Septage Treatment Facility Assistance Program
About the Septage Treatment Facility Assistance Program
The purpose of the Septage Treatment Facility Assistance Program is to protect the quality of groundwater and surface water resources by ensuring the proper construction, maintenance and operation of septage treatment and handling facilities.
Protecting Nova Scotia water resources: Who will benefit?
Rural Nova Scotia will primarily benefit from this initiative. There are 27 approved septage treatment facilities in the Province, both privately and municipally operated. These facilities are located in every county except Richmond and Shelburne Counties. Many facilities must undergo major upgrading in order to comply with the Department’s “Guidelines for the Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Septage” (PDF: 110k) by 2010. Some facilities will be unable to meet the guidelines and will close.
New Guidelines for Operators: Helping you get there
Operators who will be upgrading their facilities to meet the revised standards have until December 31, 2010 to complete the upgrades so they can continue to service their local areas. The operators must comply with these guidelines by December 31, 2010. The four year Septage Treatment Assistance Program consists of $2.75 million primarily targeted at assisting operators as they work toward that deadline. While this assistance program may benefit the individual operators in the short term, the real benefit will be that rural homeowners will continue to have affordable access to septage management facilities that meet provincial standards.
This four year program, totaling $2.75 million, offers assistance to septage treatment operators of up to $100,000 for the construction of replacement facilities or the implementation of new technologies, and up to $50,000 for improvements or upgrades to existing septage treatment facilities.
Getting started
The program is managed by Nova Scotia Environment and Labour. Approval conditions for operators of existing facilities state that they must submit to the Department an assessment of the Facility’s ability to comply with the “Guidelines for the Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Septage” (PDF: 110k) by October 1, 2007. Included with the assessment must be a schedule of implementation. Those who have committed to continuing their operation under the guidelines are invited to submit a proposal and application for assistance. Operators who will be closing their facilities in accordance with the guidelines are also invited to submit a closure proposal and apply for assistance. These will be evaluated by a team of professional staff to determine where funds will be awarded.
The assistance program has variable levels of funding through 2010. Owners of privately and municipally operated septage treatment facilities may apply at any time during this period.
How can the Program help me as an operator?
Depending on the amount of assistance that is requested or awarded, participants may be eligible for up to 50% of costs to a maximum of $100,000 for replacement of septage treatment facilities that cannot be simply upgraded, or new technologies, and up to 50% of costs to a maximum of $50,000 for improvements to existing septage treatment facilities, including closure. These costs may include fees associated with engineering studies, environmental monitoring requirements, construction costs and sludge treatment.
The Department will require operators to engage the services of private consultants to carry out any necessary engineering work associated with the upgrades. Private contractors will be required to complete actual construction or modifications based on the engineered designs.
Eligible Projects
The following projects are examples suitable for funding assistance under this program:
- Engineering site assessment including test pits for soil permeability
- Monitoring well construction
- Lagoon upgrades
- Fencing and site security
- Supernatant treatment and disposal
- Lagoon solids handling and treatment
- Innovative projects
Program Emphasis
The amount of funding available for distribution on an annual basis is limited. Program funding applications are ranked according to the severity of the problems being addressed, as well as other factors. Generally, funding requests for projects designed to eliminate serious environmental or health problems (actual or potential) or to meet minimum guideline requirements for protection of groundwater and surface water are accorded priority attention in the allocation of program funding.
Application Requirements
Lagoon owners wishing to obtain assistance unde the Septage Treatment Facility Assistance Program shall submit a formal written request to Nova Scotia Environment and Labour. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Department, requests for assistance shall be accompanied by:
- Documentation clearly substantiating the need for the work.
- A detailed project description including any drawings necessary to show the details of the work.
- A total estimated cost for the project, a detailed cost breakdown for individual project components showing quantities and assumed prices and a proposed implementation and cash flow schedule.
- Written confirmation of the proponents ability to finance the project prior to funding availability.
General Conditions and Requirements
- Assistance funding will be paid out over the term of a project upon receipt, by the Department, of periodic progress claims including copies of all paid invoices.
- Work carried out in violation of conditions of approval will not be eligible for funding assistance.
- Other project specific conditions and requirements may be included in the approval documents.
What happens next?
This program will run through 2009/2010, and is allocated as follows:
| 2007 / 2008 | 2008 / 2009 | 2009 / 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improvements | 500,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 |
| New / Replacement | 750,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
This four-year program totals $2.75 million.
For more information
Download the 2007/08 Septage Treatment Facility Assistance Program (PDF: 88k) application form:
For further inquiries about the program, protection of Nova Scotia’s water resources, or how you can obtain funding, please call 1-877-9ENVIRO (1-877-936-8476), or contact Nova Scotia Environment and Labour at the Kentville Office: 1-902-679-6088.
Septage Treatment Facility Assistance Program
Nova Scotia Environment and Labour
136 Exhibition Street
Kentville, NS
B4N 4E5
Phone: 902-679-6088
Fax: 902 679-6186
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