| #Q001 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Normal Level of Treatment | wastewater | Guideline F-5 takes the approach that all sewage treatment works shall provide secondary treatment or equivalent as the "normal" level of treatment, unless individual receiving water assessment studies indicate the need for higher levels of treatment. | Applies unless individual receiving water assessment studies indicate the need for higher levels of treatment | high |
| #Q002 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Receiving Water Assessments Requirement | wastewater | Receiving water assessments must be performed in all cases. | All cases | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Responsibility for Receiving Water Assessments | wastewater | The carrying out of receiving water assessment studies and the interpretation of results will be the responsibility of the proponent of any new sewage treatment works or of any works undergoing expansion. | For any new sewage treatment works or any works undergoing expansion | high |
| #Q004 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Imposition of Higher Than Normal Treatment | wastewater | If the effluent requirement determined by the receiving water assessment is more stringent than the "normal" level of treatment as required in the Provincial guideline, then the treatment requirement derived from the assessment will be imposed. | If the receiving water assessment effluent requirement is more stringent than the 'normal' level of treatment | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | treatment | recommended | Nitrogenous Oxygen Demand Limits Derivation | wastewater | Since BOD5 does not include the oxygen demand due to the bio-chemical oxidation of total ammonia, for those sewage treatment works discharging into receivers where nitrogenous oxygen demand is important, a total ammonia nitrogen "(NH3+NH4+)-N" and/or total kjeldahl nitrogen limits should be derived and incorporated into the works' Certificates of Approval. | For those sewage treatment works discharging into receivers where nitrogenous oxygen demand is important | high |
| #Q006 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Prohibition of Sewage Bypass | wastewater | Bypassing of raw sewage and primary effluent from nominally separate sewerage systems will not be allowed except in emergency conditions. | Applies to nominally separate sewerage systems. Exceptions allowed in emergency conditions. | high |
| #Q007 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Bypass Incidence Notification | wastewater | In accordance with Section 15 of the Environmental Protection Act (R.S.O. 1990), and with Section 30(2) OWR Act (R.S.O. 1990), bypass incidence shall be recorded and the appropriate agencies (i.e., MOEE Region and/or Spills Action Centre, and Medical Officer of Health) notified. | When bypass incidence occurs | high |
| #Q008 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Bypass Volume and Duration Reporting | wastewater | In addition, the measured or estimated volume, duration and reasons for bypassing shall be documented and reported to the MOEE Regional office. | When bypass incidence occurs | high |
| #Q009 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Emergency Bypass Facilities Approval | wastewater | For new works, emergency bypass facilities which permit by-passing from sewers, sewage pumping stations and sewage treatment works of sewage not satisfying the prescribed treatment requirements, must receive approval as required by Section 24 to 53 of the OWR Act. | For new works implementing emergency bypass facilities | high |
| #Q010 | design | operational | mandatory | Bypass Frequency and Volume Reduction Measures | wastewater | To reduce the frequency and volume of sewage discharged from emergency by-passes to an acceptable minimum, measures shall be taken to provide adequate sewer and pumping station capacity, stand-by equipment, stand-by power, reserve storage capacity in sewers, and/or at treatment facilities and adequate capacity in sewage treatment works. | | high |
| #Q011 | corrective_action | treatment | recommended | Staged Programs for Infiltration/Inflow Flow Containment | wastewater | Where existing sewer systems are found to experience excessive infiltration/inflow problems, which result in unacceptable frequencies or quantities of raw sewage and/or primary effluent by-passing, and where the above measures alone are either impractical or uneconomical to reduce the by-passing to acceptable levels, staged programs should be developed for the ultimate containment of these flows by a combination of the above measures and the reduction of infiltration/inflow to the sewer systems. | Where existing sewer systems experience excessive infiltration/inflow causing unacceptable bypassing, and basic prevention measures are impractical or uneconomical | high |
| #Q012 | administrative | treatment | recommended | Combined Sewerage Staged Total Containment Program | wastewater | All municipalities serviced by combined sewerage should however prepare a staged program leading towards the ultimate goal of total containment for treatment of all sewage flows. This program should outline the sewerage works required along with their anticipated timing of implementation. | For municipalities serviced by combined sewerage | high |
| #Q013 | design | treatment | recommended | Design for Combined Sewage Overflows | wastewater | New or expanded sewage treatment works servicing sewer systems containing combined sewer areas should be designed taking into account the problem of combined sewage overflows. | For new or expanded sewage treatment works servicing sewer systems containing combined sewer areas | high |
| #Q014 | reporting | reporting | recommended | Excess Primary Effluent Wet Weather Discharge Reporting | wastewater | For the present, effluent criteria need not be specified for excess primary effluent discharged in wet weather. Consequently, no compliance assessment program is currently necessary, although the frequencies of occurrence, volume and duration should be measured or estimated, recorded and reported to the Ministry Regional office as secondary by-pass. | When excess primary effluent is discharged in wet weather | high |
| #Q015 | corrective_action | operational | mandatory | Upgrading Existing Sewerage Systems | wastewater | Existing municipal and private sewerage works not complying with Guideline F-5 shall be upgraded to meet the requirement of this guideline as soon as possible. | For existing municipal and private sewerage works not complying with Guideline F-5 | high |
| #Q016 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Development of Upgrading Schedules | wastewater | It will be the responsibility of the Ministry’s Regions to develop upgrading schedules taking into account local, national and international obligations. | For upgrading non-compliant existing sewerage works | high |
| #Q017 | design | treatment | recommended | Effluent Design Objectives Compliance | wastewater | Sewage treatment works designed in accordance with the Ministry "Guidelines for the Design of Sewage Treatment Works" should be able to produce annual average effluent quality approximately equal to the Effluent Design Objectives, but not to exceed the Effluent Guidelines criteria. | For sewage treatment works designed in accordance with Ministry "Guidelines for the Design of Sewage Treatment Works" | high |
| #Q018 | design | treatment | mandatory | Industrial Waste Input Consideration | wastewater | In selecting a sewage treatment process, consideration must be given to industrial waste inputs to ensure that the sewage treatment process will be compatible with the waste requiring treatment. | When selecting a sewage treatment process | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | operational | recommended | Sewer Use By-laws Implementation | wastewater | In all cases, sewer use by-laws should be in effect and under enforcement to control the wastes being discharged to the sewer system by industries. | In all cases where industrial wastes are discharged to the sewer system | high |
| #Q020 | design | treatment | guidance | Design Consideration for Pressure or Vacuum Sewer Systems | wastewater | Special consideration may be required in selecting and designing a sewage treatment process for municipalities serviced either wholly or extensively by pressure or vacuum sewers. | For municipalities serviced either wholly or extensively by pressure or vacuum sewers | high |
| #Q021 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Small Drinking Water System Identification Notification | drinking water | The Small Drinking Water System Identification form is to be used by owners of small drinking water systems to notify in writing the medical officer of health in the health unit where their system is located before supplying drinking water to users of the system following construction or alteration of the small drinking water system or following a shut-down of the system that lasts longer than 7 days. | following construction or alteration of the small drinking water system or following a shut-down of the system that lasts longer than 7 days | high |
| #Q022 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Laboratory Services Notification | drinking water | The Laboratory Services Notification (LSN) form is to be used by small drinking water system owners/operators to notify the local public health unit in writing as to which licensed laboratories will test drinking water samples for their small drinking water systems. | | high |
| #Q023 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution | drinking water | The Notice of Adverse Test Results and Issue Resolution form is to be used by licensed laboratories and owners/operators of small drinking water systems to support required written notifications pertaining to small drinking water system adverse water quality incidents (AWQI). | pertaining to small drinking water system adverse water quality incidents (AWQI) | high |
| #Q024 | operational | operational | mandatory | Risk-Based Site-Specific Directives | drinking water | Public health inspectors conduct individual site-specific risk assessments then issue a directive, setting out individual requirements for each system. | based on individual site-specific risk assessments | high |
| #Q025 | administrative | reporting | guidance | Contact Public Health Unit for Applicability Clarification | drinking water | If you are not sure whether your system is affected, contact your local public health unit. | When the owner or operator is unsure if their system is regulated as a Small Drinking Water System under O. Reg 319/08 | high |
| #Q026 | administrative | operational | mandatory | OWRA Section 53 Approval Requirement | wastewater | section 53 of the OWRA requires approval prior to using, operating, establishing, altering, extending or replacing new or existing sewage works | Prior to using, operating, establishing, altering, extending or replacing new or existing sewage works | high |
| #Q027 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | EASR Storm Water Management Registration | other | You must register your storm water management works in the EASR when they meet all the following criteria: the works are not owned by a municipality or will not be assumed by a municipality in the future; any processing, repair or maintenance of goods and materials at the property where the works are located are conducted indoors; the works or any part of the works does not and will not receive any discharge of process water, cooling water, wash water or sanitary sewage | When specific criteria regarding ownership, indoor operations, and discharge types are met | high |
| #Q028 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Permission Determination Requirement | wastewater | You must determine the type of environmental permission that applies to your activity and apply for an ECA or self-register in the EASR before using, operating, establishing, altering, extending or replacing a sewage works which discharge to surface water or the ground surface. | Before using, operating, establishing, altering, extending or replacing works discharging to surface water or ground surface | high |
| #Q029 | operational | operational | mandatory | ECA Condition Compliance | wastewater | You must comply with all the conditions listed in any ECA issued to you by the ministry. | When an ECA has been issued | high |
| #Q030 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | EASR Non-Transferability and Self-Registration | other | If there is a storm water management works that is registered in the EASR, that registration cannot be transferred, and you are responsible for self-registering the works under your my Ontario account. | Upon acquisition of a facility with existing EASR registered storm water works | high |
| #Q031 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Acquisition Obligation Responsibility | wastewater | When you acquire a sewage works, you become responsible for all obligations associated with the sewage works at the time of purchase. | Upon acquisition of sewage works | high |
| #Q032 | administrative | operational | mandatory | ECA Amendment Requirement | wastewater | An amendment to your sewage works ECA is required before altering, extending or replacing a sewage works. | Before altering, extending or replacing existing works under an ECA | high |
| #Q033 | administrative | operational | mandatory | LEP Retention for EASR Updates | other | If you have registered your storm water management works in EASR, you must retain a LEP to update your storm water management works report or prepare an addendum and upload it into the registry before you make any changes. | Before making changes to storm water management works registered in EASR | high |
| #Q034 | operational | operational | mandatory | Facility Classification and Operator Certification | wastewater | All applicable facilities must be classified in accordance with the regulation and comply with operator certification requirements. | For sewage works specified under O. Reg. 129/04 | high |
| #Q035 | operational | operational | mandatory | Hauled Sewage Transport and Disposal Responsibility | wastewater | It is your responsibility to ensure all hauled sewage removed from your sewage works is: transported by a carrier with an approved waste management system [and] deposited at an approved waste disposal site or dedicated septage treatment works | When hauled sewage is removed from the facility | high |
| #Q036 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Spill Reporting Obligation | other | Spills are required to be reported immediately or as soon as practicable to the ministry. | Upon the occurrence of a spill | high |
| #Q037 | corrective_action | operational | mandatory | Spill Cleanup and Restoration Duty | other | Part X also requires the owner of the pollutant spilled, and the person who had control of the pollutant spilled to promptly clean up and restore the environment if the spill causes or is likely to cause an adverse effect. | If a spill causes or is likely to cause an adverse effect | high |
| #Q038 | operational | operational | mandatory | Spill Prevention and Contingency Planning | other | Under section 91.1 of the EPA, a regulated person shall develop and implement plans to prevent or reduce risk of spills of pollutants, and to prevent, eliminate or ameliorate any adverse effects that result or may result from spills of pollutants. | For regulated persons as defined under the EPA | high |
| #Q039 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Responsibility to identify infrastructure and obtain permissions | wastewater | If you do not know where your sewage goes, it is your responsibility to determine whether you are the owner of infrastructure designed to collect, transmit, store, treat or dispose of sewage and obtain any necessary environmental permissions. | When sewage destination is unknown | high |
| #Q040 | operational | operational | mandatory | Owner responsibility for ECA compliance | wastewater | The owner is responsible for ensuring that all sewage works have, and are operated in compliance with, an ECA. | | high |
| #Q041 | reporting | reporting | recommended | Notification of non-compliance | wastewater | If you have not met, or know you will not be able to meet, a legal requirement related to constructing, operating or maintaining your sewage works, you should contact your local ministry office to discuss how you can bring the sewage works into compliance. | When legal requirements are not met or cannot be met | high |
| #Q042 | operational | operational | mandatory | Spill plan content requirements | other | The plan must include: steps to notify the ministry, other public authorities and members of the public who may be affected by the spill [and] measures to ensure that appropriate equipment, material and personnel are available to respond to a spill. | Mandatory components for spill prevention and contingency plans under EPA section 91.1 | high |
| #Q043 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Financial Assurance Estimate | wastewater | Where applicable, the ECA application must include an estimate of the required amount of financial assurance. | When applying for an ECA where financial assurance is required | high |
| #Q044 | operational | operational | mandatory | EASR Activity Regulation Compliance | other | You must comply with the relevant regulation for the EASR activity that you are self-registering. | When self-registering an activity in the EASR | high |
| #Q045 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Building Code Act Permit Requirement | wastewater | Permits are required prior to construction of the majority of systems regulated under the Building Code Act and are typically issued by your local municipality or Health Unit. | Prior to construction of systems regulated under the Building Code Act | high |
| #Q046 | corrective_action | operational | mandatory | Unauthorized Works Evaluation Responsibility | wastewater | If the sewage works has (or you suspect it has) been extended or altered without the applicable environmental permission having been obtained, it is the owner’s responsibility to have the sewage works evaluated and to apply for any necessary ECA or self-register in the EASR including amendments. | When sewage works have been extended or altered without permission | high |
| #Q047 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Pollution Prevention and Control Plan Development | wastewater | Guideline F-5-5 requires each operating authority with a combined sewer system to develop a pollution prevention and control plan to address the impact of combined sewer overflows. | For operating authorities with a combined sewer system | high |
| #Q048 | monitoring | reporting | recommended | Carrier and Receiving Site Records | wastewater | The ECA number for all carriers and receiving sites should be recorded in your operation and maintenance logs as a best management practice. | Best management practice for tracking hauled sewage transport | high |
| #Q049 | operational | operational | recommended | Maintenance Manual Review Frequency | wastewater | These manuals should be reviewed regularly and include details on when the maintenance was performed; and documentation such as a checklist, detailing who services the equipment, what services were performed and when they were performed. | Maintenance program best practices | high |
| #Q050 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Inspection Action Reporting and Verification | other | These required actions normally have a completion date by which you must report and verify to the ministry that the identified required work or actions have been completed for your sewage works. | When an inspection report identifies required actions with completion dates | high |
| #Q051 | operational | operational | mandatory | Construction Dewatering Operation Compliance | wastewater | Ontario Regulation 63/16: Water Taking under the EPA is applicable to sewage works used solely for the collection, transmission, treatment, and disposal of storm water and ground water to dewater work areas within a construction site. It does not require applicable sewage works be registered but does require that they be operated in accordance with prescribed requirements. | Sewage works used solely for dewatering construction sites | high |
| #Q052 | administrative | operational | recommended | Pre-submission Consultation Recommendation | wastewater | It is strongly recommended that you consult the ministry before submitting your approval application to confirm supporting information requirements and site-specific considerations. | Before submitting an ECA application | high |
| #Q053 | administrative | reporting | recommended | Acquisition Documentation Check | wastewater | If you are acquiring a facility with an existing sewage works, it is important to make sure that you receive copies of all applicable approvals, operation and maintenance records, past ministry inspection reports, as applicable, [and] copies of any ministry control documents and correspondence. | When acquiring a facility with existing sewage works | high |
| #Q054 | prohibition | reporting | mandatory | Spill Reporting Offence | other | Failure to report the spill of a pollutant to the ministry is an offence. | Upon a spill of a pollutant into the natural environment | high |
| #Q055 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Spill Reportability Evaluation Knowledge | other | You must fully understand the application of Ontario Regulation 675/98: Classification and Exemption of Spills and Reporting of Discharges prior to evaluating whether a spill is reportable to the ministry or any other regulatory agency. | Prior to evaluating whether a spill is reportable | high |