Smoke some of this....
2.0 MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
In many cases, companies require a waste discharge permit to allow the discharge of industrial
or commercial wastes into the sanitary sewer. However, the CRD’s Sewer Use Bylaw also
provides for the discharge of certain types of waste under industry-specific Codes of Practice.
Acode of practice is a regulatory document, developed by the CRD, which contains mandatory
sanitary sewer discharge standards for specific industrial, institutional or commercial sectors.
Codes of practice set out minimum effluent treatment, equipment maintenance and recordkeeping
requirements for various sector operations. A business or organization operating
under an approved code of practice does not require a waste discharge permit under the CRD
Sewer Use Bylaw.
This section summarizes the regulatory requirements contained in the CRD Sewer Use Bylaw
that apply to carpet cleaning operations. It is intended for information and guidance purposes
only. If there is any discrepancy between this information and the Bylaw, the Bylaw will
take precedence.
The CRD has determined that wastewater from carpet cleaning operations may contain
restricted waste as defined in the bylaw. Businesses that discharge restricted waste must
either operate under a waste discharge permit, a code of practice or an authorization.
Carpet cleaning operations that follow the Code of Practice for Carpet Cleaning Operations
(Schedule “O” of the Sewer Use Bylaw) are authorized to discharge specific types of waste
into the sanitary sewer without a waste discharge permit. The CRD reserves the right, if
deemed necessary by the sewage control manager, to require any carpet cleaning operation
to obtain a waste discharge permit. All other terms and conditions of the Sewer Use Bylaw
apply to the discharge to the sanitary sewer.
2.1 Application
A carpet cleaning operation is defined as any commercial, industrial or institutional
operation or a public authority engaged in the cleaning of hard and soft surfaces using:
liquid extraction, bonnet, absorbent
compound, shampoo or dry foam method equipment
and procedures. Anyone working in the carpet cleaning sector must follow this code of
practice if they want to use a sewer connected to a CRD sewage facility for disposal of
wastewater other than that from toilets and washrooms.
2.2 Discharge Regulation
Carpet cleaning operations must not discharge into the sewer non-domestic waste that
contains:
• prohibited waste: anything that could cause a fire or explosion, block the sewers, cause
odors or corrode or damage the sewer system
• total suspended solids in a concentration >1000 milligrams per litre
• restricted waste as defined in the Bylaw other than chemical oxygen demand (COD) and
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
• special waste– means special waste as defined in the Waste Management Act
• uncontaminated water in quantities greater than 2 cubic meters per day
(Uncontaminated water takes up valuable sewer line capacity that could be used to
handle wastewater that needs treatment.)
2.2.1 Installation of Treatment Works
Carpet cleaning operations will be required to have the following treatment works installed
by July 1, 2003. An operator of a carpet cleaning sector operation that generates
wastewater on or after July 1, 2003 must:
• treat the waste water using a screen with holes not greater than 0.25 millimeters in
width or length prior to discharge to sewer
• dispose of collected solids in the garbage (solids collected in the screen must not be
discharged to the sewer).
2.2.2 Off-Site Waste Management
As an alternative to disposal to the sanitary sewer system with the required treatment, offsite
management is an option.
• Carpet cleaning wastes can be collected and transported to a waste treatment site that
is permitted for the acceptance and treatment of these wastes.
2.2.3 Inspection and Maintenance of Treatment Works
The code of practice requires a minimum level of inspection and maintenance as follows:
• Filters or screens must be inspected on a daily basis for defects and replaced when
defects are found.
• Hose connections, valves, filter gaskets, pumps and holding tanks must be visually
inspected for leaks at least once per week.
Environmental Regulations & Best Management Practices 6
2.3 Registration
All carpet cleaning sector operations regulated by this code of practice must register with
the CRD Regional Source Control program and report any subsequent change in the
status of their operation to the CRD. See Schedule “H” of Bylaw 2922, Code of Practice
Registration form.
2.4 Spill Containment
Carpet cleaning operations are required to install spill containment and/or cap all floor
drains in chemical storage areas to prevent the accidental discharge of carpet cleaning
chemicals to the storm water collection system or a sanitary sewer.
Operators who find a leak or spill must:
• immediately prevent the spill from entering the storm water collection system,
environment or sanitary sewer
• stop the leak or clean up the spill immediately
• repair the leak within 72 hours of the spill
2.5 Record Keeping and Retention
The operator of the carpet cleaning operation must keep written records to show due
diligence regarding inspection and maintenance activities and to demonstrate that
requirements of the code of practice have been met. Please see inside the back cover for a
sample record keeping form for carpet cleaning operations.
These records must be retained for a period of two years, be available to an inspector and
include the visual inspection of:
• hose connections, unions, couplings and valves
• filter gaskets
• pumps
• wastewater holding tanks
