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Overview
The private sewage standards set out design standards, installation standards and material requirements for on-site private sewage systems handling less than 25 cubic metres (5,500 Imperial gallons) of sewage volume per day.
The Private Sewage Disposal Systems Regulation 229/97, as amended by AR 196/2015, adopts the 2015 Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice.
Codes and standards
Purchase codes and standards
- Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice 2015
- Handbook for the Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice 2015 – Safety Codes Council
- Private Sewage Disposal Systems Regulation 2016
- Separation distances for sewage treatment systems (PDF, 52 KB)
Past codes
- Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice 2015 – Declared in force on January 1, 2016
- Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice 2009 – In force from October 5, 2009 to December 31, 2015
- Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice 1999 – In force from June 1, 1999 to October 4, 2009
Advisories
- Notice: Restructuring of Safety Code Council variance Policy 9.8. Enabling Group B – Plumbing Safety Codes Officers and Local Authorities
- Notice: Certification for Plumbing and Private Sewage Disposal Systems, September 2017
- Notice: Private sewage systems update – CRC PSDS Working Group and Deadline for Renewal – July 2017
- Notice: Remediation of existing sewage treatment systems
- Notice: Certification for Plumbing and Private Sewage Disposal Systems
STANDATA
These STANDATA bulletins are for interpretations, clarifications, recommended practices or provincewide variances on codes and standards matters related to the Safety Codes Act or on related topics.
- Variance under the Safety Codes Act
- STANDATA: private sewage bulletin (2020)
- STANDATA: private sewage systems information bulletin
- STANDATA: private sewage systems variance
STANDATA subscription
Subscribe to the List Subscription Services to receive email notifications on new STANDATA information.
Forms and reports
PDF form issues
Fillable PDF forms do not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. To fill in and save the form:
- Save the PDF form to your computer – click or right-click the link and download the form.
- Open the PDF form with Adobe Reader. Fill it in and save it.
If you experience issues opening these forms, email [email protected] or call 1-866-421-6929.
- Incident Report form (PDF, 173 KB)
- Installer Application for Certificate of Competency (PDF, 73 KB)
Certified contractors
Contractors must have a current certificate of competency to obtain permits for private sewer system design and installations in Alberta.
Contractors who currently hold a Private Sewage Certificate or a Restricted Private Sewage Certificate are also qualified to obtain permits for sewer and water services in Alberta.
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