Sewer and Stormwater Connection, Disconnection and Charges By-law RCOS-003.00 — full text

This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source document governs. Snapshot d61c8daf6f42 · verified 2026-06-05 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

## 1 SHORT TITLE - 1.1 This By-Law may be cited as "Sewer Bylaw". - 1.2 The previous Sewer Bylaws, including any sewer bylaws of the Town of Windsor, the Town of Hantsport and the Municipality of the District of West Hants, are repealed and replaced by this Sewer Bylaw. ## 2 PURPOSE - 2.1 This Bylaw outlines controls for connections and discharges into the municipal sewer systems. - 2.2 The objectives of the Bylaw are to: - (a) Protect the sewer collection system from corrosion, other damage, and obstruction. - (b) Protect the wastewater treatment process from upset. - (c) Protect the public, Municipal workers, and property from hazardous conditions. - (d) Assist optimum wastewater system efficiency by preventing uncontaminated water from entering the system. - (e) Provide a method of applying charges for the Capital and Operational Works of the public sewer system. - (f) Protect wastewater sludge quality, and; - (g) Protect the environment from contaminants originating from or connected to the municipal sewer system. ## 3 DEFINITIONS - 3.1 In this Bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply: ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (a) "Biochemical Oxygen Demand" or "BOD" means the quantity of oxygen utilized, expressed in milligrams per liter, in the biochemical oxidation of matter within a one-hundred-twenty (120) hour period at a temperature of twenty (20) degrees Celsius as determined in procedures set forth in "Standard Methods". - (b) "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." - (c) "Combined Sewer" means a sewer intended to function simultaneously as a storm sewer and a sanitary sewer. - (d) "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. - (e) "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 period. - (f) "Council" means the Council of the West Hants Regional Municipality. - (g) "Customer" means a property owner or occupant who has a connection to the public sewer system and is paying for such connection. - (h) "Discharge" means to discharge, release, permit or cause to be discharged into the municipal sewer system. - (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. - (i) "Domestic Waste" means waste derived principally from residential dwellings.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (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. - (I) "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 any water, including potable water from a public distribution system, to which no matter has been added 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 because 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/or to take samples as prescribed by this Bylaw and/or a person acting on behalf of the Engineer in relation to sewers.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (t) "Leachate" means 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 the building to the main sewer. - (v) "Main Sewer (Line)" means the sewer pipe which runs within the road rightof-way or along a Municipally owned easement, and is owned and operated by the Municipality, and to which customers are connected or are about to be connected. - (w) "Municipality" means the West Hants Regional Municipality and for purposes of this bylaw includes adjacent areas serviced by sewers operated by the Municipality except when the context requires otherwise. - (x) "Natural Outlet" means any outlet from a natural watercourse into another watercourse, pond, ditch, or lake, or other body of groundwater. - (y) "Pathologic Waste" means waste, including 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. - (z) "Person" means any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation, or group. - (aa) "Pesticides" means 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 Fertilizers Act (Canada) that contains a pest control product. - (bb) "pH" means the measure of the intensity of acid or alkaline condition of a solution determined by the hydrogen ion concentration of the solution in accordance with "Standard Methods'  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (cc) "Phenolic Compounds" means hydroxyl derivatives of benzene and its condensed nuclei, concentrations of which shall be determined by "Standard Methods." - (dd) "Professional Engineer" means a registered member in good standing of Engineers Nova Scotia. - (ee) "Provincial Regulations" means the requirements 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. - (ff) "Public Works" means the Public Works Department of the Municipality. - (gg) "Public Sewer" means a sewer owned and operated by the Municipality. - (hh) "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. - (ii) "Sanitary Sewer" means a sewer receiving and carrying liquid and watercarried wastes and to which storm, surface or groundwaters are not intentionally admitted. - (ji) "Service Connection" means any piping system which conveys sewage or liquid waste from the building(s) on any property to a public sewer. - (kk) "Sewage" means the combination of liquid and water-carried wastes from buildings, containing animal, vegetable or mineral matter in suspension or solution, together with such groundwater, surface water or stormwater as might be present. - (II) "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.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (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. - (00) "Staff" means employees of the Municipality. - (pp) "Standard Methods" means the analytical and examination procedures and other content provided in the edition current at the material time, published jointly by the American Public Health Association and the American Water Works Association, or any publication by or under the authority of the Canadian Standards Association as deemed appropriate by the Municipality. - (qg) "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 combination thereof, including ditches and culverts under Municipal jurisdiction. - (rr) "Stormwater" means water from precipitation of all kinds and includes water from the melting of snow and ice, groundwater discharge and surface water. - (ss) Stormwater system" means a method or means of carrying stormwater including, but not limited to, those ditches, swales, sewers retention ponds, streets or roads that are owned by the municipality. - (tt) "Suspended Solids" means insoluble matter that can be removed by filtration through a standard glass fibre filter, or other methods as may be provided from time to time by "Standard Methods." - (uu) "True Colour Units" means the measure of the colour of the water from which turbidity has been removed - (vv) "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 water solely used for cooling. - (ww) "Waste" means any material discharged into the wastewater facilities.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (xx) "Waste Radioactive Substances" includes uranium, plutonium, neptunium, deuterium, their respective derivatives and compounds, and such other substances as the Atomic Energy Board, or its successor, may designate as being capable of releasing ionizing radiation. - (yy) "Wastewater" means any liquid waste, including liquid waste containing animal, vegetable, mineral, or chemical matter in solution or suspension, other than stormwater carried from any premises. - (zz) "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 conveys water or not. ## 4 CONNECTIONS - 4.1 No person shall make any opening or openings to uncover any Public Sewer, or make any building service connection therewith, without having a Work Within Right-of-Way permit and approval from the Engineer to make such a connection. - 4.2 The owner of each assessed real property within a distance of one hundred (100) feet from any portion of a public sewer shall be required, at the owner's expense, to construct a service connection and connect the dwelling, house, or building on the property to the said public sewer. However, the Engineer may exempt therefrom any such building as, in their professional opinion appears: - (a) To be adequately served with existing private sewer system and drains. - (b) Would not be adequately served by connection to the public sewer, and/or. - 4.3 Where an order has been made by the Engineer that a dwelling, house, or other building is to be connected to the public sewer, the Engineer may order the owners of applicable outhouses and septic tanks to remove such outhouses and to destroy or in-fill such septic tanks.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - Where lots are infilled between existing sewer connected buildings, saddle connections at the main sewer shall be supplied and installed by the Municipality at the owner's expense. For new subdivisions, saddle connections shall be supplied and installed by the developer of the subdivision. - 4.5 No person shall injure, break, or remove any portion of the public sewer system or its appurtenances. - 4.6 Every person connecting to a sewerage system shall construct the lateral and build plumbing systems according to the requirements of the Canadian Building and Plumbing Codes, Standard Specifications for Municipal Services (the "blue book"), and West Hants Regional Municipality's Municipal Services Specifications Manual. - 4.7 No Storm Sewer shall be connected to any sanitary sewer. - 4.8 Each property or owner thereof is liable for the entire cost of construction, replacement, and maintenance of the building service connection located to their property line. - All items, including charges for sewer connections, as outlined in Schedule A attached hereto, are incorporated into and form part of this Bylaw. - 4.10 All service connections, such as floor drains and perimeter drains, shall include the installation of a sewage backup valve (backflow prevention device). ## 5 DISCHARGES TO SANITARY SEWERS - 5.1 No person shall release or permit the release of any matter into the sanitary sewer system, except: - (a) Domestic wastewater that complies with the requirements of this Bylaw, and. - (b) Industrial / Commercial / Institutional (ICI) wastewater that complies with the requirements of this Bylaw.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - 5.2 No person shall discharge matter of any type, or at any temperature, or in any quantity which: - (a) may be or may become a health or safety hazard to a Municipal employee or contracted employee. - (b) may be or may become harmful to the sewerage system. - (c) may cause the sewerage system effluent to contravene any requirements of any applicable Federal or Provincial legislation. - (d) may interfere with the proper operation of a sewerage system. - (e) may impair or interfere with any wastewater treatment process; or - (f) is or may result in a hazard to any person, animal, property, or vegetation. - 5.3 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 storm sewer, sanitary sewer, or combined sewer any of the following, unless by special written agreement with the Municipality: - (a) Matter of a type or quantity that has, or may emit, a toxic or poisonous vapour or a chemical odor 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; - (b) Noxious or malodourous gases or substances capable of creating a public nuisance, except human wastes, including, but not limited to, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, carbon disulphide, other reduced sulfur compounds, amines, and ammonia. - (c) 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.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (d) Wastewater which consists of two or more separate liquid layers. - (e) No sump pumps, rain gutters, or heat exchangers shall be connected to a sanitary, storm, or combined sewer. - (f) 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. - (g) Animal fat or flesh in particles larger than will pass through a ¼ inch (6 mm) screen. - (h) Gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other combustible, flammable or explosive matter, or wastewater containing any of these in any quantity. - (i) Waste which, either by itself or upon the reaction of other material, becomes highly coloured. - (j) Wastes containing herbicides, pesticides, or xenobiotics including, but not limited to, polychlorinated bisphenols (PCBs). - (k) Atomic wastes and radioactive materials except as may be permitted under the Atomic Energy Control Act (Canada) currently in force, and regulations there under. - (1) Wastewater or uncontaminated water having a temperature in excess of sixty (60) degrees Celsius. - (m) 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. - (n) Wastewater that will create tastes or odors in drinking water supplies, making such waters unpalatable after conventional water purification treatment.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (o) 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. - (p) Stormwater, water from drainage, or roofs, or footing drains, or land, or water from a watercourse, or uncontaminated water, except in the case of discharge to any combined sewer. - (q) Sewage containing dyes or colouring materials which pass through a sewage works and discolour the sewage works' effluent. - (r) Wastewater containing any of the following in excess of the indicated concentrations in milligrams per litre (mg/L): | Aluminum | (Al) | 50 mg/L | |-------------------|-----------|------------| | Ammonia | (NH3) | 24 mg/L | | Antimony | (Sb) | 5 mg/L | | Arsenic | (As) | 0.1 mg/L | | Barium | (Ba) | 5 mg/L | | Beryllium | (Be) | 5 mg/L | | Benzene | (C6H6) | 0.01 mg/L | | Bismuth | (Bi) | 5 mg/L | | Cadmium | (Cd) | 0.1 mg/L | | Chlorides | (CI) | 1500 mg/L | | Chromium | (Cr) | 0.37 mg/L | | Chloroform | (CHCl3) | 0.01 mg/L | | Cobalt | (Co) | 5 mg/L | | Copper | (Cu) | 1 mg/L | | Cyanide | (HCN) | 1 mg/L | | Dichlorobenzene | (C6H4Cl2) | 0.88 mg/L | | Ethylbenzene | (C8H10) | 0.057 mg/L | | Fluorides | (F) | 10 mg/L | | Hexachlorobenzene | (C6Cl6) | 0.055 mg/L | | Iron | (Fe) | 50 mg/L |  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 | Lead | (Pb) | 0.1 mg/L | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------| | Manganese | (Mn) | 5 mg/L | | Mercury | (Hg) | 0.1 mg/L | | Methylene Chloride | (CH2Cl2) | 0.0981 mg/L | | Molybdenum | (Mo) | 5 mg/L | | Nickel | (Ni) | 0.55 mg/L | | PCBs | | 0.004 mg/L | | Phenolic Compounds | | 1 mg/L | | Phosphorus | (P) | 10 mg/L | | Sulphates | (SO4) | 1500 mg/L | | Sulphide | (H2S) | 0.3 mg/L | | Selenium | (Se) | 0.82 mg/L | | Silver | (Ag) | 0.29 mg/L | | Tetrachloroethylene | (C2Cl4) | 0.05 mg/L | | Tin | (Sn) | 5 mg/L | | Titanium | (Ti) | 5 mg/L | | Toluene | (CьHsСНз) | 0.08 mg/L | | Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen | (TKN) | 60 mg/L | | Trichloroethylene | (C2HCl3) | 0.054 mg/L | | Vanadium | (V) | 5 mg/L | | Xylenes, Total | | 0.32 mg/L | | Zinc | (Zn) | 0.03 mg/L | - (s) Wastewater having a pH less than 5.5 or greater than 10 or having any other corrosive or scale forming properties capable of causing damage or hazards to the sewerage system of Municipal personnel. - (t) Wastewater of which the BOD exceeds three hundred (300) milligrams per litre (mg/L). - (u) Wastewater containing more than three hundred fifty (350) milligrams per litre (mg/L) of suspended solids. - (v) Wastewater of which the COD exceeds one thousand (1000) milligrams per litre (mg/L).  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (w) Wastewater containing more than one hundred (100) milligrams per litre (mg/L) of fat, grease, or oil, and, in the case of mineral oils, in concentrations exceeding fifteen (15) milligrams per litre (mg/L). - (x) Any matter in such quantities which exert excessive chlorine requirements to constitute a significant load on the wastewater treatment works. - (y) Wastewater containing fish offal or pathologic waste. - (z) Wastes from marine vessels or vehicles. - (aa) Sludge from sewage treatment plants. - (bb) Any waters or wastes containing substances for which special treatment or disposal practices are required by applicable Provincial or Federal legislation, and. - (cc) Shredded garbage. - 5.4 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 Paragraph 3 of this Part by dilution. ## 6 DAILY DISCHARGE LIMITS - 6.1 No person shall be allowed to hook up to the public sewer, nor shall any person be allowed to expand its use of the system, so as to discharge, or cause or permit to be discharged, into any public sewer an average daily volume of sanitary sewage exceeding three-hundred and ninety-eight (398) cubic meters; to be calculated over any period of five (5) consecutive days as selected by the Engineer. - 6.2 Any commercial, industrial, or institutional operation wishing to be connected to the public sewer, which will discharge more than an average daily volume of threehundred and ninety-eight (398) cubic meters shall: - (a) Provide information concerning the use of the property occupied or owned by the applicant, as well as a true estimate of the average daily volume of sanitary sewage, in cubic meters, expected to be discharged into the public sewer, and.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (b) Enter into a formal agreement with the Municipality prior to connection. ## 7 DISCHARGES TO STORMWATER SYSTEM - 7.1 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 stormwater system. - 7.2 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 stormwater system which may or could: - (a) Interfere with proper operation of a storm sewer. - (b) Obstruct or restrict a storm sewer of the flow therein. - (c) Damage a storm sewer. - (d) Result in any hazard or other adverse impact to any person, animal, property, or vegetation. - (e) Contravene or result in the contravention of approved quality or quantity with respect to the storm sewer, its discharge, or both the sewer and its discharge. - (f) Have one or more of the following characteristics: - i. Visible film, sheen, or discolouration. - ii. Two or more separate layers. - iii. A pH less than 5.5 or greater than 9.5. - iv. A temperature greater than 60 degrees Celsius. - v. Containing one or more of the following: 1. Combustible liquids 2. Floating debris  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW 3. Fuel 4. Hauled wastewater 5. Hauled waste 6. Ignitable waste 7. Pathological waste 8. PCBs 9. Pesticides 10. Reactive waste 11. Toxic substances 12. Wastewater 13. Waste Radioactive Substances 14. A substance from raw materials, intermediate or final product, used or produced in, through, or from an industrial process 15. A substance used in the operation or maintenance of an industrial site 14. (g) 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: - i. Construction activities that may result in erosion or sediment runoff from the property, and. - ii. 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 conducted in accordance with Provincial regulations. RCOS-003.00  West Hants ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW ## 8 AUTHORITY OF INSPECTOR - 8.1 The Director of Public Works, or Designate acting under their supervision and direction, shall be designated as the "Inspector." - 8.2 The Inspector has the authority to conduct any investigation required to ensure compliance with this Bylaw, including by, but not limited to: - (a) Inspecting, observing, sampling, and measuring the flow in any building service connection. - (b) Determining water consumption by reading water meters. - (c) Testing flow measuring devices. - (d) Taking samples of wastewater, stormwater, or uncontaminated water being released from a premises or flowing within a building service connection. - (e) Collecting and analysing samples of hauled wastewater coming to a discharge location. - (f) 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. - (g) 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 is could have been part of the release. - 8.3 No person shall hinder or prevent the Inspector from conducting any of their powers or duties under this Bylaw. RCOS-003.00  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW ## 9 SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS - 9.1 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 the installation of a manhole is not possible, an alternative device or facility may be substituted with the written approval of the Engineer. - 9.2 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. - 9.3 Every manhole, device, or facility installed shall be designed and constructed in accordance with good engineering practice, the requirements of the Standard Specification for Municipal Services (the "blue book"), and the West Hants Regional Municipality's Municipal Services Specifications Manual, and shall be constructed and maintained by the owner or operator of the premises, at their expense. - 9.4 The owner or operator of industrial premises shall, always, ensure that every manhole, device, or facility installed is, at all times, accessible for the purposes of observing and sampling the wastewater and measuring the flow of wastewater therein. - 9.5 Where a sample is required for the purpose of determining the characteristics of contents of the wastewater, uncontaminated water, or stormwater to which reference is made in this Bylaw: - (a) Sampling shall be based on a twenty-four (24) hour composite sample taken automatic or non-automatic sampling device, except that characteristics for which there is no acceptable concentration may be determined on the basis of a grab sample, - (b) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Bylaw, all tests, measurements, analyses, and examinations of wastewater, uncontaminated water, and stormwater shall be conducted in accordance with Standard Methods, and. RCOS-003.00  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (c) For each of the metals whose concentration is limited in this Bylaw, the analyses shall be for the quantity of total metal, which includes all metal both dissolved and particulate. - 9.6 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. - 9.7 Where sampling is done by the Municipality for the purpose of determining the characteristics or contents of the sanitary sewage, uncontaminated water, or stormwater, to which reference is made in this Bylaw, which is suspected not to be in compliance with this Bylaw: - (a) A minimum of seven (7) grab samples shall be taken, one (1) each day at different days in any thirty (30) day period and may contain additives for its preservations and may be collected manually or by using an automatic sampling device. - (b) Analyses shall be conducted separately on each day's grab sample; final results shall average all test samples over the period to determine the characteristics and concentration of the matter being discharged in the public sewer or stormwater system. - (c) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Bylaw, all tests, analyses, - measurements, and examinations of sanitary sewage, Uncontaminated water and stormwater shall be carried out in accordance with Standard Methods. - (d) For each of the metals whose concentrations are limited in this Bylaw the analysis shall be the quantity of total metal, which includes all metal both dissolved and particulate. - (e) All costs associated with the sampling and analyzing required to determine the characteristics and contents of sanitary sewage, uncontaminated water, stormwater referred to in this Bylaw shall be paid for by the owner.  ## 10 SPILLS - Every person who discharges or deposits or causes or permits the discharge or deposit of any matter in any sewer, that, in nature or in quantity, is unusual or not in the ordinary course of events, shall notify the Municipality without delay. - For any of the discharges for which the person is required to forthwith notify the Municipality, the notification shall include the following information: - (a) Name of the discharging entity or person and the address of the location of the spill. - (b) Name of person reporting the spill and telephone number where that person can be reached. - (c) Date, time, and duration of the spill. - (d) Type, volume, and characteristics of material discharged, and any associated hazards; and - (e) Corrective actions taken or being taken to control the spill. - The person shall do everything possible to contain the spill, protect the health and safety of citizens, minimize damage to property, protect the environment, clean up the spill and contaminated residue and restore the affected area to its condition prior to the spill. - 10.4 Within five (5) days following a spill, the person shall submit to the Municipality a detailed written report describing the cause of the spill and the actions taken, or to be taken, to prevent a recurrence. - 10.5 The person shall also report any spill as required by Federal and/or Provincial regulations. ## REPORT FOR INDUSTRIAL WASTE - 10.6 It is a condition of a permit for service connection to a public sewer that the owner or operator of a property discharging industrial waste into the public sewer shall ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 file a Waste Survey Report with the Engineer annually. This applies to connections made both prior to and after the effective date of this Bylaw. - 10.7 The Waste Survey Report shall contain the following information and be signed by the owner or operator, in a form specified by the Engineer: - (a) Name and address of the premises, and name of its owner or operator. - (b) Description of process operations, including expected maximum waste discharge rates, total monthly flows, contaminant concentrations, hours of operation and plans, as well as a report certified by a Professional Engineer indicating proposed expansion, addition, new construction, or proposed pretreatment works, and. - (c) A schematic process diagram indicating waste discharge points and waste descriptions. - 10.8 An owner or operator discharging or permitting the discharge of industrial waste into the public sewer may be required by the Engineer to provide reports indicating the contents of that industrial waste and total monthly flow rates. - 10.9 All samples used for the reporting of the content of the industrial waste must be composite grab samples. All tests, measurements, analyses, and examinations of sanitary sewage, its characteristics, or contents shall be carried out in accordance with "Standard Methods". - 10.10 When a change occurs in the information contained in the Waste Survey Report, the owner or operator of the premises shall submit a new Waste Survey Report setting out the changes within thirty (30) days of the change. - 10.11 No person shall discharge or caused to be discharged any industrial waste in any public sewer until: - (a) A Waste Survey Report has been filed with the Engineer, and. - (b) The Engineer has confirmed the industrial waste complies with the requirements of this Bylaw.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - 11.7 An owner or operator which generates industrial waste which fails to meet the requirements of this Bylaw shall meet with the Engineer to determine the necessary pre-treatment processes to facilitate the compliance of this Bylaw prior to discharging the industrial waste into the public sewer. ## 11 GREASE, OIL, SEDIMENT, SAND TRAPS, OR INTERCEPTORS - 11.1 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 such a device is necessary for the proper handling and control of wastewater being discharged to the Municipal sewerage system. - 11.2 Traps or interceptors shall be installed such that they are easily accessible for all aspects of cleaning and inspection. All interceptors shall be maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations The testing, maintenance and performance of the interceptor shall the requirements of CAN/ CSA B-481. - 11.3 Traps or interceptors shall be maintained by the owner or operator in a condition of continuous efficient operation at the owner's expense. - 11.4 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. Instead, 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. - 11.5 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. - 11.6 Any request for inspection by the Municipality shall be granted by the owner or operator of the establishment. - 11.7 Every owner or operator of a premises from which dental amalgam may be  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 discharged, which may directly or indirectly enter a sewer, shall install, operate, and properly maintain dental amalgam separators) with at least 95% efficiency in amalgam weight - certified ISO 11143 "Dental Equipment: Amalgam Separators" - in any piping system at its premises that connects directly or indirectly to a sewer, except where the sole dental-related practice at the premises consists of one or more of the following specialties or type of practice: - a) orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. - b) oral and maxillofacial surgery. - c) oral medicine and pathology. - d) periodontics; and - e) A dental practice consisting solely of visits by a mobile dental practitioner who prevents any dental amalgam from being released directly or indirectly to the wastewater works. 6. 11.8 Notwithstanding Subsection 12.7, any person operating a business from which dental waste amalgam is, or will be, discharged directly or indirectly into a sewer shall install, operate and properly maintain dental waste amalgam separator(s) in any piping system which is connected directly or indirectly to a sewer. 7. 11.8.1 All dental waste amalgam separators shall be maintained in good working order and according to the manufacturer's recommendations. 8. 11.8.2 A maintenance schedule and record of maintenance shall be submitted to the Designated Wastewater Officer for each dental amalgam separator installed upon request. 9. 11.8.3 The operator of a dental clinic shall, for five years, keep the documents covering amalgam shipments as per regulations respecting transportation of hazardous. 10. 11.9 No person shall install or operate within the Municipality any garbage grinding devices for domestic purposes, where the effluent from which will discharge directly or indirectly into a sanitary, combined, or storm sewer.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - 11.9.1 In the case of industrial, commercial, or institutional properties where garbage grinding devices are installed in accordance with the Building Code, the effluent from such garbage grinding devices must comply. ## 12 GENERAL INFORMATION - 12.1 For the purposes of the administration of this Bylaw, the Inspector may, upon production of their 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. - 12.2 No person shall break, damage, destroy, deface, tamper with, or cause or permit the breaking, damaging, destroying, defacing, or tampering with: - (a) Any part of the sewerage system of storm sewer system, or. - (b) Any permanent or temporary device installed in the sewerage system of storm sewer system for the purpose of measuring, sampling, and testing of wastewater. - 12.3 No work shall be carried out on any sewer other than by the authority of the Engineer. - 12.4 The Engineer shall have the power to stop, seal, and prevent from discharging into the sewerage system. If 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. - 12.5 Except in emergency situations, the Engineer shall not cause any sewer to be sealed pursuant to this Section unless the owner of the sewer is first notified and given an opportunity to be heard by the Engineer. - 12.6 Whenever any building service connection is abandoned, the owner shall effectively seal the connection at the property line to prevent sewage from backing up into the soil, and/or any materials being washed into the sewer. - 12.7 Where the owner does not effectively seal a building service connection within seven days from receipt of a notice from the Municipality requiring  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 them to do so, the Municipality may cause the work to be done, and the cost of such work may be recovered as a debt by the Municipality from theowner. ## 13 OFFENCES ## 14.1 Any person who - (a) fails to comply with an order made by the Engineer within thirty (30) days after notice thereof has been served upon, either personally or by registered mail. - (b) Violates a provision of this Bylaw. - (c) Fails to do anything required of this Bylaw. - (d) Permits anything to be done in violation of this Bylaw. - (e) Obstructs or hinders any person in the performance of their duties under this Bylaw. is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction, to a penalty of not less than one hundred (100) dollars and not more than ten thousand (10,000) dollars, and in default of payment, to imprisonment of not more than two (2) months. ## 14 CONNECTION FEES - 14.1 Any person desiring to connect a building to a public sewer shall obtain a permit from the Municipality by taking the following steps: - (a) Request, complete, and return for approval from the Engineer, a Service Connection Application/Permit, to request the installation of a service connection. The drains or laterals connecting the houses or other buildings located thereon to a public sewer system shall be constructed at owners' expense to the main. The Owner moving forward is responsible for all maintenance costs to said sewer connection at their expense to their property line. - (b) Pay to the Municipality all deposits and fees required on the Service Connection Permit application, but such payment shall not apply.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - (i) where a service connection has been provided and paid for by the Municipality as part of the original contract of construction of the public sewer; or - (ii) where the service connection has been paid for or will be paid for by an owner or developer. - 14.2 The connection fee shall be $100 per residential dwelling unit serviced with single sewer lateral extending to the Main Sewer. ## 15 LATERAL INSTALLATION COSTS - 15.1 The Customer shall be responsible for the cost of supplying, installing, and maintaining their sewer lateral from their building to the main once installed maintenance of said sewer ends to their property line. - 15.2 Public Works Staff shall be present for inspection of the saddle installation and require the following notice requirements. - A site review of the proposed connection scope of work shall be completed between the contractor and the Director of Public Works or Designate. - 15.4 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 gravel, asphalt, sidewalk, curb, gutter, grass, traffic control and full reinstatement. - 15.5 Bonds, deposits, permit fees and sewer pipe costs are the responsibility of the customer and are not subject to cost sharing. ## 16 SEWER BACK-UPS - 16.1 The Municipality will be responsible for the maintenance of the sewer main.  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 - 16.2 Any repairs requiring excavation along the portion of the sewer lateral located within the road parcel or municipally owned easement shall be conducted by the Municipality or approved contractor. If the Municipality finds that the repair was required because of objects or debris originating from the customer's fixtures, the cost of the work shall be billed to the owner. If the Municipality finds that the problem was due to a faulty or collapsed lateral owned by the Municipality or a blockage in the main sewer line, the cost of the work shall be borne by the Municipality. - 16.3 When a sewer backup occurs, the customer may arrange and pay for a plumber to address the problem. If the plumber finds that the backup is caused by a problem with the main sewer line, Public Works will investigate and take appropriate action to ensure the main sewer is cleared. If the plumber finds a blockage or problem in the lateral within the customers property line it is the customer's responsibility to excavate and repair, as necessary. - 16.4 Alternatively, when a sewer back up occurs, the customer may call the Public Works Department through the Municipal Office during regular business hours, or the 24-hour emergency number if after hours. Upon Public Works assessment, if the problem is with the main sewer line, Public Works Staff will take the appropriate action to rectify the problem at the expense of the Municipality. - 16.5 When the cause of the problem is not apparent and the blockage is between the property line and the main sewer line, then the Public Works Department, will rectify the problem in the most timely manner. - 16.6 The Municipality shall not pay claims for damages or repair costs attributable to a problem caused by actions, negligence, or failure to perform maintenance on the part of the customer receiving services, their agent, tenants, or other parties. This shall include, but not be limited to, foreign materials placed in the lateral or in fixtures leading into the lateral. ## 17 FEES FOR SEWER USE - 18.1 An owner of assessed real property within a distance one hundred (100) feet from any public sewer, or owner of assessed real property that is connected to the public sewer, shall pay operational sewer charge(s) and capital sewer charge(s) if  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW applicable, as determined in Council's Fees Policy: - (a) Council shall determine the area served by a public sewer to which sewer charges shall apply. - (b) Charges shall be applied to each service area either by: - (i) a base rate for sewer service combined with a consumption rate based on the metered use of water. - (ii) an area rate on the dollar of the assessed value of the taxable property; or - (iii) a uniform charge on each taxable property assessment or dwelling house unit. - (d) Annual operational charges shall be based upon the following: - i. The annual maintenance cost of the public sewer within a service area of the Municipality. - ii. Any deficiency existing from the previous year as determined annually by Council upon recommendation by the Director of Finance and Engineer. - (e) Capital charges shall be based upon the annual portion of the principal and interest accrued or to be due in the current year of the total capital cost of each capital sewer installation or upgrade project. - (f) Where the building service connection is connected to the public sewer during the year, the sewer charges may be pro-rated and charged separately for the balance of the year. - (g) Sewer charges shall be billed and due at the same time and shall bear interest at the same rate as water utility charges. - (h) The Municipality shall keep a separate account of monies due for sewer charges which shall contain: - i. Name of the sewer service area with respect to which charges arose. - ii. Names of the owners of each property liable for sewer charges, RCOS-003.00  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW ili. Amount of sewer charges due for each property. ## 18 SANITARY SEWAGE REBATE - 18.1 An owner who is charged based on water meter readings and who uses more than one thousand (1000) cubic metres of water in a one-year period is eligible for a sanitary sewage rebate if the volume of sanitary sewage discharged by the owner into the public sewer is less than the volume of water used by the owner. - 18.2 All costs associated with the installation of necessary equipment to facilitate the sanitary sewage rebate, such as the installation of separate water and sewage meters, shall be paid at the owner's expense. - 18.3 A rebate to the owner is calculated on the difference between the amount of water used and the amount of sanitary sewage discharged into the public sewer. - 18.4 This rebate does not apply to the base rate for the sewer service nor to leakage or wastage from a metered water supply. - 18.5 An application for a rebate shall be made by an owner to the Municipality, together with such documentation required by the Municipality in support of such application for rebate. Such application shall be submitted to the Municipality no later than six (6) months after the conclusion of the year in respect of which the application for rebate is made. ## 19. REPEAL The Sewers and Sewage Discharges Bylaw # 11 for the former Town of Windsor and the Sewerage and Stormsewer Connection, Discharge and Charges By-law S-003 for the former Municipality of the District of West Hants are hereby repealed on the effective date of this By-law. 1, Deanna Snair, Municipal Clerk of the West Hants Regional Municipality, the Province of Nova Scotia, do hereby certify that this is a true copy of the By-law as adopted by the Council RCOS-003.00  ## WEST HANTS REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY SEWER AND STORMWATER CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION AND CHARGES BY-LAW RCOS-003.00 of the West Hants Regional Municipality at a meeting duly called and held on the 28th day of January, 2025.  Manna Shavi Deanna Snair | By-law Adoption | By-law Adoption | |--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | First Reading: | September 24, 2024 | | Notice Published: | January 10th and 17th, 2025 | | Public Hearing, Second Reading & Approval: | January 28, 2025 | | Notice to Council: | September 24, 2024 | | Approval | January 28, 2025 | Description: Initial approval of the West Hants Regional Municipal Sewer and Stormwater Connection, Disconnection and Charges By-Law RCOS003.00, which includes the repeal of the Sewers and Sewage Discharges Bylaw # 11 for the former Town of Windsor and the Sewerage and Stormsewer Connection, Discharge and Charges By-law S-003 for the former Municipality of the District of West Hants.