Separation Distances, Wells and Watercourses
Separation distances are measured from the septic tank or pump chamber, and from the nearest distribution line of the disposal field.
18 questions in this section
- How far must my septic tank be from a drilled well?
- How far must my disposal field be from a drilled well?
- How far must the system be from a dug well or sandpoint well?
- Is a sandpoint well treated as a dug well?
- How far must the system be from a lake or river that is not a drinking water source?
- How far must the system be from a water body used as a designated potable water supply?
- How far from my house foundation?
- How far from my property line?
- What is the normal high water mark?
- Do I need another permit if I am working near water?
- What counts as a watercourse?
- What counts as a wetland?
- There is an old abandoned well on my property. Does it matter?
- Who do I talk to about decommissioning a well?
- Can separation distances ever be reduced?
- Do exemptions apply to vacant lots?
- Is there any exception for older small lots?
- Can a treatment system let me build on a tighter lot?
How far must my septic tank be from a drilled well?
15 metres (50 feet).
How far must my disposal field be from a drilled well?
23 metres (75 feet).
How far must the system be from a dug well or sandpoint well?
30 metres (100 feet) for both the septic tank and the disposal field. Dug and sandpoint wells are shallow and more vulnerable to surface contamination, so the setback is larger.
Is a sandpoint well treated as a dug well?
Yes. A sandpoint well is not currently defined in the Water Well Regulation, but for the purpose of maintaining setbacks it is treated as a dug well.
How far must the system be from a lake or river that is not a drinking water source?
15 metres (50 feet) from the normal high water mark, for both the tank and the field.
How far must the system be from a water body used as a designated potable water supply?
90 metres (300 feet) for the septic tank and 75 metres (250 feet) for the disposal field, measured from the normal high water mark.
How far from my house foundation?
1.5 metres (5 feet) for the septic tank or pump chamber, and 3.0 metres (10 feet) for the disposal field. The same distances apply to foundation drains and any part thereof.
How far from my property line?
3.0 metres (10 feet) for both the septic tank and the disposal field. The same applies to an intermittent ditch.
What is the normal high water mark?
Defined under the Crown Lands and Forests Act as the visible high water mark of a lake or river, where the presence and action of water has been so usual and so long continued in ordinary years that it marks the bed with a character distinct from the bank, in terms of vegetation and soil.
Do I need another permit if I am working near water?
Yes. Any activity within 30 metres (100 feet) of a watercourse or wetland requires a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Permit from the Department of Environment and Local Government. It is the property owner's responsibility to obtain it before work begins.
What counts as a watercourse?
Under the Clean Water Act, the full width and length - including bed, banks, sides and shoreline - of a river, creek, stream, spring, brook, lake, pond, reservoir, canal, ditch or other natural or artificial channel open to the atmosphere whose primary function is conveying or containing water, whether or not the flow is continuous.
What counts as a wetland?
Land that periodically or permanently has a water table at, near or above the surface, or is saturated with water, and that sustains aquatic processes shown by hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation and wet-adapted biological activity. Marshes, bogs, wet meadows, peatland and swamps all qualify. It is the client's responsibility to confirm whether a property is subject to wetland regulations.
There is an old abandoned well on my property. Does it matter?
Yes. If an abandoned well sits within the setbacks to the proposed system, an approval will not be issued until the well has been properly decommissioned, or until sufficient proof of decommissioning is provided such as a receipt or a letter of intent from the owner. Proof must be submitted with the Notice of Installation.
Who do I talk to about decommissioning a well?
Your licensee will be referred to the Department of Environment and Local Government for advice on proper decommissioning.
Can separation distances ever be reduced?
Sometimes. For lots with existing services, an approval may be granted where separation distances or lot size requirements cannot be met, but only if the proposed design and location reduce the risk of a health hazard. The Department conducts a risk assessment.
Do exemptions apply to vacant lots?
No. For vacant lots, minimum separation distances must be met for conventional installations, and the lot size and configuration requirements of Appendix B apply.
Is there any exception for older small lots?
Yes. For vacant lots smaller than 4,000 square metres (1 acre) that were approved by the Planning Commission prior to 1976, the Department may grant an exemption to approve a system up to a maximum of 1,365 L/day estimated daily sewage flow, provided all required separation distances are met.
Can a treatment system let me build on a tighter lot?
Possibly. Where a non-conventional technology provides secondary treatment after the septic tank, separation distances and lot sizes may be reduced if documentation stamped by a New Brunswick Professional Engineer shows the effluent quality entering the soil has been improved. Non-conventional systems without pre-treatment, such as contour and sloping sand filters, must respect the full distances.
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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