ROMAEU: Summary of the Regulation Respecting Municipal Wastewater Treatment Works

The Government of Quebec’s Regulation respecting municipal wastewater treatment works (ROMAEU) aims to improve the quality of water discharged into the environment, for the well-being of the population and the environment.

It applies to municipal wastewater treatment works located south of the 54th parallel with an average annual flow of more than 10 m³/day.

What is a municipal wastewater treatment works?

The Regulation Q-2, r. 34.1 defines municipal wastewater treatment works (OMAEU) as: “any works used for the collection, storage, conveyance and treatment of wastewater, wholly or partly of domestic origin, before its discharge into the environment or into a stormwater management system, and operated by an intermunicipal board, a municipality or a person acting as a concessionaire for a municipality […]”

What is a treatment plant?

The Regulation Q-2, r. 34.1 defines treatment plants as: “a municipal wastewater treatment works used to treat wastewater before its discharge into the environment […]”

In everyday language, the terms wastewater treatment plant, wastewater treatment facility and sewage treatment plant are also used.

Treatment plant categories by size

Size category	Average annual flow	Maximum industrial contribution
Very small plant	500 m³/d or less	5%
Small plant	More than 500 m³/d and up to 2,500 m³/d	5%
Medium plant	More than 2,500 m³/d and up to 17,500 m³/d	5%
Large plant	More than 17,500 m³/d and up to 50,000 m³/d	—
Very large plant	More than 50,000 m³/d	—

Classification of treatment plants under the ROMAEU

Summary of the Regulation respecting municipal wastewater treatment works

The Regulation respecting municipal wastewater treatment works covers, among other things:

• Effluent discharge standards
• Standards for wastewater overflows
• Operator certification
• Monitoring of municipal wastewater treatment works
  • Operating report for municipal wastewater treatment works
  • Overflow notices
  • Operating register for municipal wastewater treatment works
• Depollution attestations for municipal treatment plants
• Monetary administrative penalties and penal sanctions

Effluent discharge standards for treatment plants

The effluent of any treatment plant must meet the following standards:

• The 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD₅) must be less than or equal to 25 mg/L
• The total suspended solids (TSS) concentration must be less than or equal to 25 mg/L, unless it is shown that the exceedance is caused by algae growing in treatment lagoons
• The pH must be between 6.0 and 9.5

CBOD₅ and TSS analysis and pH measurement

Effluent samples from a municipal wastewater treatment works must be analyzed by an independent laboratory for CBOD₅ and TSS, and the average of the results must be calculated. The pH must be measured with a device accurate to within 0.1 pH unit.

Unless otherwise specified in the depollution attestation, the sampling frequency for CBOD₅, TSS and pH, and the averaging period for CBOD₅ and TSS, are shown in the table below.

Treatment plant category	Sampling frequency (CBOD₅, TSS and pH)	Averaging period (CBOD₅ and TSS)
Very small lagoon-type plant	Monthly	Annual
Plant with an average flow of less than 100 m³/d	Monthly	Annual
Other very small plants	Monthly	Quarterly
Small lagoon-type plant	Monthly	Annual
Other small plants	Monthly	Quarterly
Medium plant	Every two weeks	Quarterly
Large plant	Weekly	Monthly
Very large lagoon-type plant	Three times a week	Monthly
Other very large plants	Five times a week	Monthly

Effluent sampling frequency and averaging period for treatment plants under the ROMAEU

Acute toxicity testing on treatment plant effluent

Medium, large and very large plants must carry out acute toxicity tests using rainbow trout and Daphnia.

If a test results in a mortality rate of more than 50% among the organisms exposed to the effluent, a second test must be carried out within the following 7 days. If the result of the second test is negative, a third test must be carried out within the following 7 days.

The frequency of acute toxicity tests is shown in the table below.

Treatment plant category	Test type	Acute toxicity test frequency
Medium plant	Rainbow trout	Quarterly
Medium plant	Daphnia	Quarterly
Large plant	Rainbow trout	Quarterly
Large plant	Daphnia	Quarterly
Very large plant	Rainbow trout	Monthly
Very large plant	Daphnia	Monthly

Type and frequency of toxicity tests on treatment plant effluent under the ROMAEU

Overflow standards

Overflows into the environment and bypasses of wastewater, even partially treated, at the treatment plant are prohibited starting 24 hours after the end of a rainfall, except in emergencies, during snowmelt and the spring thaw, and during repair and maintenance work.

A manual overflow monitoring method may be used unless a non-emergency overflow has occurred at the structure. In that case, an overflow recorder must be installed and kept in good working order.

Operator certification

Wastewater treatment plant operators, as well as anyone who collects samples or takes measurements required under the ROMAEU, must hold a valid certificate of qualification or apprenticeship card.

When a treatment plant changes category, staff have four months to obtain an apprenticeship card for the new category.

Staff must present their card upon request. The operator of a municipal wastewater treatment works is responsible for ensuring that any work requiring certification is performed by staff holding a valid certificate of qualification or apprenticeship card.

Monitoring of wastewater treatment works by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques

The daily flow of wastewater treated by a treatment plant must be measured with a device with a margin of error of less than 15% of the actual value.

These devices must be calibrated once a year.

Operating report for municipal wastewater treatment works

Each month, the operator of a municipal wastewater treatment works must submit a report to the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) containing the following information:

• Identification of the works
• Analyses of the samples collected
• pH measurements
• Toxicity tests
• Overflow records
• Qualifications of the persons responsible for operating and monitoring the works

If discharge or overflow standards were not met during the period, the report must also include:

• The location and time of the event
• The causes of the event
• The corrective measures proposed by the operator of the works

Operator notices in the event of an overflow

The operator of a municipal wastewater treatment works must notify the MELCC verbally or in writing without delay if any of the following events occurs:

• A discharge of wastewater elsewhere than at the outfall
• A bypass or overflow of effluent at a structure designed for that purpose
• A bypass or overflow of effluent elsewhere than at a structure designed for that purpose

If the notice was given verbally, a written copy must be sent to the MELCC within the following 48 hours.

In the case of a planned equipment shutdown that affects effluent quality or overflow frequency or volume, for example to modify equipment, a written notice must be sent to the MELCC 45 days before work begins.

Notices sent to the MELCC must contain the following information:

• The start time of the event
• The location of the overflow
• The uses of the receiving environment that may be affected by the overflow
• The actual or estimated volumes of water
• The corrective measures to be implemented
• The expected end time of the event
• The cleanup measures planned after the event
• The public communication plan

For planned work, the operator must also explain the reasons for the work and why the overflow is unavoidable.

In all cases, the operator must implement the measures set out in the notice and inform the MELCC when the event has ended.

If modifications to a municipal wastewater treatment works change its operating conditions, for example by increasing its treatment capacity, the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH) must also be notified.

Operating register for municipal wastewater treatment works

The operator of a municipal wastewater treatment works must keep an up-to-date register, retained for 10 years, containing the following information:

• Certificates of analysis
• Proof of flow meter calibration
• Raw data and measurements collected
• Operating reports submitted to the MELCC
• Notices sent to the MELCC
• Any other relevant information

Depollution attestations for municipal treatment plants

The MELCC issues a depollution attestation to the operator of a municipal wastewater treatment works. The attestation contains the following information:

• Identification of the operator
• Description and location of the points where contaminants are discharged, deposited, released or emitted into the environment
• Description of the wastewater treatment equipment
• Discharge, overflow and bypass standards
• Operating conditions of the works
• Equipment installation requirements
• Monitoring requirements
• Additional content of the register kept by the operator
• Description of the reports to be submitted
• Description of each contaminant covered by a standard or requirement
• Description of the wastewater treated by the works
• Corrective programs
• Municipal water management master plans
• Standards, conditions, restrictions or prohibitions under the Environment Quality Act

Amendments to depollution attestations for municipal treatment plants

Applications to amend a depollution attestation must contain the following information:

• The attestation number
• Updated information
• A description of the amendments
• An explanation of the reasons for the amendment request
• An assessment of the impact of the amendment on the effluent and overflows
• A certified document authorizing the application

Monetary administrative penalties and penal sanctions

The ROMAEU provides for monetary administrative penalties ranging from $250 to $2,000 for individuals and from $1,000 to $10,000 in other cases, depending on the nature of the offence.

It also provides for penal sanctions ranging from $1,000 to $1,000,000 for individuals, which may be combined with prison terms of 18 to 36 months. In other cases, the regulation provides for penal sanctions ranging from $3,000 to $6,000,000, depending on the nature of the offence.

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