Source Control

• Protect the aquatic receiving environment adjacent to the JAMES Wastewater Treatment Plant (JAMES Plant) sewage outfall;
• Protect the JAMES Plant against corrosion, blockage and other harmful effects related to the presence of wastewater contaminants;
• Ensure that the health and safety of sewage workers and the general public is not put at risk due to the presence of wastewater contaminants;
• Protect the quality of the biosolids produced at the JAMES Plant to allow unrestricted options for beneficial use and recycling;
• Protect the JAMES Plant against treatment process upsets due to high contaminant loadings; and
• Promote responsible pollution prevention practices, including reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, and residuals management.

The SCP uses the City of Abbotsford Bylaw No. 2664-2017, "Sewer Regulations Bylaw" as the main regulatory instrument in achieving the above objectives. Wastewater Discharge Permits and Codes of Practice are part of the bylaw requirements. The SCP also uses the BOD & TSS Waste Program to help achieve the program objectives. 

Environmental Services Annual Report 2020 

Codes of Practice (COP) are implemented to regulate non-domestic waste discharged to the sanitary sewer from the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors. Codes of Practice set out minimum waste treatment, equipment maintenance and record keeping requirements for various operations, and are included in Schedules D-H in the Sewer Regulations Bylaw No. 2664-2017 (Refer to page 56). A discharging operation operating under a Code of Practice does not require a Wastewater Discharge Permit unless required by the SCP.

Examples of acceptable spill containment

• COP Schedule D 
• Dental Operations Brochure
• Dental Operations FAQs
• Amalgam Separator Logbook

• COP Schedule E 
• Photo Imaging Operations Brochure
• Photo Imaging Operations FAQs
• Silver Recovery Logbook

• COP Schedule F 
• Automotive Operations FAQs
• Oil-Water Separator Logbook
• Oil-Water Separator Diagram
• Off-Site Waste Management Logbook

• COP Schedule G 
• Vehicle Wash Operations FAQs
• Oil-Water Separator Logbook
• Oil-Water Separator Diagram
• Off-site Waste Management Logbook

• COP Schedule H 
• Dry Cleaning Operations FAQs
• On-Site Wastewater Management Logbook
• Off-Site Wastewater Management Logbook

Wastewater Discharge Permits are regulatory documents issued to industries, businesses or other operations that discharge significant volumes of non-domestic wastewater, and/or wastewater having the potential to contain high concentrations of contaminants into the sanitary sewer. 

Wastewater Discharge Permits are required to monitor and regulate the volume and contents of wastewater produced by non-domestic sources.

A Wastewater Discharge Permit is required for any industrial, commercial or institutional operation that intends to discharge wastewater to the sanitary sewer on an ongoing basis that contains Restricted Wastes (as defined in the Sewer Regulations Bylaw.

A discharging operation operating under a Code of Practice does not require a Wastewater Discharge Permit unless required by the Abbotsford/Mission Water and Sewer Commission Source Control Program (WSCSCP).

There are two types of Wastewater Discharge Permit Application forms available:

1. Wastewater Discharge Permit Application for Groundwater Remediation Sites
   • Wastewater Discharge Permit Application Form
   • Wastewater Discharge Permit Application Form (Workable PDF)
2. Wastewater Discharge Permit Application for Groundwater Remediation Sites
   • Wastewater Discharge Permit Application Form for Groundwater Remediation Sites

For assistance in completing an application for a Wastewater Discharge Permit please refer to the Guidelines for Completing a Wastewater Discharge Permit Application. 

Permit fee for General Discharges

• There is no application fee for applying for a Wastewater Discharge Permit. 
• There is an amendment fee of $500 for each time the holder of a Wastewater Discharge Permit requests an amendment to an existing permit.

Permit fee for Groundwater Remediation Sites

• There is an application fee of $1,500 for applying for a Wastewater Discharge Permit.
• There is an amendment fee of $500 for each time the holder of a Wastewater Discharge Permit requests an amendment to an existing permit.

For more information about the permit process refer to the Sewer Regulations Bylaw or contact the Engineering Department by email or call 604-864-5511.

High loading of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in wastewater entering the JAMES Wastewater Treatment Plant can adversely affect the treatment processes an can contribute to increased treatment plant expansion needs. To mitigate these effects, the Abbotsford/Mission Water and Sewer Commission Source Control Program (SCP) monitors approximately twenty five businesses as part of the BOD and TSS Waste Program. Samples are collected on a regular basis and are submitted to an external laboratory for analysis. 

The sampling program consists of 24-hour composite samples collected on a random schedule approximately four times per month. These samples are submitted to an accredited external laboratory for pH, BOD and TSS analysis. The analytical results and monthly sanitary sewer discharge volumes for each customer are used to determine BOD & TSS Waste fees as per the City of Abbotsford Bylaw No. 2664-2017 "Sewer Regulations Bylaw". BOD & TSS Waste fees are compiled on a monthly basis and are invoiced on a quarterly basis. The current BOD & TSS Waste fees are shown below.

BOD & TSS Waste Fees:

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) $0.42/kg/month
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS) $0.47/kg/month

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic substances under standard laboratory procedures in five days at 20o C expressed in mg/L. In wastewater with a high BOD, there will be a large amount of organic substances in the wastewater. There will also be a lot of bacteria present working to decompose these substances so the demand for oxygen will be high (due to all the bacteria). 

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) means the total suspended matter that floats on the surface of, or is suspended in, water, wastewater or other liquids and which is removable by laboratory filtering. In wastewater with a high TSS, there will be a large amount of solids or residue retained on the filter during the laboratory analysis.   

Heavy loadings of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) entering the JAMES Wastewater Treatment Plant can adversely affect treatment processes and can contribute to increased treatment plant expansion needs. To mitigate these effects, a wastewater monitoring program was developed to ensure costs are recovered for treating this type of waste. 

There are a number of options available for decreasing concentrations in BOD and TSS in wastewater. A number of reputable companies can be contacted for professional assistance on this topic by looking in the yellowpages under “Environmental Consultants & Services”. 

Inclusion in the BOD and TSS waste program is determined based on the quality and volume of wastewater discharged to the sanitary sewer on a monthly basis. If smaller volumes of wastewater are high in BOD and TSS concentrations, your company’s wastewater can still affect treatment processes at the JAMES Wastewater Treatment Plant. Alternatively, larger volumes of wastewater with lower BOD and TSS concentrations can also affect treatment processes. SCP staff evaluates each wastewater discharge on a case by case basis to determine inclusion in the BOD and TSS waste program.