Municipal and Industrial Wastewater
In accordance with the Classes of Development Regulation, Licensing Procedures Regulation and Environment Act Fees Regulation under The Environment Act, wastewater generated from municipal and industrial developments, including mines and manufacturing facilities, requires environmental assessment and licensing. In addition, the land application of biosolids and management and disposal of wastewater treatment sludge and residuals are required to have Environment Act Licences. Alterations to existing wastewater developments also require approval; a Notice of Alteration must be submitted and approval received prior to implementing the change.
Information Bulletins:
- Environment Act Proposal Report Guidelines
- Environment Act Proposal Supplementary Guidelines
- Environmental Assessment and Licensing under The Environment Act
- Environmental Assessment and Licensing Process (flowchart)
- Guide for Public Comments
- Public Registry Guide
- Alterations to Developments
All existing, new or expanding municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities discharging treated effluent into the environment are required to meet Manitoba Water Quality Standards, Objectives, and Guidelines under The Water Protection Act. Wastewater standards are specified for total suspended solids (TSS), carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD), pathogens, ammonia, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and others. A site-specific assessment may result in more stringent effluent quality criteria or the inclusion of limits for other parameters.
Manitoba is a signatory to the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent (the Strategy). The Strategy developed minimum National Performance Standards that address pollutants common to most wastewater discharges, and provides a mechanism to develop and manage site-specific Effluent Discharge Objectives. Some aspects of the Strategy were incorporated into the federal Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulation, which applies only to facilities that discharge more than 100 m3/day. Other aspects of the Strategy have been incorporated into site-specific Environment Act licence conditions for new and upgraded facilities
***Note: The government is currently experiencing a temporary issue with emails from outside of government that have attached files that are archived/compressed (Zip files) and encrypted/password protected PDF or Microsoft office files.
The government network may block the delivery of these emails. Neither receiver nor sender will receive a notification that the email was blocked. The Environmental Approvals Branch will send a confirmation email within two business days to confirm receipt of emails with attachments.
If you do not receive a confirmation email, please follow up with an email without an attachment to EABDirector@gov.mb.ca or call 204-794-1176 to arrange an alternative method of delivery.
