On this page:
- Routine reporting
- Effluent (treated wastewater) requirements
- Effluent sampling and monitoring
- Learn more
Routine reporting
Municipal and private facilities that discharge wastewater directly into Ontario’s lakes and rivers must ensure the quality and quantity of the wastewater complies with their Environmental Approval and applicable legislation, policy, and guidelines by:
- sampling their wastewater discharge
- analyzing the wastewater discharge samples
- regularly reporting the results to the ministry
The ministry also requires sewage treatment facilities to minimize surface water and groundwater pollution as well as interference with other water uses.
Effluent (treated wastewater) requirements
Effluent (treated wastewater) requirements are established by policy and on a case-by-case basis, depending on the characteristics of the lake or river into which it flows. These requirements are reflected in the wastewater facility’s Environmental Approval.
Effluent criteria typically include limits to control contaminants that are harmful to the environment.
Details about applicable effluent criteria can be found in the following ministry publications:
- F-5 series of Procedures, Levels of Treatment for Municipal and Private Sewage Treatment Works Discharging to Surface Waters
- Water Management, Policies and Guidelines
- B-1-5 Deriving Receiving Water Based, Point Source Effluent Requirements for Ontario Waters
Effluent sampling and monitoring
Effluent is sampled and monitored at various frequencies as required under F-10 series of Procedures - Sampling and Analysis Requirements for Municipal and Private Sewage Treatment Works.
The facility must report the analytical results of the samples to the ministry as required by their Environmental Approval or other directions provided by the ministry.
