Cranbook
1. Why is the City of Cranbrook updating its Sanitary Sewer Source Control Bylaw?
The City’s current sanitary sewer Bylaw is from 1911 and required significant updates. The updates are required in order to meet the BC Building Code, the Environmental Management Act, and additional sanitary sewer technical requirements.
2. What is the purpose of the Sanitary Sewer Source Control Bylaw?
The purpose of this Bylaw is to focus on identifying and controlling substances at the source, prior to discharge to the City's Sanitary Sewer System. There are many benefits to managing substances at the source prior to discharge, including:
• protection of the public, workers and sanitary sewer infrastructure from exposure to hazardous substances and conditions;
• protecting the quality of wastewater biosolids to ensure their beneficial use as a soil amendment at the spray irrigation facility;
• ensuring the City maintains compliance with provincial operating permits for the wastewater treatment system; and
• reducing infrastructure maintenance costs by managing grease, sand, soil and other solids that cause blockages in the sanitary sewer system.
3. Who does the Sanitary Sewer Source Control Bylaw regulate?
The Bylaw regulates all users including residential, industrial, commercial and institutional.
4. Do other City’s have Sanitary Sewer Source Control Bylaws and Wastewater Discharge Permit?
Yes. Many local governments have updated their Bylaws over the last decade.
Cities that have Wastewater Discharge Permits include Prince George; Capital Regional District; Summerland; and Abbotsford.
5. What is the purpose of a Wastewater Discharge Permit?
Wastewater Discharge Permits are used to monitor non-domestic waste discharged outside of the parameters of this Bylaw. The purpose of a Wastewater Discharge Permit is to regulate non-domestic waste discharged by industries that are not covered under the Bylaw or Codes of Practice in the Bylaw, to ensure that the discharge will not impact the City's Sanitary Sewer System and treatment processes.
Wastewater Discharge Permits are only for industrial, commercial or institutional operations. A Wastewater Discharge Permit is not required for industries that comply with a Code of Practice.
6. What is the purpose of the Codes of Practice?
The purpose of Codes of Practice are to set minimum standards for wastewater pre-treatment, inspection, maintenance and record keeping for specific operations. Codes of Practices were developed for Food Services; Dental Operations; Dry Cleaning Operations; Mechanical Repair Operations; Vehicle Wash Operations; and Carpet Cleaning Operations. These Codes of Practices allow for:
• the wastewater discharge requirements to be applied consistently to all businesses and operators within the sector;
• clarity and information on standards and responsibilities that are already required under the BC Building Code; and
• decreases the requirement for wastewater discharge permits in sectors. If an operator/business is unable to meet a Code of Practice, they are able to apply for a Wastewater Discharge Permit.
7. Will the requirements of the Bylaw be phased in?
New businesses will be required to comply with the requirements of the Bylaw as of the adoption date of the Bylaw.
The City will be taking a phased approach to implement the Bylaw for existing households and businesses. This will include:
• Maintenance and Repair of the Sanitary Sewer will be effective on the adoption date of the Bylaw;
• All existing businesses will be required to provide information in accordance with Sections 20.1 to 20.5 for unauthorized discharges and spills on the adoption date of the Bylaw;
• Existing businesses that have repetitive issues with blockages in the sanitary sewer system may be required to implement requirements of the updated Sanitary Sewer Source Control Bylaw, as directed by the City Engineer; and
• All businesses that have an interceptor will be requested to provide documentation as per Section 16.5 of the Bylaw when renewing their business license
An education campaign for the Codes of Practices with mailout will be provided in 2022.
8. How will the Bylaw be enforced?
The City will be providing residents and businesses with an education campaign prior to issuing fines for the Bylaw.
The Bylaw will be enforced by:
• Municipal ticketing with fines;
• Written warnings or notices of bylaw violation;
• Written orders requiring action to be taken; and
• Cost recovery.
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