Resources & Templates
You may find these links useful. Some links may require the Adobe PDF Viewer.
Environmental Compliance Approval Application
MECP Example Environmental Compliance Approval Application Package – Spreading Sites-compressed
Hauled Sewage Policy and Program Review
March 2023 OASIS Town Hall – MECP Presentation on Hauled Sewage Program Updates
Ontario Regulation 222/07 Environmental Penalties
Ontario Regulation 224/07 Spill Prevention and Contingency Plans
Ontario Regulation 675/98 Classification and Exemption of Spills and Reporting of Discharges
Ministry of Environment – OASIS Conference Presentation 2024
Agriculture And Portable Sanitation (GAP)
How To Read A Safety Data Sheet
Maintaining Portable Sanitation Equipment In The Field
Maintaining Pumps and Troubleshooting Issues in Portable Sanitation Operations
Protecting Your Safety And Health
Safely Driving Tank Vehicles-Controlling Surge and Slosh
How to interpret the code
The building code can be quite intimidating and confusing.
Here is a quick guide to help you with how to design a new system.
All septic systems that are within a single lot and rated to accept a total daily flow rate of <10,000 L must comply with the Ontario Building Code (OBC). The average 3-4 bedroom house is rated at 2000L.
All systems must be built according to the OBC regardless of how the residence will be used such as seasonal cottage use or low occupancy numbers. The system must be built to meet the maximum use possibility of the residence in case the property is sold to new owners or changed from seasonal use to a year round residence.
It is the homeowners responsibility to contact local governing authorities and acquire the necessary permits associated with the septic system installation or repair.
The following guide has been put together to assist you with meeting minimum OBC regulations for residential septic systems. Local governing authorities may have additional by-laws in place requiring additional design requirements:
Ontario Building Code for Septic Systems
The two main factors that dictate the size and design of a septic system are the maximum daily flow and soil/site conditions.
Step 1: Calculate the maximum daily flow, as per the OBC calculation.
All daily flow calculations start with the number of bedrooms. Most people assume it is based on the number of bathrooms or current occupants, but that is not the case.
The OBC assumes that for every bedroom, 2 people could be living in the residence. Average daily use per person is approximately 275 L, and therefore, the maximum daily flow could be around 500-600 L / bedroom.
OBC Bedroom Rate:
- 1 Bedroom – 750 L
- 2 Bedrooms – 1100 L
- 3 Bedrooms – 1600 L
- 4 Bedrooms – 2000 L
5 Bedrooms – 2500 L (If you are building a home with more then 5 bedrooms, consult a professional)
The OBC refers to the Maximum Daily Flow as “Q” for all calculations.
Figure out if the number of fixtures (bathrooms, sinks, etc) OR total living space will also need to be calculated to ADD additional L/day to the base bedroom rate. The greater of these calculations will need to be added, as opposed to both being added.
Fixtures
If the total fixture count exceeds 20, then 50 L per additional fixture will need to be added to the bedroom base rate.
Use the chart below to figure out the number of fixtures:
If you are building a residence with fixtures not listed in the chart above, consult a professional.
If your total is greater then 20, calculate the additional flow of 50 L for each additional fixture over 20 (round up for each half)
For example, if your total is 23, then you may have to add 150 L to the bedroom base rate.
Living area (m2) (all living space, excluding basement)
Next you will need to figure out if the house living space is going to be exceeding the included limit of 200 m2, and need to add additional flow to the base rate according to the following calculation:
For each 10m2 of living space over 200 m2 to a max of 400 m2, calculate 100 L per 10m2. (rounded up)
(if your house is greater then 400 m2, consult a professional)
Then once you have calculated the living space and fixture count flow rates, whichever is greater must be added to the base bedroom rate.
So for example, let’s figure out the maximum daily flow rate for a 4 bedroom house with 3 full bathrooms, kitchen sink, clothes washer, laundry tub, dishwasher and total living space of 224 m2.
The base rate will be 2000 L (4 bedrooms). We just have to figure out if we have to add anything to that.
Lets do the math. The total fixture units for the house will be 23.5 (3 full bathrooms = 18 + kitchen sink = 19.5 + clothes washer = 21 + laundry tub = 22.5 + dishwasher = 23.5)
So for each fixture unit over 20 we have to add 50 L which will be 200 L.
The additional flow due to living space over 200 m2 is 300 Litres. (24 m2 over 200 m2 = 300 L)
So the largest of the living space / fixture count is 300 L which has to be added to the 2000 L, so the Maximum Daily Flow (Q) will be 2300 L.
Step 2: Soil/Site Conditions
Now, that we determined the daily flow rate, the another detail we have to figure out is the rate at which the treated wastewater is absorbed into the ground.
That is called a “T-time.”
“T-time” is the number of minutes it takes for the water level to drop one centimeter in a test hole.
In sandy soils, “T-time” is usually less than 10. This means that it takes less than 10 minutes for the water level to drop 1 cm in the water filled hole.
In sandy loam soil the T time could be 20 or more because the smaller soil particles are slowing the rate of absorption.
If you are dealing with clay soils, the “T-time” could be 50 or more as the small soil particles are slowing the rate of absorption.
The most common method of identifying the percolation rate is to send a soil sample to a lab for analysis. The cost associated with a soil analysis ranges from $200-$300 for the test, plus the time and labour to dig the hole and deliver the sample.
Another method is to have a professional perform a percolation test on-site. The cost will be comparable to the lab analysis, but results will be known sooner and be much more accurate.
Once the Daily Flow number and the “T-time” are identified, you can then figure out how large the septic field has to be.
Different systems have a different equation to figure out the size of a septic bed.
As an example; Let’s take a most common drain field installed in Southern Ontario, a gravity powered, conventional trench bed.
Total Trench Length would be decided by multiplying the daily flow rate by T time and multiplying by 200. (Q X T time) / 200.
For our house example, the total trench length would be calculated as (Q rate = 3100 liters) 3100 X 10 (T time for sandy soils) = 31000 / 200 = 155 meters of total excavation and pipe length.
If your “T-time” is = 50 or greater, regular runs can not be installed. A raised bed or “Advanced Treatment System” will need to be placed instead. A raised bed may require importing septic sand at the rate of $200 – $300 per truckload.
In general, gravity powered sand filter beds (bottom right) are the least expensive. In most parts of Ontario, you can get such a system installed for $5,000 – $8,000.
The conventional gravity trench system (bottom left), for a three bedroom house, on a level site, in good soil, can vary considerably depending on where you live, but it should be roughly between $7,500 to $10,000.
Government Sites
www.ene.gov.on.ca
The Ministry of Environment Home Page
Updated daily with the latest news.
www.eco.on.ca
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario
Press releases, education programs, and publications.
Legal Sites
www.envirolaw.com
Enviro Law – Dianne Saxe
The “environmental law and dispute resolution boutique”.
www.cielap.org
Canadian institute for Environmental Law & Policy
Information essential in making informed public policy decisions.
Industry Publications
www.pumper.com
Pumper
www.onsiteinstaller.com
Onsite Installer
Business Resources
www.johntalk.com
John Talk
Everything you need to know when they need to go. That’s our mission. The JohnTalk project is designed to be your go-to resource for all the information you need to start a portable sanitation operation or improve your existing portable restroom business. This website is the access point for all this valuable information. No matter the format-articles, videos, reports and how-to manuals – if it’s important to the portable sanitation industry you’ll find it here. JohnTalk is sponsored by PolyJohn, a family-owned, leading manufacturer of portable toilets and sinks. PolyJohn is sponsoring this project because they are committed to the progress of the portable sanitation industry and the people in it, regardless of whether you are a PolyJohn customer or not. Bottom line – portable sanitation is a great industry to be in. The independent editorial team at JohnTalk wants you to have the information you need to thrive.
www.psai.org
PSAI Resource Library
The PSAI members-only online resource library and annual Industry Resource Directory offer comprehensive information about all aspects of your business. There are over 100 carefully curated resources in this ever-growing library. A few examples of what you can find include: industry-specific data, best practices and standards, recordings of round table discussions with subject matter experts, sample worksheets to calculate various expenses and so much more. PSAI encourages members to take full advantage of the Resource Library as it is one of the most valuable benefits of your membership. Is there something you’d like to see added to the resource library? PSAI welcomes member feedback. Contact info@psai.org and let us know.