The Basics: Rules, Approvals and Who Does What
These answers come directly from the New Brunswick Technical Guidelines for On-site Sewage Disposal Systems (Version 6, April 2020) and the On-site Sewage Disposal System Regulation 2009-137 under the Public Health Act.
15 questions in this section
- What is an on-site sewage disposal system?
- Do I need an on-site system if my property has no municipal sewer?
- What is the difference between a conventional and a non-conventional system?
- Can I install or repair my own septic system?
- Who issues the approval for a septic system in New Brunswick?
- How do I contact Technical Inspection Services about my system?
- What legislation governs septic systems in New Brunswick?
- What kind of wastewater is an approval issued for?
- Can I run my sump pump or roof drains into my septic system?
- Can water softener backwash go into my septic system?
- What is a licensee?
- When is an engineered system mandatory?
- Who can design an engineered system?
- Can my installer design a non-conventional system?
- What happens if my system does not meet the rules?
What is an on-site sewage disposal system?
Under New Brunswick's Public Health Act, it means a septic tank with a subsurface disposal field, plus any other on-site system that is not connected to a wastewater treatment facility approved by the Minister of Environment and Local Government. If your home is not on municipal sewer, you have one.
Do I need an on-site system if my property has no municipal sewer?
Yes. Any property without access to municipal wastewater services needs an on-site sewage disposal system, both to protect water resources from contamination and to avoid creating a public health hazard.
What is the difference between a conventional and a non-conventional system?
A conventional system is a septic tank plus a subsurface disposal field handling no more than 5,460 litres per day. It also includes holding tanks and pit privies. A non-conventional system is anything else, such as a contour system, sloping sand filter, package treatment plant or a pressure-dosed infiltrative chamber system.
Can I install or repair my own septic system?
No. It is mandatory that anyone installing, constructing, repairing or replacing an on-site sewage disposal system, or any of its parts, be licensed and hold an approval. This is not a do-it-yourself project.
Who issues the approval for a septic system in New Brunswick?
The Department of Justice and Public Safety, through its Technical Inspection Services branch. A licensed installer submits the application on your behalf and a provincial inspector assesses it.
How do I contact Technical Inspection Services about my system?
Technical Inspection Services, 12 McGloin Street, 2nd Floor, Fredericton, NB E3A 5T8. Toll free 1-844-249-6533 (answered 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays). Fax (506) 457-7394. Email On-site.SewageDisposal@gnb.ca.
What legislation governs septic systems in New Brunswick?
Primarily the Public Health Act and the On-site Sewage Disposal System Regulation 2009-137. The Clean Water Act, the Water Well Regulation 90-79 and the Crown Lands and Forests Act also come into play for wells, watercourses and shoreline definitions.
What kind of wastewater is an approval issued for?
Wastewater from personal hygiene, sanitation, cooking, laundering and similar domestic purposes. This includes greywater. It does not include industrial or manufacturing wastes, sump pump discharge, gutters, drainage pipes or runoff water.
Can I run my sump pump or roof drains into my septic system?
No. Sump pumps, gutters, roof drains, foundation drains and surface runoff must never be connected to an on-site sewage disposal system. They flood the system with clean water and can cause it to fail.
Can water softener backwash go into my septic system?
It can, but it must be accounted for in the design. The Guidelines require a 15 percent increase in the peak daily wastewater volume when a water softener discharges to the system, and note that softener discharge can affect wastewater chemistry.
What is a licensee?
A licensee is the company or business licensed by the Province to install, construct, repair or replace on-site sewage disposal systems. Licences are issued to the business, not to an individual employee.
When is an engineered system mandatory?
Engineered designs are required when estimated daily sewage flows exceed 5,460 L/d; when soil or site conditions are unsuitable; when suitable imported sand is not available; when a non-conventional system including a pressure-dosed system is proposed and the installer does not hold the matching licence; when the effluent is stronger than typical domestic wastewater; or when the Department directs it.
Who can design an engineered system?
A Professional Engineer licensed through the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick. The engineer is wholly accountable for the design; the licensee remains responsible for the installation.
Can my installer design a non-conventional system?
Only if they hold a non-conventional licence for that specific technology. Otherwise the system must be designed and stamped by a Professional Engineer, and the licensee is not permitted to design it.
What happens if my system does not meet the rules?
If an inspector finds that the design, location, repair or replacement does not comply, the licensee is advised of the deficiencies and must correct them. The system cannot be covered until it has been re-inspected, and a re-inspection fee of $150 applies each time.
Have a question about your own property? General answers only go so far — your soil, slope, water table and setbacks are specific to your lot. Call (506) 233-6272 or send us the details.
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