Source: http://www.novascotia.ca/JUST/REGULATIONS/regs/envwaste.htm
Timestamp: 2017-07-27 16:33:24
Document Index: 259808725

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Water and Wastewater Facilities and Public Drinking Water Supplies Regulations - Environment Act (Nova Scotia)
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Water and Wastewater Facilities and Public Drinking Water Supplies Regulations made under Sections 66 and 110 of the
O.I.C. 2005-426 (September 30, 2005), N.S. Reg. 186/2005
as amended to O.I.C. 2017-159 (April 28, 2017), N.S. Reg. 89/2017
Amendment of Facility Classification Standards and Transition Plan Guide
Facility must have facility classification certificate
Application and issuance of facility classification certificate
Classification of water distribution facility
Classification of wastewater treatment facility
Classification of wastewater collection facility
Re-classification of facility after modification or extension
Types and classes of operator certification certificates
Deemed certification of operator
Reciprocal certification of operator
Deemed certification of operator with water or wastewater treatment certificate
Operator certification certificate application
Education and operating experience requirements for operator certification certificate
Exam requirements for operator certification certificate
Substituting surplus education for operating experience
Substituting surplus operating experience for education
Operator certification certificate
Renewal of operator certification certificate
Expired operator certification certificates
Owner must provide resources to get required CEUs
Facility must have qualified operator in overall direct responsible charge
Qualifications of operator in overall direct responsible charge
Absence of operator in overall direct responsible charge
Transition plan for facility without designated operator
Registration of public drinking water supply
Immediate notification and corrective action
Duty to provide safe drinking water
Classification of public drinking water supplies
1 These regulations may be cited as the Water and Wastewater Facilities and Public
Drinking Water Supplies Regulations.
(b) “Department” means the Department of Environment;
(c) “facility” means a water treatment facility, a wastewater treatment facility, a
water distribution facility or a wastewater collection facility that must be
classified under these regulations;
(d) “Minister” means the Minister of Environment.
(a) “administrator” means, as defined in the Act, a person appointed by the
Minister for the purpose of the Act, and includes an acting administrator;
(b) “ABC” means the Association of Boards of Certification, an organization that
facilitates communication and co-operation between environmental certifying
authorities in the United States and Canada and that is recognized by the
Province for recommending standards and guidelines for the classification of
water systems and wastewater systems and for the certification of operators;
(c) “Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Voluntary Certification Board” means
the board established by the constitution of the Atlantic Canada Water and
Wastewater Voluntary Certification Program;
(d) “CEU” means a continuing education unit granted for 10 hours of participation
in a continuing education program that is relevant to the operation of a facility;
(e) “direct responsible charge” means direct responsibility for a process that
controls the effectiveness or efficiency of a facility;
(f) “extension” means an increase in
(i) the size of a facility, or
(ii) the volume of water or wastewater treated or received by a facility;
(g) “facility classification certificate” means a certificate issued in accordance with
these regulations that states the classification type and class of each facility
listed on the certificate;
(h) “Facility Classification Standards” means the most recent version of the
standards for classifying water and wastewater facilities published by the
(i) “modification” means an alteration to a facility that does one of the following,
but does not change the purpose or function of the facility:
(i) adds a new structure, equipment or process,
(ii) eliminates an existing structure, equipment or process;
(j) “operator” means a person who directs, adjusts, inspects, tests or evaluates an
operation or a process that controls the effectiveness or efficiency of a facility;
(k) “operator certification certificate” means a certificate of qualification issued or
held under these regulations to an operator for a type of facility that states the
class of the operator;
(l) “operating experience” means experience as an operator that is acceptable to an
administrator and includes experience being in direct responsible charge or
overall direct responsible charge;
(m) “overall direct responsible charge” means direct responsibility designated by an
owner for the overall operation, repair and maintenance of a facility;
(n) “Transition Plan Guide” means the most recent version of the guide published
by the Department for preparing a plan under Section 30 for a facility without a
designated operator;
(o) “wastewater” means sewage derived principally from a residential or non-industrial operation, but does not include industrial process wastewater from an
activity designated under the Activities Designation Regulations made under
5 The Department must consult with stakeholders before amending the Facility
Classification Standards or the Transition Plan Guide.
6 (1) The 4 facility types are as follows:
(a) water treatment facility;
(b) water distribution facility;
(c) wastewater treatment facility;
(d) wastewater collection facility.
(2) The 4 classes of water treatment facilities and wastewater treatment facilities are
Class I, Class II, Class III and Class IV.
(3) The 3 classes of water distribution facilities and wastewater collection facilities are
Class I, Class II and Class III.
7 (1) An owner of a new or non-operational facility must obtain a facility classification
certificate for the facility under these regulations before the facility begins operating.
(2) A facility is deemed to have a facility classification certificate issued under these
regulations at an equivalent class level if, on the date these regulations come into
force, it has an unexpired classification certificate issued
(a) by the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Voluntary Certification Board;
(b) under the Water and Wastewater Facility Classification Regulations, N.S. Reg.
60/95, made by the Governor in Council by Order in Council 95-299 dated
(3) Except for an owner of a facility that is deemed to have a facility classification
certificate under subsection (2), an owner of a facility that is operational on the date
these regulations come into force must obtain a facility classification certificate under
these regulations for the facility no later than 1 year after the date these regulations
8 (1) An owner of a facility must apply for a facility classification certificate by submitting
all of the following to an administrator:
(a) a properly completed application on a form approved by the Minister or an
(b) the fee established by the Minister.
(2) If a facility must be classified and meets the requirements of these regulations, an
administrator must classify the applicant’s facility as to both type and class in
accordance with these regulations and issue the facility an appropriate facility
(3) If an owner has more than one facility, an administrator may issue one facility
classification certificate for all the facilities.
9 (1) A publicly or privately owned system for treating potable water must be classified
under these regulations as a water treatment facility.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the following systems are not required to be classified under
(a) a bottled water treatment facility;
(b) a publicly or privately owned system for treating potable water that is a
transient public drinking water supply, as defined in Part 2;
(c) water treatment equipment used in private residences.
(3) Despite subsection (1), a groundwater supply that only disinfects must be classified
as required by Section 10.
(4) Once an administrator has classified a facility as a water treatment facility under
subsection (1), an administrator must assign points in accordance with Table 1 of the
Facility Classification Standards to the facility and must classify the facility as a
Class I, II, III or IV facility in accordance with the points assigned and as shown in
31-55 points Class II
56-75 points Class III
76 points or more Class IV
10 (1) A publicly or privately owned system for producing, collecting, storing or
transmitting potable water must be classified under these regulations as a water
(2) A groundwater supply that only disinfects must be classified under these regulations
as a water distribution facility.
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the following systems are not required to be
classified under these regulations:
(a) a publicly or privately owned system for producing, collecting, storing or
transmitting potable water that serves less than 500 persons;
(b) a publicly or privately owned system for producing, collecting, storing or
transmitting potable water that is a transient public drinking water supply, as
defined in Part 2.
(4) Once an administrator has classified a facility as a water distribution facility under
subsection (1) or (2), an administrator must classify the facility as a Class I, II or III
facility in accordance with the population it serves and as shown in the following
1501 - 15 000
15 001 or more
11 (1) A publicly or privately owned system for treating and disposing of wastewater must
be classified under these regulations as a wastewater treatment facility.
(2) Despite subsection (1), an on-site sewage disposal system as defined in the On-site
Sewage Disposal Systems Regulations made under the Act is not required to be
classified under these regulations.
(3) Despite subsection (1), a wastewater system with only collection pipes, lift stations
or disinfection must be classified as required by Section 12.
(4) Once an administrator has classified a facility as a wastewater treatment facility
under subsection (1), an administrator must assign points in accordance with Table 2
of the Facility Classification Standards to the facility and must classify the facility as
a Class I, II, III or IV facility in accordance with the points assigned and as shown in
31-55 points
56-75 points
76 points or more
12 (1) A publicly or privately owned system for collecting or transmitting wastewater must
be classified under these regulations as a wastewater collection facility.
(2) A wastewater system with only collection pipes, lift stations or disinfection must be
classified under these regulations as a wastewater collection facility.
(a) a publicly or privately owned system for collecting or transmitting wastewater
that serves less than 500 persons;
(b) an on-site sewage disposal system, as defined in the On-site Sewage Disposal
Systems Regulations made under the Act.
(4) Once an administrator has classified a facility as a wastewater collection facility
under subsection (1) or (2), an administrator must classify the facility as a Class I, II
or III facility in accordance with the population it serves and as shown in the
13 (1) If a facility is or will be modified or extended after a facility classification certificate
is issued for the facility, the owner of the facility must notify an administrator and
provide complete details of the modifications or extensions.
(2) No later than the 30th day after receiving a notice of a modification or extension, an
administrator must advise the owner of the facility in writing whether the facility’s
current classification must be changed.
(3) If a facility’s classification must be changed because of a modification or extension,
(a) no later than the 90th day after being advised by an administrator, the owner of
the facility must pay a fee established by the Minister for a new facility
classification certificate; and
(b) no later than the 30th day after receiving the required fee, an administrator must
classify the facility in accordance with these regulations and issue the facility
an appropriate new facility classification certificate.
14 (1) An administrator may issue the following types of operator certification certificates:
(a) water treatment operator certification certificate;
(b) water distribution operator certification certificate;
(c) wastewater treatment operator certification certificate;
(d) wastewater collection operator certification certificate.
(2) Each type of operator certification certificate must be issued in one of the following
(a) Operator-in-training;
(c) Class II;
(d) Class III;
(e) Class IV.
15 An operator who holds a certificate qualifying them to be an operator issued by one of the
following is deemed to hold an operator certification certificate, for the equivalent type of
facility and at an equivalent class level, for 2 years after the date these regulations come
into force, unless the certificate is sooner replaced, suspended or cancelled by the Minister:
(a) the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Voluntary Certification Board;
(b) an administrator.
16 An operator who is certified by the ABC or by a certification agency recognized by the
Department as equivalent to the ABC may be issued an operator certification certificate by
an administrator for an equivalent type of facility at a class level at the discretion of an
administrator, if the person applies and provides the information requested by an
17 (1) Unless the water treatment operator certification certificate states otherwise, an
operator who holds a valid Class I, Class II, Class III or Class IV water treatment
operator certification certificate is deemed to also hold a Class I water distribution
operator certification certificate for the purposes of operating components in a water
distribution facility that affect a water treatment facility.
(2) Unless the wastewater treatment operator certification certificate states otherwise, a
person who holds a Class I, Class II, Class III or Class IV wastewater treatment
operator certification certificate is deemed to also hold a Class I wastewater
collection operator certification certificate for the purposes of operating components
in a wastewater collection facility that affect a wastewater treatment facility.
18 To apply for an operator certification certificate, an applicant must submit all of the
following to the Minister:
(a) a properly completed application, on a form approved by the Minister or an
(b) proof that they have met the education requirements of Section 19;
(c) proof that they have met the operating experience requirements of Section 19;
(d) before their certificate is issued, proof that they have passed the exam as
required by Section 20;
(e) before their certificate is issued, the fee established by the Minister.
19 (1) An applicant for an operator certification certificate must meet the education and
operating experience requirements for the class of certificate applied for as set out in
Education and Operating Experience Requirements
for Classes of Operator Certification Certificates
grade 12 high school diploma, or general equivalency diploma (GED), or equivalent education
Class I operator certification certificate
1 year of operating experience at a Class I or
higher facility
Class II operator certification certificate
grade 12 high school diploma, or
general equivalency diploma (GED), or
3 years of operating experience at a Class I or
higher facility Class III operator certification certificate
2 years of post-secondary education, or
90 CEUs of acceptable training
4 years of operating experience at a Class II or
higher facility, including 2 years of direct
responsible charge experience
Class IV operator certification certificate
4 years of post-secondary education, or
180 CEUs of acceptable training
4 years of operating experience at a Class III
or higher facility, including 2 years of direct
(2) Post-secondary education or CEUs required for an operator certification certificate
(a) in engineering, the water or wastewater field or in a related science; or
(b) acceptable to an administrator.
(3) Operating experience required for an operator certification certificate must be
(a) acquired through actual operating experience at the same type of facility as the
type of certificate that is applied for; and
(4) Direct responsible charge experience required for an operator certification certificate
must be experience acquired while in direct responsible charge or overall direct
20 (1) An applicant for a operator certification certificate must write and pass an exam for
the type and class of certificate applied for.
(2) An exam for an operator certification certificate must be approved by the Minister or
an administrator and the pass mark for the exam must be set by the Minister or an
(3) An applicant for a Class I, II, III or IV operator certification certificate may write an
exam only if all of the following apply:
(a) they already hold the same type of operator certification certificate in the next
lower class;
(b) their operator certification certificate is valid;
(c) they have the operating experience and education required by Section 19.
(4) An applicant for an Operator-in-training operator certification certificate may write
an exam only for an Operator-in-training certification certificate.
(5) Despite clause (3)(a), an applicant who is deemed to hold a Class I water distribution
or Class I wastewater collection operator certification certificate under Section 17
must write and pass an exam for a Class I operator certification certificate before
they are permitted to write an exam for a Class II operator certification certificate.
(6) Despite clause (3)(c), an administrator may, in accordance with guidelines and
policies established by the Department, allow an applicant to write an exam before
the applicant has the operating experience required for the type and class of operator
certification certificate applied for if the applicant already holds an operator
certification certificate that is valid, of the same type and in the next lower class.
21 (1) An applicant for a Class II, III or IV operator certification certificate who does not
have the operating experience for the class of certificate applied for as set out in
Section 19 may substitute surplus education for the required operating experience in
accordance with, and up to the maximums set out in the following table:
Surplus Education that may be Substituted
for Required Operating Experience
1 year of post-secondary
45 CEUs of acceptable
1 year of operating
Class III or
1 year of direct
Up to 50% of direct
(2) Surplus education that is substituted in accordance with subsection (1) for required
(a) must meet the requirements of subsection 19(2); and
(b) cannot be used as education required for an operator certification certificate.
22 (1) An applicant for an operator certification certificate who does not have the education
for the class of certificate applied for as set out in Section 19 may substitute surplus
operating experience for the required education in accordance with, and up to the
limits set out in the following table:
Surplus Operating Experience that may be Substituted
for Required Education
Surplus Operating
Experience May be Substituted
1 year of operating experience
2 years of grade
school (grades 1 to 8) no limit
experience in a Class II
or higher facility 1 year of post-secondary education
1 year of post-secondary education
experience in a Class III
or higher facility
(2) Surplus operating experience that is substituted in accordance with subsection (1) for
(a) must meet the requirements of subsections 19(3) and (4); and
(b) cannot be used as operating experience required for an operator certification
23 (1) An applicant who satisfies the requirements of these regulations for the type and
class of operator certification certificate applied for may be issued a certificate under
subsection 64(1) of the Act.
(2) An operator certification certificate must be in a form approved by the Minister or an
(3) An operator certification certificates expires 4 years after the date it is issued.
(4) An operator certification certificate is not transferable.
(5) An operator must produce their operator certification certificate to an administrator
or inspector on request.
24 (1) A certified operator may renew their operator certification certificate by submitting
all of the following to the Minister at least 60 days before the date their certificate
(a) a properly completed renewal application, on a form approved by the Minister
(b) the renewal fee established by the Minister;
(c) for a Class I or II operator,
(i) if the operator has not been designated in overall direct responsible
charge, proof satisfactory to an administrator that the operator completed
at least 2.4 CEUs of acceptable training during the term of their current
(ii) if the operator has been designated in overall direct responsible charge,
proof satisfactory to an administrator that the operator completed at least
4.8 CEUs of acceptable training during the term of their current
(d) for a Class III or Class IV operator, proof satisfactory to an administrator that
the operator completed at least 4.8 CEUs of acceptable training during the term
of their current certificate.
(2) An Operator-in-training operator certification certificate is not renewable.
25 (1) An operator certification certificate that has expired and has not been renewed under
Section 24 may be re-issued for the same type and class of operator certification
certificate if the holder submits all of the following to the Minister:
(b) the fee established by the Minister;
(c) proof satisfactory to an administrator that the operator has obtained the CEUs
of acceptable training required by clause 24(1)(c) or (d).
(2) An operator who applies to renew an operator certification certificate that has been
expired for 3 years or longer must re-write and pass the exam for the type and class
of certificate applied for.
26 An owner of a facility must provide the resources necessary for an operator to get the
CEUs of acceptable training required to renew their operator certification certificate.
27 (1) An owner of a new or non-operational facility must designate an operator who meets
the requirements of Section 28 to be in overall direct responsible charge before the
facility begins operating.
(2) An owner of a facility that is operational on the date these regulations come into
force and that has a facility classification certificate must designate an operator who
meets the requirements of Section 28 to be in overall direct responsible charge no
later than the 30th day after the date these regulations come into force.
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), an owner of
(a) a non-transient public drinking water supply, as defined in Part 2, that must be
classified under Section 9 or 10 as a water treatment facility or a water
distribution facility; or
(b) a facility that under subsection 7(3) must obtain a facility classification
certificate no later than 1 year after the date these regulations come into force,
must designate an operator who meets the requirements of Section 28 to be in
overall direct responsible charge before the applicable date as set out in the following
table and in accordance with the facility’s required class:
Deadline for Designating Operator
who Meets Section 28 Requirements
(4) Once a facility is required to have an operator designated to be in overall direct
responsible charge, the owner of the facility must ensure that there is always an
operator who meets the requirements of Section 28 designated and in overall direct
28 (1) An operator who is in overall direct responsible charge must hold a valid operator
certification certificate that is
(a) applicable to the type of facility; and
(b) at a class level that is equal to or greater than the class of the facility.
(2) An owner must not designate an operator-in-training to be in overall direct
29 (1) If the operator in overall direct responsible charge is absent or unable to act, an
(a) designate another operator who meets the requirements of Section 28 to be in
overall direct responsible charge; or
(b) despite subsection 27(4), assign temporary overall direct responsible charge to
an operator who holds a valid operator certification certificate that is
(i) applicable to the type of facility, and
(ii) at a class level that is no more than one class lower than the class of the
(2) Temporary overall direct responsible charge for a facility must not be assigned under
clause (1)(b) for more than 150 days in any consecutive 12 months.
(3) An owner must not assign temporary overall direct responsible charge under clause
(1)(b) to an operator who holds an Operator-in-training operator certification
30 (1) An owner must submit a transition plan to an administrator if
(a) despite subsection 27(4), they cannot designate an operator who meets the
requirements of Section 28 to be in overall direct responsible charge; and
(b) they cannot assign temporary overall direct responsible charge to an operator
who meets the requirements of clause 29(1)(b).
(2) A transition plan must be
(a) acceptable to an administrator and in accordance with the Transition Plan
Guide; and
(b) submitted to an administrator no later than 90 days after the first day that the
facility is without an operator who meets the requirements of Section 28
designated and in overall direct responsible charge as required by Section 27.
(a) “Guidelines” means the most recent version of the Guidelines for Monitoring
Public Drinking Water Supplies published by the Department of Environment;
(b) “Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality” means the most recent
version of the drinking water quality guidelines published by the federal
(c) “non-transient public drinking water supply” means a public drinking water
supply that provides water to at least 25 of the same persons at least 6 months
(d) “owner” means a person who owns, operates or maintains a public drinking
(e) “public drinking water supply” means a water supply system, including any
source, intake, treatment, storage, transmission or distribution, that provides
water used for human consumption and that
(i) has at least 15 service connections, (ii) regularly serves 25 or more persons per day for at least 60 days of the
(iii) serves any of the following for at least 60 days of the year:
(A) a day care facility licensed in accordance with the Day Care Act,
(B) a food establishment that requires an eating establishment permit or
seasonal eating establishment permit under the Food Safety
Regulations made under the Health Protection Act;
Paragraph 31(e)(iii)(B) replaced: O.I.C. 2017-159, N.S. Reg. 89/2017.
(C) a commercial property for the accommodation of the travelling or
vacationing public comprising land used for camping or for
overnight parking of recreational vehicles or containing a separate
building or buildings containing at least 1 room to be used as an
alternate form of accommodation in a campground,
(D) a commercial property for the accommodation of the travelling or
vacationing public containing more than 4 rental units, including
cottages or cabins;
Subclause 31(e)(iii) added: O.I.C. 2009-161, N.S. Reg. 181/2009.
Clause 31(e) amended: O.I.C. 2017-159, N.S. Reg. 89/2017.
(f) “transient public drinking water supply” means a public drinking water supply
that regularly provides water in a place where persons do not remain for long
(g) “water used for human consumption” includes water used for drinking,
bathing, showering, oral hygiene, cooking, food preparation or dishwashing.
Clause 31(g) added: O.I.C. 2017-159, N.S. Reg. 89/2017.
32 (1) A person must not own, operate or maintain a public drinking water supply unless
they register the public drinking water supply with the Department on a form
approved by the Minister or an administrator.
(2) A public drinking water supply that has a municipal water works approval issued
under the Activities Designation Regulations made under the Act is deemed to be
33 (1) An owner must regularly sample, test and monitor their public drinking water supply
(a) microbiological quality;
(b) general chemical and physical quality;
(c) disinfection residual, if the owner is using a disinfection system;
(d) source and treated water turbidity, if the owner is using chemically assisted
(e) fluoride concentrations, if the owner is using fluoridation;
(f) any substances required by the Minister or an administrator.
(2) An owner must ensure that samples collected under subsection (1) are tested in the
manner and with the frequency set out in the Guidelines or as otherwise required by
the Minister or an administrator.
(3) An owner must record the results of tests performed under subsection (2) and
forward them to an administrator in accordance with the Guidelines or as otherwise
required by the Minister or an administrator.
34 (1) An owner must immediately notify the Minister or an administrator as soon as they
are aware of any of the following:
(a) the public drinking water supply does not meet the microbiological, chemical
or physical criteria set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water
(b) an incident of raw water contamination;
(c) evidence of an outbreak of waterborne illness;
(d) suspected cross-connection or negative pressure;
(e) ineffective disinfection due to high turbidity, equipment malfunctions or high
(2) If an owner knows of an event listed in subsection (1), the owner must take
corrective action as set out in the Guidelines or as otherwise required by the Minister
35 An owner must ensure that the microbiological, chemical and physical characteristics of
their public drinking water supply do not exceed the maximum acceptable concentration or
interim maximum acceptable concentration for substances as set out in the Guidelines for
Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
36 (1) A non-transient public drinking water supply must be classified under Part 1 and
must comply with Part 1.
(2) A transient public drinking water supply is not required to be classified under Part 1
or to comply with Part 1.