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Bylaw IO-300 A Bylaw Respecting the Regulation of Connections and Discharges to Public Sewer Systems
BYLAW IO-300
MUNICIPALITY OF EAST HANTS
Bylaw IO-300-1, an Amendment to Bylaw IO-300
A Bylaw Respecting the Regulation of Connections and Discharges to Public
Sewer Systems
WHEREAS Section 333 of the Municipal Government Act enables the Municipality of East Hants to enact
a Bylaw controlling the discharge of substances into public sewer systems,
BE IT ENACTED by the Council of the Municipality of East Hants, as follows:
1.
SHORT TITLE
1.1. This Bylaw may be cited as the "Sewer Bylaw".
1.2. The previous and all other versions of the Sewer Bylaw are repealed and replaced by this
version.
2.
DEFINITIONS
(a)
"Biochemical Oxygen Demand" or "BOD" means the quantity of oxygen utilized, expressed in
milligrams per litre, in the biochemical oxidation of matter within a one-hundred-and-
twenty-hour period at a temperature of twenty degrees centigrade as determined in
procedures set forth in "Standard Methods";
(b)
Building Service Connection" means any piping system which conveys sewage or liquid
waste from the buildings on any property to a public sewer;
(c)
"Chemical Oxygen Demand" or "COD" means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the chemical
oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure, expressed in milligrams
per litre, according to "Standard Methods";
(d)
"Combined Sewer" means a sewer that is intended to conduct wastewater and stormwater;
(e)
"Combustible Liquid" means a liquid that has a flash point not less than 37.8 degrees
Celsius and not greater than 93.3 degrees Celsius;
(f)
"Composite Sample" means a volume of wastewater, stormwater, uncontaminated water
or effluent made up of three or more grab samples that have been combined automatically
or manually and taken at intervals during the sampling periods;
(g)
"Council" means the Council of the Municipality of the District of East Hants;
(h)
"Customer" means a property owner who has a connection to the public sewer system, and
Bylaw IO-300 A Bylaw Respecting the Regulation of Connections and Discharges to Public Sewer Systems
BYLAW IO-300
who pays the fee for sewer access through the Urban Service Rate;
(i)
"Discharger" means the owner, occupant or a person who has charge, management or
control of effluent, wastewater, stormwater, uncontaminated water or any combination
thereof which is discharged to the municipal sewage system;
(j)
"Domestic Waste" means waste derived principally from residential dwellings;
(k)
"Dwelling Unit" means one or more habitable rooms designed, occupied, or intended for
use by one or more individuals as an independent and separate housekeeping establishment
in which kitchen, sleeping, and sanitary facilities are provided for the exclusive use of such
individual or individuals;
(l)
"Effluent" means treated wastewater flowing out of a treatment plant;
(m)
"Engineer" means the Engineer for the Municipality and includes a person acting under the
supervision and direction of the Engineer.
(n)
"Fixture" means a receptacle, appliance, apparatus or other device that discharges sewage
or clear water waste and excludes a floor drain;
(o)
"Grab Sample" means a volume of wastewater, stormwater, uncontaminated water or
effluent of at least 100 milliliters which is collected over a period not exceeding 15
minutes;
(p)
"Grease" means total oil and grease extracted from aqueous solution or suspension
according to the laboratory procedures set forth in "Standard Methods", and includes, but is
not limited to, hydrocarbons, esters, oils, fats, waxes and high molecular fatty acids;
(q)
"Groundwater" means water beneath the earth's surface accumulating as a result of
seepage;
(r)
"Industrial Premises" means an area of land with or without buildings or structures on which
activities pertaining to industry, manufacturing, commerce, trade, business, or institutions
as distinguished from domestic dwellings;
(s)
"Inspector" means a person authorized by the Municipality to carry out observations and
inspections and to take samples as prescribed by this Bylaw;
(t)
"Leachate" includes any liquid that has percolated through solid waste and has extracted
dissolved or suspended materials from it, including the liquid produced from the
decomposition of waste materials and liquid that has entered the waste material from
external sources including surface drainage, rainfall and groundwater;
(u)
"Lateral" or "Building Service Connection" means the sewer pipe which extends from a
building to the main sewer;
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(v)
"Main Sewer (Line)" means the sewer pipe which runs within the road right-of-way or along
a Municipally-owned easement, and is owned and operated by the Municipality, and to
which customers are connected or are to be connected;
(w)
"Maintenance access point" means an access point, such as a chamber, in a private sewer
connection to allow for observation, sampling and flow measurement of the wastewater,
uncontaminated water or stormwater therein;
(x)
"Municipality" means the Municipality of the District of East Hants or the area contained
within its municipal boundaries as the context requires;
(y)
"Natural Outlet" is any outlet from a natural watercourse into another watercourse, pond,
ditch or lake, or other body of surface or groundwater;
(z)
"Pathologic Waste" means waste generated in a hospital or similar institution which
contains human or animal tissue altered or affected by disease, and instruments or other
materials which may have come in contact with diseased tissue;
(aa) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or
group;
(bb) "Pesticides" includes any substance that is a pest control product within the meaning of
the "Pest Control Products Act" (Canada) or a fertilizer within the meaning of the
"Fertilizers Act" (Canada) that contains a pest control product;
(cc) "pH" means the measure of the intensity of the acid or alkaline condition of a solution
determined by the hydrogen ion concentration of the solution in accordance with the
"Standard Methods";
(dd) "Phenolic Compounds" means hydroxyl derivatives of benzene and its condensed nuclei,
concentrations of which shall be determined by "Standard Methods";
(ee) "Professional Engineer" means a registered member in good standing of Engineers Nova
Scotia;
(ff)
"Provincial Regulations" means the requirements and provisions of the Province of Nova
Scotia contained in any Provincial Statute or in any Regulation or Order made pursuant to
the authority of any Statute of Nova Scotia;
(gg) "Infrastructure & Operations" means the Infrastructure & Operations Department of the
Municipality;
(hh) "Public Sewer" means a sewer owned and operated by the Municipality;
(ii)
"Road Right-of-Way" means property owned by the Municipality or the Province on which
public roads are constructed, and within which main sewer lines may be buried;
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(jj)
"Sanitary Sewer" means a sewer for the collection and transmission of domestic,
commercial and industrial wastewater or any of them, and to which uncontaminated
water, storm, surface, and groundwater are not intentionally admitted;
(kk) "Sewage" means wastewater;
(ll)
"Sewer" means a pipe, conduit, drain, open channel, or ditch used for the collection and
transmission of wastewater, stormwater, or uncontaminated water;
(mm) "Sewerage System" means all pipes, mains, equipment, buildings and structures for
collecting, pumping or treatment of wastewater and operated by the Municipality, but does
not include a storm sewer;
(nn) "Shredded garbage" means the wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of
food and from the handling, storage and sale of produce that has been shredded for the
purpose of disposal into the sanitary sewer;
(oo) "Staff" means employees of the Municipality;
(pp) "Standard Methods" means the analytical and examination procedures provided in the
edition current of the jointly punished American Public Health Association and the
American Water Works Association, or any other publication by or under the authority of
the Canadian Standards Association as deemed appropriate by the Municipality, at the time
of testing.
(qq) "Storm Sewer" means a sewer and all related structures designed exclusively for the
collection and transmission of uncontaminated water, stormwater, drainage from land or
from any watercourse or any of them;
(rr)
"Stormwater" means runoff water from rainfall or other natural precipitation, groundwater
or water from the melting of snow or ice and shall include roof drainage and footing
drainage;
(ss)
"Suspended Solids" means insoluble matter than can be removed by filtration through a
standard glass fibre filter as provided by "Standard Methods";
(tt)
"True Colour Units" means the measure of the colour of the water from which turbidity has
been removed;
(uu) "Uncontaminated Water" means any water, including water from a public or private water
works, to which no matter has been added as a consequence of its use, or to modify its
use, by any person, and may include cooling water;
(vv) "Waste" means any material discharged into the sewerage system;
(ww) "Waste Radioactive Substances" includes uranium, thorium, plutonium, neptunium,
Bylaw IO-300 A Bylaw Respecting the Regulation of Connections and Discharges to Public Sewer Systems
BYLAW IO-300
deuterium, their respective derivatives and compounds and such other substances as the
Atomic Energy Board may designate as being capable of releasing ionizing radiation;
(xx) "Wastewater" means any liquid waste containing animal, vegetable, mineral, or chemical
matter in solution or suspension carried from any premises; and,
(yy) "Watercourse" means the bed and shore of every river, stream, lake, creek, pond, spring,
lagoon, swamp, marsh, wetland, ravine, gulch or other natural body of water and the
water therein, and any channel, ditch, reservoir, drain, land drainage works or other man-
made surface feature, whether it contains or conveys water or not.
3.
Connections
3.1. No person shall make any opening or openings to uncover any public sewer or make any
building service connection therewith without having a building permit. For new
subdivisions, saddle connections shall be supplied and installed by the developer.
3.2. No person shall injure, break or remove any portion of the public sewer system or its
associated accessories.
3.3. Every person connecting to a sewerage system shall construct the lateral and building
plumbing systems according to the requirements of the Canadian Building and Plumbing
Codes and Municipal standards.
3.4. No person shall connect any storm sewer to any sanitary sewer.
3.5. Where a building has been connected to the Municipal sewerage system or Council has
ordered a building to be so connected, Council may by resolution, order the owners of
outhouses and septic tanks to remove such outhouses and to destroy or fill such septic
tanks.
3.6. Each property or owner thereof is liable for the entire cost of construction and
maintenance of building service connection from his property to the main sewer.
3.7. All items, including charges for sewer connections, as outlined in Schedule A attached
hereto are incorporated into and form part of this By-Law.
3.8. For infill development, the Municipality may, at its own discretion, permit up to two
dwelling units to be serviced by one lateral from the main sewer to the property line
provided that the lateral is new or in good condition and otherwise meets all the
requirements of the Municipality. It is the responsibility of the owner to establish the
condition of an existing lateral through video inspection to the satisfaction of the Engineer.
3.9. Drains for cellar or subsoil, or rain leaders, shall not be laid in the same trench as the
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building service connection for sewer and water laterals.
3.10. The owner of any building connected to the sewer system that contains fixtures or floor
drains below the crown of the road or street must install backwater valves to be owned and
maintained by the private-property owner.
4.
DISCHARGES TO SANITARY SEWERS
4.1. No person shall release or permit the release of any matter into the sanitary sewer system
except:
4.1.1. Domestic wastewater that complies with the requirements of this Bylaw; and,
4.1.2. Industrial/commercial/institutional wastewater that compiles with the requirements of
this Bylaw.
4.2. No person will put any matter at any temperature or quantity that may negatively impact
the health or safety of a Municipal employee, damage the sewerage system, cause the
sewerage system effluent to exceed allowable limits of Federal or Provincial legislation,
may interfere with the proper operation of the sewerage system, impair or interfere with
any aspect of the wastewater treatment process, or which may pose a risk to any persona,
animal, property, or vegetation.
4.3. Except as otherwise provided in this Bylaw, no person shall discharge or cause to be
discharged into any sanitary sewer, combined sewer, public or private connections to any
sanitary sewer or combined sewer any of the following, unless by special written agreement
with the Municipality:
4.3.1. Matter of a type or quantity that has or may emit a toxic or poisonous vapour or a
chemical odour that may interfere with the proper operation of the Municipality's
sewerage system, constitute a hazard to humans, animals or property, or create any
hazards or become harmful in the receiving waters of the sewerage system;
4.3.2. Noxious or malodorous gases or substances capable of creating a public nuisance except
human wastes, including, but not limited to, hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, carbon
disulphide, other reduced sulphur compounds, amines and ammonia;
4.3.3. Ashes, cinders, sand, potters clay, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers,
tar, plastics, wood or other solid or viscous substances capable of causing obstruction to
the flow of sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewerage
system;
4.3.4. Wastewater which consists of two or more separate liquid layers;
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4.3.5. Paunch manure or intestinal contents from horses, cattle, sheep or swine, hog bristles,
pig hooves or toenails, animal intestines or stomach casings, bones, hides or parts
thereof, manure of any kind, poultry entrails, heads, feet or feathers, eggshells, fleshing
and hair resulting from tanning operations;
4.3.6. Animal fat or flesh in particles larger than will pass through a quarter (1/4) inch (6 mm)
screen;
4.3.7. Gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other combustible, flammable or explosive
matter or wastewater containing any of these in any quantity;
4.3.8. Waste which, either by itself or upon the reaction with other material, becomes highly
coloured;
4.3.9. Wastes containing herbicides, pesticides or xenobiotics including, but not limited to,
polychlorinated biphenols (PCB's);
4.3.10. Atomic wastes and radioactive materials except as may be permitted under the atomic
energy control act (Canada) currently in force and regulations there under;
4.3.11. Wastewater or uncontaminated water having a temperature in excess of sixty (60)
degrees Celsius;
4.3.12. Wastewater having a pH less than 5.5 or greater than 9.5 or having any other corrosive
or scale forming properties capable of causing damage or hazards to the sewerage
system or Municipal personnel;
4.3.13. Wastewater that will create tastes or odours in drinking water supplies, making such
waters unpalatable after conventional water purification treatment;
4.3.14. Matter of any type or at any temperature or in any quantity which may cause the sludge
from the sewerage system to fail to meet the criteria relating to contaminants for
spreading the sludge on agricultural lands, under Provincial guidelines for sewage sludge
utilization on agricultural lands;
4.3.15. Stormwater, water from drainage of roofs or footing drains or land, or water from a
watercourse or uncontaminated water, except in the case of discharge to any combined
sewer;
4.3.16. Sewage containing dyes or colouring materials which pass through a sewage works and
discolour the sewage works effluent;
4.3.17. Wastewater containing any of the following in excess of the indicated concentrations:
Bylaw IO-300 A Bylaw Respecting the Regulation of Connections and Discharges to Public Sewer Systems
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4.3.18. Wastewater of which the BOD exceeds three hundred (300) milligrams per litre;
4.3.19. Wastewater containing more than three hundred fifty (350) milligrams per litre of
suspended solids;
4.3.20. Wastewater of which the COD exceeds one thousand (1000) milligrams per litre;
Contaminant
Concentration (Milligrams/Litre)
Aluminum (Al)
50
Antimony (Sb)
5
Arsenic (As)
1
Barium (Ba)
5
Beryllium (Be)
5
Bismuth (Bi)
5
Cadmium (Cd)
0.1
Chlorides expressed as Cl
1500
Chromium (Cr)
4
Cobalt (Co)
5
Copper (Cu)
1
Cyanide expressed as HCN
2
Fluorides expressed as F
10
Iron (Fe)
50
Lead (Pb)
2
Manganese (Mn)
5
Mercury (Hg)
0.1
Molybdenum (Mo)
5
Nickel (Ni)
2
Phenolic Compounds
1
Phosphorus (P)
10
Sulphates expressed as SO4
1500
Sulphide expressed as H2S
2
Selenium (Se)
5
Silver (Ag)
2
Tin (Sn)
5
Zinc (Zn)
3
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4.3.21. Wastewater containing more than one hundred (100) milligrams per litre of fat, grease,
or oil, and, in the case of mineral oils, in concentrations exceeding fifteen (15) milligrams
per litre;
4.3.22. Any matter in such quantities which exert excessive chlorine requirements so as to
constitute a significant load on the wastewater treatment works;
4.3.23. Wastewater containing fish offal or pathologic wastes;
4.3.24. Wastes from marine vessels or vehicles;
4.3.25. Sludge from sewage treatment plants;
4.3.26. Any waters or wastes containing substances for which special treatment or disposal
practices are required by applicable provincial or federal legislation;
4.3.27. Hauled wastewater, leachate, septic tank sludge including but not limited to RV holding
tanks; and,
4.3.28. Shredded garbage.
4.4. No person shall connect a sump pump, foundation drain, rain leader or heat exchanger to a
sanitary sewer. The Municipality may order a property owner to remove any prohibited
item linked into the sanitary sewer. Failure to remove any prohibited item may result in
the Municipality removing the item at the homeowners expense.
4.5. Except as otherwise provided in this Bylaw, no person shall be permitted to attain, or
attempt to attain, compliance with any of the limits as set out in this Section by dilution.
5.
DISCHARGES TO STORM SEWERS
5.1. Except as otherwise provided in this Bylaw, no person shall discharge, release, place or
cause to be placed, any substance other than stormwater or uncontaminated water into a
storm sewer.
5.2. No person shall discharge or deposit or cause or permit the discharge or deposit of matter
of any type into a storm sewer, watercourse, Municipal or private sewer connection to any
storm sewer which may or could:
5.2.1. Interfere with proper operation of a storm sewer;
5.2.2. Obstruct or restrict a storm sewer of the flow therein;
5.2.3. Damage a storm sewer;
5.2.4. Result in any hazard or other adverse impact to any person, animal, property or
vegetation;
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5.2.5. Contravene or result in the contravention of approved discharge quality or quantity with
respect to the storm sewer, its discharge, or both the sewer and its discharge; or
5.2.6. Have one or more of the following characteristics:
5.2.6.1. Visible film, sheen or discolouration;
5.2.6.2. Two or more separate layers;
5.2.6.3. A pH less than 5.5 or greater than 9.5;
5.2.6.4. A temperature greater than 60 degrees Celsius;
5.2.6.5. Contain one or more of the following:
5.2.6.5.1. Combustible liquids;
5.2.6.5.2. Floating debris;
5.2.6.5.3. Fuel;
5.2.6.5.4. Hauled wastewater;
5.2.6.5.5. Hauled waste;
5.2.6.5.6. Ignitable waste;
5.2.6.5.7. Pathological waste;
5.2.6.5.8. PCBs;
5.2.6.5.9. Pesticides;
5.2.6.5.10. Reactive Waste;
5.2.6.5.11. Toxic Substances;
5.2.6.5.12. Wastewater;
5.2.6.5.13. Waste Radioactive Substances;
5.2.6.5.14. A substance from raw materials, intermediate or final product, used or
produced in, through or from an industrial process; or
5.2.6.5.15. A substance used in the operation or maintenance of an industrial site.
5.3. Property owners must ensure that appropriate and necessary practices are undertaken to
prevent prohibited discharges and to prevent discharge of suspended solids on their
property including:
5.3.1. Construction activities that may result in erosion or sediment runoff from the property;
and
5.3.2. Outside storage activities that may result in mobilization of stored materials as a result
of rain or runoff from the property, including sand and granular material storage.
Sedimentation and erosion control must be carried out in accordance with Provincial
regulations.
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6.
AUTHORITY OF INSPECTOR
6.1. The Director of Infrastructure & Operations, Manager of Water & Wastewater Services,
Overall Direct Responsible Charge, and Operators acting under their supervision and
direction shall be designated as "Inspector".
6.2. The Inspector has the authority to carry out any investigation reasonably required to
ensure compliance with this Bylaw, including but not limited to:
6.2.1. Inspecting, observing, sampling, and measuring the flow in any building service
connection;
6.2.2. Determining water consumption by reading water meters;
6.2.3. Testing flow measuring devices;
6.2.4. Taking samples of wastewater, stormwater, uncontaminated water being released from
a premises or flowing within a building service connection;
6.2.5. Collecting and analyzing samples of hauled wastewater coming to a discharge location;
6.2.6. Making inspections of the types and quantities of chemicals being handled or used on a
premises in relation to possible release to a Municipal sewer; and,
6.2.7. Investigating the premises where a release of prohibited or restricted wastes or of water
containing prohibited or restricted wastes has been made or is suspected of having been
made, and to sample any or all matter that in his or her opinion could have been part of
the release.
6.3. No person shall hinder or prevent the Inspector from carrying out any of their powers or
duties.
7.
SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
7.1. The owner or operator of industrial premises with one or more connections to a sewerage
system shall install and maintain in good repair for each connection a suitable manhole to
allow observation and sampling of the wastewater and measurement of the flow of
wastewater therein, provided that where installation of a manhole is not possible, an
alternative device or facility may be substituted with the written approval of the Engineer.
7.2. The manhole or alternate device shall be located on the property of the owner or operator
of the premises, unless the Engineer has given written approval for a different location.
7.3. Every manhole, device or facility installed shall be designed and constructed in accordance
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with good engineering practice and the requirements of Municipal Standards, and shall be
constructed and maintained by the owner or operator of the premises at their expense.
7.4. The owner or operator of industrial premises shall at all times ensure that every manhole,
device or facility installed is at all times accessible for purposes of observing and sampling
the wastewater and measuring the flow of wastewater therein.
7.5. Where a sample is required for the purpose of determining the characteristics or contents
of the wastewater, uncontaminated water or stormwater to which reference is made in this
Bylaw:
7.5.1. Sampling shall be based on a twenty-four (24) hour composite sample taken using an
automatic or non-automatic sampling device except where there is no acceptable
concentration for the characteristics which are to be sampled, in which case a grab
sample may be used;
7.5.2. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Bylaw, all tests, measurements,
analyses and examinations of wastewater, uncontaminated water and stormwater, shall
be carried out in accordance with Standard Methods; and
7.5.3. For each of the metals whose concentration is limited in this Bylaw, the analysis shall be
for the quantity of total metal, which includes all metal both dissolved and particulate.
7.6. The Inspector may from time to time conduct such tests as are deemed necessary at the
manhole, or may enter the industrial premises and conduct the tests as deemed necessary.
8.
SPILLS
8.1. Every person who discharges or deposits or causes or permits the discharge or deposit of
any matter in any sewer that in nature or quantity is not in the ordinary course of events,
shall forthwith notify the Municipality.
8.2. For any of the discharges for which the person is required to forthwith notify the
Municipality, the notification shall include the following information:
8.2.1. name of the company and the address of location of spill;
8.2.2. name of person reporting the spill and telephone number where that person can be
reached;
8.2.3. time of the spill;
8.2.4. type and volume of material discharged and any associated hazards; and
8.2.5. corrective actions being taken to control the spill.
8.3. Within five days following a spill, the person shall submit to the Municipality, a detailed
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written report describing the cause of the spill and the actions taken or to be taken to
prevent a recurrence. The person shall also report any spill as required by Federal and/or
Provincial regulations.
9.
GREASE, OIL, SEDIMENT, SAND TRAPS OR INTERCEPTORS
9.1. Grease, oil, sediment, and sand traps or interceptors shall be installed in all food service
establishments or operations, vehicle service facilities, and car or truck washes when, in
the opinion of the Municipality, such a device is necessary for the proper handling and
control of wastewater being discharged to the Municipal sewerage system.
9.2. Traps or interceptors shall be installed such that they are easily accessible for all aspects of
cleaning and inspection.
9.3. Traps or interceptors shall be maintained by the owner or operator in a condition of
continuous efficient operation at the owner's expense.
9.4. No retained or trapped oil, grease, sediment, sand, silt or other matter in any form shall be
allowed to pass from the installed trap or interceptor into the sewerage system; removal of
retained or trapped materials shall be achieved by pumping or other physical means and
shall be hauled away and disposed of as required by regulations.
9.5. The owner or operator of an establishment shall provide the Municipality, upon request,
with the frequency of inspection and maintenance of any installed grease, oil, sediment
and sand traps or interceptor as well as information as to the disposal method employed
and location of hauled waste material; and
9.6. Any request for inspection by the Municipality shall be granted by the owner or operator of
the establishment.
10. GENERAL
10.1. For the purpose of the administration of this Bylaw, the Inspector may, upon production of
his identification, enter any industrial premises and have free unimpaired access, to
observe, to measure the flow of wastewater to any sewer and to collect any samples
required at reasonable times upon reasonable notice.
10.2. No person shall break, damage, destroy, deface or tamper or cause or permit the
breaking, damaging, destroying, defacing or tampering with:
10.2.1. any part of the sewerage system; or
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10.2.2. any permanent or temporary device installed in the sewerage system for the purpose of
measuring, sampling and testing of wastewater.
10.3. No work shall be carried out on any sewer other than by the authority of the Engineer.
10.4. The Engineer shall have the power to stop and close up and prevent from discharging into
the sewerage system, any building service connection through which substances are
discharged or into which substances are thrown, deposited, or supposed to be put,
prohibited by this Bylaw or which are liable to injure the sewers or obstruct the flow of
sewage.
10.5. The Engineer shall not cause any sewer to be closed up pursuant to this Section unless the
owner of the sewer is first notified and given an opportunity to be heard by the Engineer.
10.6. Whenever any building service connection is abandoned, the owner shall effectively block
up the connection at the property line so as to prevent sewage from backing up into the
soil, or dirt being washed into the sewer.
10.7. Where the owner does not effectively cap an abandoned service connection within seven
(7) days from receipt of a notice from the Engineer requiring him to do so, the Engineer
may cause the work to be done, and the cost of such work may be recovered as a debt by
the Municipality from the owner. The Municipality will not reconnect the property until
the debt is repaid.
11. OFFENCES
11.1. Any person who contravenes any section of this Bylaw is liable on conviction to a penalty
of not less than $500.00 and not more than $5,000.00 and in default of payment to
imprisonment for a term of not more than six (6) months.
12. EXEMPTIONS
12.1. The following properties shall be exempt from usage charges under this Bylaw:
12.1.1. Lands owned and used by a registered fire service for the purpose of providing public
fire protection;
12.1.2. Lands owned by the Royal Canadian Legion;
12.1.3. Lands exempted 100% from taxation as listed in Schedule A of Bylaw F-400, Tax
Exemption Bylaw;
12.1.4. East Hants Water Utility properties; and
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12.1.5. Municipally owned properties.
13. REPEAL AND REPLACE
The previous version, and all other versions of the Sewer Bylaw, are repealed and replaced by
this bylaw
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Schedule A
Municipality of the District of East Hants
Bylaw IO-300, An Amendment to Bylaw 139-3,
A Bylaw Respecting the Regulation of Connections and Discharges to Public Sewer Systems
1. CONNECTION FEES
1.1. Any person desiring to connect a building to a public sewer shall obtain a building permit
from the Municipality. The following connection fees shall apply:
1.1.1. $500 per residential dwelling unit serviced with single sewer lateral extending to the
Main Sewer, plus $250 for each additional dwelling unit located on the same property
and discharging into the same sewer lateral;
1.1.2. $50 for each plumbing fixture for non-residential properties;
1.1.3. Where a property is mixed use, the charges shall be $250 for each dwelling unit, plus $50
per plumbing fixture for the non-residential unit(s).
2. LATERAL INSTALLATION COSTS
2.1. The Customer shall be responsible for the cost of supplying and installing the sewer lateral
from their building to the main sewer line, including connection to the main sewer line.
Municipal Staff shall be present for inspection of the saddle installation and require the
following notice & requirements;
2.1.1. A site review of the proposed connection scope of work is completed between the
contractor and either an Overall Direct Responsible Charge or the Operations Manager
for Water & Wastewater Services. The Municipality must be given a two (2) week range
from the contractor for options of when the site review can happen in conjunction with
other Municipal work;
2.1.2. The installation should be completed in a combined trench with water when technically
feasible, with the cost of the trench and excavation to be the sole responsibility of the
Customer. This includes the costs for gravels, asphalt, sidewalk, curb, gutter, grass,
traffic control and full reinstatement; and
2.1.3. Bonds, deposits, permit fees and sewer pipe costs are the responsibility of the Customer
and are not subject to cost sharing.
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3. SEWER BACK-UPS
3.1. The Municipality will be responsible for the maintenance of the main sewer line.
3.2. The Customer will be responsible for the maintenance of the entirety of the lateral. This
responsibility is conveyed to each new property owner when the property is sold or
otherwise conveyed.
3.3. Any repairs requiring excavation along the portion of the sewer lateral located within the
road right-of-way or Municipally-owned easement must be carried out by the Municipality.
If the Municipality finds that the repair was required as a result of objects or debris
originating from the customer's fixtures, the cost of the work shall be billed to the owner.
The Municipality will bear the cost of the work if the problem is not related to a blockage
in the lateral, including collapsed sections of the homeowner's lateral within the
Municipality's right-of-way.
3.4. When a sewer backup occurs, the customer may arrange and pay for a plumber to attend to
the problem. If the plumber finds that the backup is caused by a problem with the main
sewer line, they may notify the Infrastructure & Operations Department through the
Municipal office during regular business hours or the 24-hour emergency number after
hours. Municipal Staff will investigate and take appropriate action to ensure the main
sewer is cleared. If the plumber finds a blockage or problem in the lateral, they should
clear the lateral to the best of their ability from the building to the main sewer line. If the
blockage or problem is on the customer's property and the plumber cannot dislodge it,
then it shall be the customer's responsibility to excavate and repair as necessary. If the
blockage or problem is within the road right-of-way or Municipally-owned easement and the
plumber cannot dislodge it, then the customer shall contact the Municipality. If Municipal
Staff cannot dislodge the blockage and the lateral must be excavated, the Municipality will
do the work and bill the cost of the work back to the Customer. The Municipality shall not
provide reimbursement to the customer for fees paid to a plumber, regardless of location
of blockage.
3.5. Alternatively, when a sewer back up occurs, the customer may call the Infrastructure &
Operations Department through the Municipal Office during regular business hours or the
24-hour emergency number after hours. The customer will be advised that a callout fee
may apply. Municipal Staff will respond to the situation and assess the problem. If based on
the Municipality's assessment, the problem is with the main sewer line, Staff will take the
appropriate action to clear the main sewer line blockage using Municipal resources. If,
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based on Municipal Staff's assessment, the problem is with the lateral or was caused by
activities of the Customer, the Customer will be billed a minimum call-out fee of $100. In
such cases, Staff will attempt to assist the Customer, if reasonably possible, with the tools
and equipment readily available If the blockage cannot be cleared by Municipal Staff, the
customer will be advised as follows: if the blockage appears to be on the Customer's
property, then they will be fully responsible for repairs; if the blockage is within the road
right-of-way portion of the lateral, then
3.6. When the cause of the problem is not apparent and the blockage is between the property
line and the main sewer line, then the Infrastructure & Operations Department will rectify
the problem in the most timely and cost-effective manner available.
4. CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES
4.1. The Municipality will not pay claims for damages or repair costs attributable, except as
specified in this Bylaw, to a problem caused by actions or negligence or failure to perform
maintenance on the part of the Customer receiving service, his agent, tenants or other
parties. This shall include, but be not limited to, foreign materials placed in the lateral.
5. FEES FOR SEWER USE
5.1. Sewer usage shall be charged through the Urban Service Rate (on assessed value, as set out
in the Operating Budget) and through the Wastewater Management Fee (charged per 1,000
gallons of water billed).
5.2. The Wastewater Management Fee will be collected through the water utility billing process
on behalf of the Municipality for the purpose of paying for wastewater system expenses.
5.3. Where the Wastewater Management Fee is being phased in over a number of years,
properties with exempt assessed values shall be charged for wastewater usage based solely
on water usage as follows:
5.3.1. Through the Wastewater Management Fee on the water utility bill;
5.3.2. Through a sewer usage charge billed quarterly. The Sewer Usage Rate is calculated by
subtracting the current Wastewater Management Fee from the Full Cost Recovery
Wastewater Management Rate (as determined in the Operating Budget). The Sewer
Usage Rate will be billed quarterly per 1,000 gallons of water billed through the Water
Utility bill.
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5.4. Effective April 1, 2025, where water service is not available, schools shall be charged for
sewer services at the rate of $50 per quarter per school classroom.
Certification
I, Kim Ramsay, Municipal Clerk of the Municipality of East Hants, hereby certify that the above noted
bylaw was passed at a meeting of the East Hants Municipal Council on July 24, 2024.
Kim Ramsay
Municipal Clerk
Bylaw Adoption
First Reading:
June 26, 2024
Website and Social Media Notifications:
July 3, 2024
Formal Notice of Publication:
July 3, 2024
Second Reading:
July 24, 2024
Website and Social Media Notifications:
July 30, 2024
Formal Final Publication and Enactment:
July 30, 2024
Enacted Bylaw posted to website:
July 30, 2024
Notice to the Province of Nova Scotia:
July 30, 2024
Version Number
Amendment Description
Council Approval Date
139
Bylaw Creation
September 16, 1974
139-1
Repeal of Bylaw 139
April 28, 2010
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Version Number
Amendment Description
Council Approval Date
139-2
The Bylaw amendment outlining controls for
connection and discharge to the public sewer
systems.
April 28, 2010
139-3
Titles of roles listen in the Bylaw, add 2
exemptions, update feed for sewer usage,
update Schedule "A" of the bylaw to update the
criteria for lateral installation costs, and re-
number the bylaw to Bylaw 139-3
April 24, 2013
IO-300
The Bylaw is renumbered from 139-3 to IO-300,
Schedule A section 2 is updated to replace the
former sections 2,3,4 which detailed to process
for a cost share program for digs to connect
infill development lots
September 27, 2017
IO-300-1
Template updates, removed processes for
insurance claims management from Schedule A,
housekeeping changes, updated process in
Schedule A Section 3, decrease in allowable
Phosphorous concentration, and an increase in
sewer fees for schools without water service.
July 24, 2024