Nova Scotia Environment has established and adopted the On-site Sewage Disposal System Technical Guidelines in accordance with On-site Sewage Disposal Systems regulations. The Guidelines are intended to be used as an educational and technical manual by qualified persons, installers or systems, and staff of Nova Scotia Environment that have an interest in planning, design, selection, installation, operation and maintenance of on-site systems.
On-site Sewage Disposal System Technical Guidelines – Nova Scotia Environment, April 2009
On-site Sewage Disposal Systems Regulations – the Environment Act, March 2007
To ensure proper maintenance of an on-site sewage disposal system, it is recommended that the septic tank be pumped empty of solids every two to three years, depending upon use, so that accumulated solids do not carry over into the disposal bed and plug the field, potentially causing the system to malfunction. The purpose of the Guidelines for the Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Septage is to provide guidance for the proper handling, treatment and disposal of septage while protecting the health of the public and the quality of the environment.
Guidelines for the Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Septage (PDF: 110k) – Nova Scotia Environment (and Labour), February 2006
All On-site sewage disposal systems require an approval from Nova Scotia Environment to be installed and shall meet the Onsite Sewage Disposal System Regulations and the Technical Guidelines for Onsite Sewage Disposal in Nova Scotia.
Applications and Forms
Refer to the following links for the appropriate applications and forms:
Submission Forms
- Checklist - System Design (PDF: 531k)
- Checklist - System Selection (PDF: 522k)
- On Site Application (PDF: 686k)
- Variance Application (PDF: 115k)
- Holding Tank Sewage Management Program (PDF: 388k)
- Certificate of Installation (PDF: 570k)
- Installers - Completion of Work (PDF: 305k)
- 3 Day Notice (PDF: 229k)
- System Flushing Report (PDF: 345k)
Submission Drawings
- Fully Trenched C1 Contour (PDF: 1.7mb)
- Raised C1 Contour (PDF: 1.7mb)
- Standard C2 Contour (PDF: 1.9mb)
- Raised C2 Contour (PDF: 1.3mb)
- C3 Contour (PDF: 1.1mb)
- C3 With Mantle Contour (PDF: 1.1mb)
- C3 Modified Contour (PDF: 878k)
- Mound (PDF: 688k)
- Mound With Mantle (PDF: 790k)
- Fully Trenched Area Bed (PDF: 1.3mb)
- Partially Trenched Area Bed (PDF: 1.2mb)
- At Grade Area Bed (PDF: 1.3mb)
- Fully Trenched Multiple Trench (PDF: 565k)
- Shallow Multiple Trench (PDF: 625k)
- At Grade Multiple Trench (PDF: 835k)
- Holding Tank (PDF: 465k)
- Sloping Sand Filter - Malfunction (PDF: 694k)
- Sloping Sand Filter - Malfunction With Pipe (PDF: 656k)
- Sloping Sand Filter - Malfunction With Disinfection (PDF: 796k)
- Sloping Sand Filter - No Liner (PDF: 1013k)
- Sloping Sand Filter - Liner (PDF: 1mb)
- Onsite Sewage Disposal System Application - Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations