Mechanical Repair

• Antifreeze
• Oil and oil filters
• Spent lead-acid batteries
• Brake fluid and carburetor cleaner
• Grease and other petroleum products
• Used tires and other solid wastes 

• Install and maintain at least one oil-water separator  
• Keep maintenance records for oil-water separators
• Store and containing automotive liquids and wastes safely
• Have a spill response plan and maintain records of spills 

Mechanical repair wastes that go down the drain into the sanitary sewer, storm drains or septic system can cause structural damage to both your private property and public infrastructure and impact the wastewater treatment process including septic systems. 

Some waste can cause blockages while others are highly toxic and/or corrosive even in small concentrations. Damaged pipes can allow waste to escape harming the environment and can allow rainwater in which can cause flooding at your work site, or increase loading to your septic systems or a wastewater treatment plant. 

In many cases, companies require a waste discharge permit to discharge industrial or commercial wastes into the sewers. However, the CRD's sewer use bylaw also provides for the discharge of certain types of waste under industry-specific codes of practice.

A code of practice is a regulatory document, developed by the Capital Regional District, 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 record-keeping 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.

The code of practice for mechanical repair operations (Schedule "M") describes the rules as defined by the CRD for the disposal of liquid waste from mechanical repair operations into the sewer system.

Important documents for mechanical repair operations:

• Waste Discharge Assessment Form [PDF/543KB]
• mechanical repair Operations Maintenance Log [PDF/37KB]
• Code of Practice Schedule "M" [PDF/131KB]
• CRD Sewer Use Bylaw No. 2922 [PDF/610KB]
• Mechanical Operations Guidebook

Wastewater Treatment Requirements

• All wastewater generated in mechanical repair operations must be directed through treatment works before entering the sewer system.
• Wastewater from washing machines, washrooms, and changerooms must bypass the treatment works.

Prohibited Practices

Operators must not:

• Use or allow the use of chemical agents, solvent-containing products, hot water, or other agents that help oil and grease move through the interceptor.

Prohibited Wastewater Discharges

Mechanical repair operations must not discharge the following into the sewer system:

• Prohibited waste as outlined in Schedule "A".
• Restricted waste as outlined in Schedule "B", except for oil and grease (hydrocarbons).
• Oil and grease (hydrocarbons) exceeding 50 mg/L, as measured in a grab sample.
• More than 2.0 m³/day of uncontaminated water without prior authorization.
• Water from fuel storage tanks.
• Rinse water from motor vehicle parts washed in solvent.
• Wastewater from oily rag washing or cleaning.
• Wastewater from engine washing or cleaning.
• Groundwater from a contaminated site, as defined by the Contaminated Sites Regulation, without a waste discharge permit.

Stormwater Discharge Regulations

• Stormwater must not be discharged into the sanitary sewer unless it originates from:
  • Fueling station areas.
  • Above-ground storage tank containment areas.

An operator of a mechanical repair operation must direct all wastewater from the mechanical repair process into an oil-water separator (or equivalent treatment works).

• Operators may install alternate treatment works or a combination of treatment works, subject to approval by the Capital Regional District (CRD).

OR

Disconnect their non-domestic drains from the sewer system and become a "dry shop."

Oil-Water Separator Specifications

• The minimum liquid volume of an oil-water separator must be 2.0 cubic metres.

• The location of oil-water separator must be readily and easily accessible for inspection and maintenance

   

1. Operators must not allow oil and grease to accumulate in the oil-water separator beyond the lesser of:
   • 5 cm (2 inches) or
   • 5% of the wetted height of the separator.
2. Operators must not allow settled solids to accumulate beyond the lesser of:
   • 15 cm (6 inches) or
   • 25% of the wetted height of the separator.
3. Operators must inspect and measure accumulated solids and floating oils at least once every three months.
   • If accumulation exceeds limits, the oil-water separator must be cleaned within seven days.
   • Oil-water separators must be cleaned at least once every 12 months.

1. A monitoring point must be installed:
   • At the outlet of the treatment works or
   • Downstream of the treatment works but upstream of other waste discharge points.
2. The monitoring point must:
   • Be the same diameter as the treatment works outlet pipe.
   • Open at a right angle to and vertically above the flow in the sewer pipe.
   • Be easily accessible for inspection and sampling.

• Operators must have a spill response plan available on-site.
• New operations must prepare a spill response plan at least 30 days before opening.
• The spill response plan must be posted in a visible location.
• Spill prevention and clean-up equipment must always be stocked and available.

In case of a spill:

• Follow the spill response plan immediately.
• Inspect the treatment works for contamination.
• Remove any spilled material before resuming wastewater discharge.

Operators must use spill containment measures to prevent spills from entering the sewer system for:

• Used acid-filled batteries.
• Used oils, antifreeze, oil filters, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and solvent-containing waste.
• Above-ground fuel storage tanks.
• More than 50 litres of any solvent-containing product, antifreeze, or oil stored at floor level in non-engineered containers.
• Stormwater collected in spill containment areas must be supervised during discharge to ensure it does not bypass the treatment works.

Operators must retain records for at least two years and provide them upon request.

Treatment Works Records

Operators who install treatment works must keep records of:

1. Design calculations and drawings, including the point of connection to the sanitary sewer.
2. Inspection and maintenance activities, including:
   • Date of service.
   • Description of work performed.
   • Measured depth of settled solids and floating oil/grease.
   • Quantity and type of material removed.
   • Service provider’s name, address, and phone number.

Disposal & Recycling Records

For all disposal or recycling services related to wastewater and other substances, records must include:

• Service provider’s name, address, and phone number.
• Type of material disposed or recycled.
• Quantity of material.

• Date of disposal or recycling.

   

If you operate in North Saanich, Central Saanich or Sidney, then you need to know about Saanich Peninsula Stormwater Bylaw No. 4168 [PDF/304KB] requirements.

• Never pour any fluids, wash/rinse water, wastewater or spills into storm drains, ditches, parking lots or outdoor work areas.
• When hosing or washing equipment or surfaces outside, do not let the runoff water enter the storm drain.
• Regularly inspect and maintain any parking lot catch basins.
• Store waste products and outdoor containers under covered areas with appropriate spill containment. Inspect after a rainstorm to make sure no materials leaked out.
• Educate staff about spill prevention and response and have spill plan and kit available.
• Regularly inspect and maintain any parking lot catch basins, cleaning them out at least once per year.