Liquid Waste Regulatory Program

CAREERS l CONTACT US

About Us

Air Quality Regulatory Program

Solid Waste Regulatory Program

Liquid Waste Regulatory Program

Data Submission Login

Non-Road Diesel Engines Regulatory Initiative

Liquid Waste Regulatory Program

Regulating liquid wastes
The primary bylaw for regulating liquid waste discharges by commercial, institutional and industrial (non-domestic) sewer users is Sewer Use Bylaw No. 299 - 2007. This new bylaw includes Codes of Practice for dental operations, dry cleaners and photo processors. The dental code requires that all dental operations involved with placing or removing dental amalgam, install, operate and maintain a certified amalgam separator by July 1, 2008.

Further changes considered
Metro Vancouver is considering further changes to its Sewer Use Bylaw. To encourage public feedback, Metro Vancouver staff is producing a series of Issue Papers. Based on feedback received during this consultation, staff will propose draft amendments to the pertinent sections of the Bylaw for consideration by the Board.
Sewer Use Bylaw Review

Expand All | Collapse All

Industrial Users

Waste discharge permits
The primary method used to monitor and regulate the volume and contents of wastewater produced by industrial sources is through waste discharge permits issued under Sewer Use Bylaw 299.

A permit is required for any commercial or industrial (non-domestic) sewer user that intends to produce liquid wastes on an ongoing basis that:
- contain Restricted Wastes (as defined in Sewer Use Bylaw No. 299 ); and,
- will be greater than 300 cubic metres within any 30-day period or any instantaneous discharge of Non-Domestic Waste in excess of 30 litres per minute.

There are several types of permit application forms available, depending on the nature of the discharge and the type of application. Metro Vancouver also maintains a list of the currently active waste discharge permits. For more information on waste discharge permits, e-mail regulationenforcement@metrovancouver.org

General Waste Discharge Application

Groundwater Remediation Site Permit Application

Permit transfer request application form

Authorization Application

Credit Application for Trucked Liquid Waste

Waste Discharge Permit List 2008

Industrial Pricing Strategy
Industrial sewer users are charged according to the degree of treatment their wastewater requires and the demands that the wastewater puts upon the sewerage system. These costs are contained in the Industrial Pricing Strategy table and are calculated by the type of industry (with the exception of groundwater permits). These costs are charged to the municipality that the industry operates in and it is up to the municipality's discretion how to recover these costs.

Usage Charges
	FSA	VSA	LIWSA	NSSA
BOD ($/kg)	0.324	0.066	0.487	0.135
TSS ($/kg)	0.432	0.623	0.460	0.884
Flow ($/m3)	0.152	0.076	0.185	0.213

Capacity Charges
	FSA	VSA	LIWSA	NSSA
BOD ($/kg)	35.082	46.233	47.577	40.803
TSS ($/kg)	26.865	63.266	24.131	49.687
Flow ($/m3)	10.844	28.533	5.057	21.999

For 2010, the discharge information was calculated based on self-monitoring and sampling data for the period between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.

FSA = Fraser Sewerage Area VSA = Vancouver Sewerage Area
LIWSA = Lulu Island West Sewerage Area NSSA = North Shore Sewerage Area

Compliance monitoring
Metro Vancouver monitors the liquid waste produced by waste discharge permit holders to determine whether these companies are complying with the terms of their permit.

Enforcement
Metro Vancouver officers are responsible for ensuring businesses operate within the terms of the bylaw and permits. If a company exceeds these terms, Metro Vancouver can:

work co-operatively with the company to address the reasons for non-compliance
request the permit holder take immediate corrective action
issue a warning
issue an order to prevent or abate pollution which may include conducting specific studies and implementing plans to prevent future occurrences
initiate legal action which may result in court-imposed fines, or
cancel the permit.

Commercial and Institutional Users

In some cases, Metro Vancouver provides regulation or guidance to commercial businesses and institutions that don't currently operate under a waste discharge permit. Depending on the industry and the nature of the wastewater produced, Metro Vancouver uses one of the following approaches to help reduce the load that effluent from these industries can place on the wastewater collection and treatment system:

Education and awareness programs - SmartSteps, a program designed to help businesses save money and become more competitive by increasing the efficiency of its use of energy, water and materials.
Mandatory codes of practice - a mandatory Code of Practice specifies the equipment and/or activities that a sector must employ to remain in compliance.

Metro Vancouver is reviewing wastewater issues for the following types of businesses or commercial enterprises:

printing facilities
laboratories
recreation facilities
automotive businesses
car wash facilities
U-Brew/Wine premises
carpet cleaning services
funeral homes.

Initiatives underway for dealing with wastewater issues presented by the commercial and institutional sector include:

All	Business specific guides, directories and other tools designed to improve eco-efficiency.
	SmartSteps
Dental Offices	This Code of Practice requires that all dental operations involved with placing or removing Dental Amalgam, must install, operate and maintain a Certified Amalgam Separator by July 1, 2008.
	Code of Practice for Dental Operations
Dry Cleaners	This Code of Practice requires the installation and proper maintenance of required equipment to control the discharge of tetrachloroethylene (PERC) to sanitary sewer.
	Code of Practice for Dry Cleaning Operations using Tetrachlorethylene
Photo Processors	This Code of Practice requires the installation and proper maintenance of required equipment to control the discharge of silver to sanitary sewer.
	Code of Practice for Photo Processing Operations using Silver
Restaurants/ Bakeries	On July 28, 2000, the Greater Vancouver Sewerage & Drainage District (GVS&DD) Board adopted the Code of Practice for Wastewater Management at Food Sector Establishments under the Regional Sewer Use Bylaw 164. The Code of Practice was created in partnership with the British Columbia & Yukon Hotel's Association, local municipalities and some service providers.
	Code of Practice for Wastewater Management at Food Sector Establishments

Trucked Liquid Waste

Trucking liquid waste for homes
Lower Mainland residents whose homes aren't connected to a municipal sanitary sewer are provided a wastewater disposal service by the Metro Vancouver. Wastewater collected in holding or septic tank systems used by the homeowner is periodically pumped out and transported for treatment at Trucked Liquid Waste (TLW) facilities located at the Northwest Langley, Annacis Island or Iona Island wastewater treatment plants.

Trucking liquid waste for industry
At its Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, Metro Vancouver treats sludge collected from commercial, industrial and institutional operations that operate wastewater pre-treatment systems at their business site. Pre-treatment systems are required for companies whose liquid wastes could disrupt normal operation of the regular sewer system if it wasn't treated before being discharged.

Terms and conditions
The organic materials collected must be pre-authorized for disposal by Metro Vancouver. This requires an application form to be completed and submitted for approval before the waste can be collected and disposed of at the facilities. All waste is manifested by the carrier and is reviewed by an attendant before disposal. The waste carriers are charged a fee at the TLW facilities based on type of discharge (rates effective June 1, 2008):