant to the cost estimate set out in Appendix A attached to and
forming part of this bylaw.
INSTALLATION OF SEWERS
7.
(1)
The Engineer shall determine the location, size and depth of each sewer connection.
(2)
Whenever possible, the sewer connection shall be brought to the property line at a
gradient and elevation that will allow gravity flow of sewage from the building to
the main sewer.
(3)
When, in the opinion of the Engineer, problems may occur in any sewer connection
because of the surcharging of the public sewer, the Engineer may refuse an
application.
(4)
The connecting of the building sanitary sewer or the building storm sewer into a
public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the Building and Plumbing Codes
or other applicable rules and regulations of the Municipality. All such connections
shall be made gas-tight and water-tight and be verified by proper testing. Any
deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the
Engineer before installation.
(5)
All excavations for sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with barricades
and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and
other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a
manner satisfactory to the Municipality.
(6)
When determined as being necessary by the Engineer, the owner of any property
served by a sewer discharging industrial wastes to a public sewer shall install a
suitable structure, together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances, in
the building sanitary sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of
the wastes. Such structure, when required, shall be accessible and safely located and
shall be constructed in accordance with the plans approved by the Engineer. The
structure shall be maintained by the owner as to be safe and accessible at all times.
Page 6
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
(7)
The Engineer may require a user of sewer services to provide information needed to
determine compliance with this Bylaw. These requirements may include:
(a)
Sewage or storm water discharge peak rate and volume over a specified time
period;
(b)
Chemical analysis of sewage;
(c)
Information on raw materials, processes and products affecting sewage
volume and quality;
(d)
Quantity and disposition of specific liquid, sludge, oil, solvent or other
materials important to sewer use control;
(e)
A plot plan of sewers on the user's property showing sewer and pre-
treatment facility locations;
(f)
Details of sewage pre-treatment facilities; and/or
(g)
Details of systems to prevent and control the losses of materials through
spills to the public sewer.
USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS
8.
(1)
If any sewage is discharged or is proposed to be discharged to the public sewers,
which sewage contains the substances or possesses the characteristics, detailed in
Section 10, and which, in the judgement of the Engineer, may have deleterious
effect upon the sewage facilities, processes, or equipment or which may otherwise
create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the Engineer may:
(a)
Reject the sewage;
(b)
Require pre-treatment to an acceptable condition prior to the discharge into the
public sewers;
(c)
Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or
(d)
Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the sewage not
covered by existing taxes or sewer charges.
When considering the above alternatives, the Engineer shall give consideration to the
economic impact of each alternative on the discharger. If the Engineer permits the pre-
treatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plans and
equipment shall be subject to review and approval by the Engineer.
Page 7
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
(2)
Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the
Engineer, they are necessary for the proper handling of sewage containing floatable
grease in excessive amounts, as specified in Section 10(3)(c) and (j) or any
flammable wastes, sand or 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 approved by the Engineer, and shall be located as to be
readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. In the maintaining of these
interceptors, the owner(s) shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by
appropriate means of the captured materials and shall maintain records of the dates
and means of disposal, which are subject to review by the Engineer. Any removal
and hauling of the collected materials not performed by the owner's personnel must
be performed by currently licenced waste disposal firms.
9.
(1)
No person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged into any pipe, main,
conduit, manhole, catch basin, gutter or aperture of the sewer system, or to any
sanitary or storm sewer:
(a)
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, alcohols or other flammable or explosive
liquid, solid or gas;
(b)
Any solid or viscous substance capable of obstructing sewage flow or
interfering with the operation of the sewage works or treatment facilities.
These substances include, but are not limited to: ashes, cinders, sands, mud,
straw, grass clippings, insoluble shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar,
asphalt, creosote, plastics, wood, animal paunch contents, offal, blood,
bones, meat trimmings and wastes, fish or fowl heads, shrimp, crab or clam
shells, entrails, lard, tallow, baking dough, chemical residues, cannery waste
bulk solids, hair and fleshings, spent grain and hops, whole or ground paper
dishes and cups, whole or ground plastic dishes and cups, whole or ground
food and beverage containers, unground garbage, paint residues;
(c)
Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance which either singly or by
interaction with other wastes is capable of creating a public nuisance or
hazard to life or preventing entry into a sewer or pump station;
(d)
Radioactive material, except within such limits as are permitted by the
licence issued by the Atomic Energy Control Board of Canada; or
(e)
Any material from a cesspool, holding tank or septic tank, except at
authorized receiving stations.
Page 8
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
RESTRICTED WASTES
10.
(1)
No person shall discharge into any sanitary sewer any storm water, unpolluted
drainage or cooling water.
(2)
No person shall discharge any water into a storm sewer except unpolluted drainage
water and cooling water.
(3)
No person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged into any sanitary sewer
or combined sewer any of the following:
(a)
Any garbage which has not been properly comminuted.
(b)
Any liquid or vapour having a temperature higher than 65o Celsius.
(c)
Any water or waste which contains grease (includes fats, waxes, oil or any
other non-volatile material extracted by hexane from an acidified sample of
the wastes), whether or not emulsified, whose all inclusive concentration is
in excess of one hundred fifty (150) milligrams per litre of substances
derived from petroleum sources, or which contains any substance which
may solidify or become discernibly viscous at temperatures above 0o
Celsius.
(d)
Any water or waste having a suspended solids content of more than six
hundred (600) milligrams per litre.
(e)
Any soluble waste or waste water having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than
9.5 or having any other corrosive property which reasonably could be
hazardous to structures, equipment or personnel; such as, but not limited to
battery or plating acid and wastes, copper sulphate, chromium salts and
compounds or salt brine.
(f)
Any water or waste containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient
quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, to
constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or to create any hazard to the
receiving waters or storm water overflows, or to the effluent of the sewage
treatment plant. Without limiting the generality of this Section, the
concentration of the following toxic substances at the point of discharge to
the public sewer shall not exceed:
Arsenic
one (1) milligram per litre
Cadmium
one (1) milligram per litre
Chromium (Total)
five (5) milligrams per litre
Copper
two (2) milligrams per litre
Cyanide
one (1) milligram per litre
Iron
ten (10) milligrams per litre
Lead
two (2) milligrams per litre
Nickel
three (3) milligrams per litre
Phenols & Cresols
one (1) milligram per litre
Zinc
four (4) milligrams per litre
Page 9
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
(g)
Any materials which exerts or causes:
(i)
Unusual concentration of inert suspended solids; such as, but not
limited to: Fuller's earth, lime slurries or lime residue;
(ii)
Unusual concentrations of dissolved solids; such as, but not limited
to: sodium chloride or sodium sulphate;
(iii)
Excessive discolouration; such as, but not limited to: dye wastes or
vegetable tanning solutions, or
(iv)
Unusual biochemical oxidation demand;
(h)
Any water or waste that will, by itself or with other water or wastes in the
sewer system, release obnoxious gases; or develop colour of undesirable
intensity; or form suspended solids in objectionable concentration; or create
any other conditions deleterious to structures or treatment processes; or
(i)
Water or wastes containing substances in such concentrations that they are
not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes
employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such a degree that the
sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of any other
agency having jurisdiction over discharges to the receiving waters.
(j)
Any waste water from Food Sector Establishments that contains total fats, oils, or
grease in excess of 300 mg per litre;
(k)
Waste that is created by a garburator or in-sink waste disposal device.
SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
11.
(1)
All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to
which reference is made shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of
"Standard Methods for the Examination of Water" published by the American
Public Health Association. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted
methods to reflect the effects of constituents upon the sewage works and to
determine the existence of hazards to life, health and property.
PRIVATE DISPOSAL
12.
(1)
Where a private sewage disposal system such as a septic tank, holding tank, cesspool,
or leeching pit has been permitted on a property and a public sanitary sewer is later
constructed or becomes available within a reasonable distance of any part of the
property, the owner of the property shall make a direct connection to such public
sanitary sewer within a two (2) year period of such availability or within 30 days of
being notified by the Municipality to do so, whichever period is less. The previously
permitted method of sewage disposal shall cease and be removed or cleaned of
sludge and filled with a suitable material.
(2)
No statement contained in this Section shall be construed to interfere with any
additional requirements that may be imposed by the Health Act or Plumbing codes
and Bylaws.
Page 10
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
PROHIBITIONS
13.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any
unsanitary manner on public or private property within the Municipality, or in any
area under the jurisdiction of the said Municipality, any human or animal excrement,
garbage or objectionable waste.
(2)
Except where a sewer connection cannot be installed, it shall be unlawful to
construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility
intended or used for the disposal of sewage.
(3)
No person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage, destroy,
uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is
part of the sewer system.
(4)
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any unpolluted waters such as
storm water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage or colling water to any
sanitary sewer; except that storm water runoff from limited areas, which storm water
may be polluted at times, may be discharged to the sanitary sewer by permission of
the Engineer.
(5)
No person shall make any connection whatsoever to the sewer or sewer connection
or in any way tamper with the sewer or sewer connection without first obtaining
permission from the Engineer.
(6)
No person shall connect any building sanitary sewer to any public storm sewer or to
any storm sewer connection. No person shall connect any building storm sewer to
any sanitary sewer connection.
(7)
Where any public sewer is laid in private property in respect of which the
Municipality holds a right-of-way for sewer purposes, no person shall connect to, or
disturb, such sewer except by direction of, and with permission of, the Engineer.
(8)
No person shall connect or attempt to connect or allow to be connected or allow to
remain connected any real property to the sanitary sewer or storm sewer system
otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw.
STORM WATER DISPOSAL
14.
(1)
Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as
are specifically designated as combined sewers or storm sewers or to a natural outlet
approved by the Engineer and other regulatory agencies. Unpolluted industrial
cooling water or process waters may be discharged, on approval of the Engineer, to
a storm sewer, combined sewer or natural outlet.
Page 11
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
INSPECTION
15.
(1)
The Engineer, or their designated person(s), may enter, at all reasonable times, upon
any property subject to the provision of this Bylaw, in order to ascertain whether such
regulations are being obeyed.
ENFORCEMENT
16.
(1) Should any person who is required by the provisions of this Bylaw to do any matter
or thing be in default of it being done by that person, such matter or thing may be
done at the expense of the person in default and the Council may recover the
expense thereof, with costs in like manner as municipal taxes.
PENALTIES
17.
(1)
Any person who violates any provisions of this Bylaw or who suffers or permits
any act or thing to be done in contravention of this Bylaw, or who neglects to do or
refrains from doing any act or thing required to be done by the provisions of this
Bylaw, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be subject to the fine specified in the
District of Sechelt Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 515, 2012 or, upon
conviction, to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or a term
of imprisonment of not more than six (6) months or to both, for each offence; and
each day during which any violations, contravention, or breach shall continue shall
be a separate offence
READ A FIRST TIME THIS 2nd DAY OF MAY, 1990.
READ A SECOND TIME THIS 16th DAY OF MAY, 1990.
READ A THIRD TIME THIS 16TH DAY OF MAY, 1990
RECONSIDERED AND FINALLY ADOPTED THIS 16TH DAY OF MAY, 1990.
"Nancy A. MacLarty"
MAYOR
"B. Sabine"
CLERK (Acting)
Page 12
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
APPENDIX A
To: District of Sechelt
Date:
Folio:
I request an estimate for the following services:
Sanitary Sewer:
Size
Storm Sewer:
Size
Driveway Access:
Width:
Culvert Required (Y/N):
Size:
Other
If other, description and on-site location of service requested
PROJECT ADDRESS
APPLICANT
Applicant's address:
if different than project address
Telephone number:
Alternate telephone number:
ESTIMATE: See separate sheet attached
Prepared by:
Date:
Print Name
Approved By: Director of Engineering Services
Date:
WORK ORDER: Please carry out the work described relative to:
Address:
Date:
Sanitary Sewer
Storm Sewer
Water Service
Driveway
Other
Plan attached: Yes
No
Engineering Receipt No.:
Page 13
District of Sechelt Public Sewer Bylaw No. 112, 1990
2019 CONSOLIDATION
Land Owner's Name:
Land Owner's Signature:
Please return this document to the District of Sechelt
Folio:
WORK ORDER STATUS:
Completed:
Date:
Signature:
Abandoned:
Date:
Signature:
Plans Drawn: Yes:
No:
By:
Details of Service Installed: