Septic Systems in New Brunswick — 397 Questions Answered
A homeowner's guide to on-site sewage disposal systems, based on 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.
Eighteen sections, 397 questions
If your home or cottage is not connected to a municipal sewer, you own a wastewater treatment plant. These answers cover how it works, what the rules are, what it costs, and what to do when something goes wrong.
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The Basics: Rules, Approvals and Who Does What
Who approves septic systems in New Brunswick, what legislation applies, and what you may and may not connect to an on-site system.
15 questions -
Evaluating a Lot and Understanding Your Soil
How a lot is evaluated for a septic system in New Brunswick — soil texture, percolation, bedrock, water table and test pits.
23 questions -
Separation Distances, Wells and Watercourses
Required separation distances between a septic system and wells, watercourses, wetlands, property lines and buildings in New Brunswick.
18 questions -
Sizing: Sewage Flow, Lot Size and Field Length
How septic systems are sized in New Brunswick — daily sewage flow, bedroom count, minimum lot size and disposal field length.
19 questions -
Septic Tanks
Septic tank questions for New Brunswick homeowners — capacity, materials, baffles, risers, effluent filters and installation.
17 questions -
Disposal Fields: Trenches, Mounds and Chambers
Disposal field questions — trenches, mounds, chambers, aggregate, distribution and how each field type is built in New Brunswick.
29 questions -
Pumps, Holding Tanks, Privies and Special Components
Effluent pumps, dosing chambers, holding tanks, privies and special septic components in New Brunswick.
25 questions -
Permits, Paperwork, Fees and Licensing
New Brunswick septic permits — application process, the $150 fee, licensed installer requirements and approval timelines.
25 questions -
How Your Septic System Actually Works
How a septic system actually treats wastewater — settling, scum and sludge layers, bacteria, effluent and soil treatment.
25 questions -
Everyday Use: What Should and Should Not Go Down the Drain
What should and should not go down the drain when you have a septic system — wipes, grease, chemicals, garburators and more.
30 questions -
Maintenance and Pumping
How often to pump a septic tank in New Brunswick, what inspections involve, and the maintenance that extends system life.
26 questions -
Warning Signs and Troubleshooting
Septic system warning signs and troubleshooting — slow drains, odours, wet spots, backups and what each symptom means.
25 questions -
Costs and Budgeting
What a septic system costs in New Brunswick, what drives the price, and how to budget for installation or replacement.
20 questions -
Buying, Selling and Property Transactions
Septic questions when buying or selling rural property in New Brunswick — inspections, records, disclosure and closing.
20 questions -
Winter and Seasonal Care in New Brunswick
Winter septic care in New Brunswick — freezing, snow cover, seasonal shutdown and reopening a system in spring.
20 questions -
Your Yard: Landscaping, Vehicles and the Drain Field
What you can plant, park or build over a septic drain field, and how to protect it from compaction and root damage.
20 questions -
Wells, Water Quality and Health
Well water, septic systems and health — contamination risk, testing, bacteria, nitrates and safe separation.
20 questions -
Cottages, Camps and Special Situations
Septic systems for cottages, camps and seasonal properties in New Brunswick, including conversion to year-round use.
20 questions
Key contacts in New Brunswick
Technical Inspection Services (Department of Justice and Public
Safety) issues septic approvals in New Brunswick.
12 McGloin Street, 2nd Floor, Fredericton, NB E3A 5T8
Inspector enquiries: 1-844-249-6533, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
Email: On-site.SewageDisposal@gnb.ca · Fax: (506) 457-7394
Health Protection Services — East / Moncton area: (506) 856-2814
Application fee: $150.00, payable at any Service New Brunswick centre or online.
General information only. Every property has its own soil, slope, water table and setbacks, and only a licensed installer evaluating your specific lot can tell you what your property actually needs. If you have a question about your own site, call (506) 233-6272.
Sources and further reading
Parts 1 through 8 are drawn from New Brunswick government publications. Parts 9 through 18 draw on those publications plus general septic industry and public health guidance. Cost figures are indicative market ranges, not quotations.
- New Brunswick Technical Guidelines for On-site Sewage Disposal Systems, Version 6, April 2020 — Government of New Brunswick
- On-site Sewage Disposal System Regulation 2009-137 under the Public Health Act (New Brunswick)
- On-site Sewage System Application Instruction Sheet, January 2025 — Service New Brunswick / Department of Justice and Public Safety
- On-Site Sewage Disposal — Government of New Brunswick, www2.gnb.ca
- Testing Private Water Supplies — Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Government of New Brunswick
- Clean Water Act, Water Well Regulation 90-79, and Crown Lands and Forests Act (New Brunswick)
- CSA Standard B66 (septic tanks), CSA B65 (decentralized wastewater systems), CSA B481 series (grease interceptors), NSF Standard 46 (effluent filters)
- United States Environmental Protection Agency — Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, and guidance on septic system maintenance and additives
- National Plumbing Code of Canada, as adopted by the Department of Justice and Public Safety
- Regional New Brunswick septic service providers and Canadian industry cost surveys, for pumping and installation cost ranges
Disclaimer
This FAQ is provided for general information only. Regulations, fees, contact details and approved product lists change over time. Always confirm current requirements with the Department of Justice and Public Safety, Technical Inspection Services, and retain a licensed installer for any assessment, design, installation, repair or replacement work. Cost figures are indicative only and are not quotations.
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