Water and Sewer Systems Maintenance Bylaw #2026-09 — full text

This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source document governs. Snapshot f16c5afcfe82 · verified 2026-06-03 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

## Rural Municipality of Victoria, PEI Water and Sewer System Maintenance Bylaw Bylaw # 2026-09 ## 1. Title and Purpose This Bylaw shall be cited as the Water and Sewer System Maintenance Bylaw. The purpose of this Bylaw is to establish standards and responsibilities for the maintenance, protection, and proper use of water and sewer systems within the Rural Municipality of Victoria, including private service lines and municipal infrastructure located on or connected to private property. ## 2. Authority This Bylaw is enacted pursuant to section 180 (b) of the Municipal Government Act, and any other applicable provincial legislation governing water, wastewater, and environmental protection. ## 3. Definitions For the purposes of this Bylaw: - a) "Municipality" means the Rural Municipality of Victoria, Prince Edward Island. 2. "Council" means the Council of the Rural Municipality of Victoria. 3. с) "Property Owner" means any person, corporation, or entity owning land or buildings within the Municipality. - d) "Resident" includes tenants, occupants, and persons responsible for day-to-day use of a property. - e) "Water Service Line" means the pipe and appurtenances connecting a building to the municipal water system. - f) "Sewer Service Line" means the pipe and appurtenances connecting a building to the municipal wastewater system. - g) "Grease Interceptor" means a device designed to capture fats, oils, and grease before they enter the sewer system. - h) "Prohibited Material" means any substance that may obstruct, damage, contaminate, or impair the municipal water or sewer system. - i) "Municipal Office" means the office designated by Council to administer and enforce this Bylaw. ## 4. General Responsibilities of Property Owners Property owners shall: - a) Maintain all private water and sewer service lines from the building to the property line in good working order. - b) Ensure that all plumbing fixtures and internal systems comply with provincial plumbing codes and environmental regulations. - c) Prevent the discharge of prohibited materials into the municipal sewer system. - d) Protect municipal equipment located on private property, including water meters, curb stops, and inspection chambers. - e) Provide safe and reasonable access to municipal staff for inspection, maintenance, or emergency service. ## 5. Water System Maintenance Requirements Property owners and residents must: - a) Prevent freezing of water service lines, interior plumbing, and water meters. - b) Repair leaks on private service lines promptly upon discovery or notification. - c) Ensure that sump pumps, foundation drains, and stormwater systems are not connected to the municipal water or sanitary sewer system. - d) Avoid cross-connections that may contaminate the municipal water supply. - e) Install and maintain backflow prevention devices where required by provincial or municipal regulation. ## 6. Sewer System Maintenance Requirements Property owners and businesses must: - a) Maintain sewer service lines free of blockages, root intrusion, structural failure, or infiltration. - b) Regularly pump septic tanks at the property owner's cost. (More information ) - c) Install and maintain grease interceptors where required, including in restaurants, food processors, and commercial kitchens. - d) Dispose of fats, oils, grease, solvents, chemicals, and hazardous materials in accordance with provincial law and not through the sewer system. - e) Ensure that stormwater, roof drains, and groundwater are not discharged into the sanitary sewer system. - f) Notify the Municipality immediately of sewer backups, suspected contamination, or unusual discharge. ## 7. Prohibited Discharges No person shall discharge or permit the discharge of: - a) Hazardous chemicals, flammable liquids, or toxic substances; - b) Fats, oils, and grease in quantities that may obstruct the sewer system; - c) Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, or industrial waste; - d) Solid materials such as wipes, diapers, rags, plastics, or debris; - e) Stormwater, melted snow, or groundwater into the sanitary sewer system; - f) Any substance that may harm municipal infrastructure or treatment processes. ## 8. Inspections and Access 1. The Water and Sewer Operator or designate may enter private property at reasonable times to inspect water or sewer connections, meters, or potential bylaw violations. 2. Property owners must provide unobstructed access to municipal equipment. 3. Failure to provide access may result in penalties or service interruption. ## 9. Repairs and Cost Recovery 1. Property owners are responsible for all repairs to private service lines. 2. If the Municipality undertakes emergency work on private infrastructure to protect public health or prevent system damage, the cost may be charged to the property 3. Damage to municipal infrastructure and consequently to the environment caused by negligence, improper use, or prohibited discharge shall be billed to the responsible party as determined by the W&S Corporation and/or the W&S Operator. The final determination of costs for damages to municipal infrastructures is made by the Municipal Office. The allocation of the repairs' costs to the responsible party is final and cannot be opposed by the property owner. 4. In the case of damage to municipal infrastructure and consequently to the environment caused by more than one owner as determined by the Water and Sewer Corporation or the Water and Sewer Operator, the damage costs shall be shared by all the responsible parties as determined by the Municipal Office. The allocation of the repairs' costs to the responsible parties is final and cannot be opposed by the property owners. 5. Unpaid charges may be added to the property tax bill in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. ## 10. Enforcement and Penalties 1. The Municipal Office may issue warnings, compliance orders, or administrative penalties for violations of this Bylaw. 2. Each day of non-compliance constitutes a separate offence. 3. Fines, suspension of services or other restrictions may be imposed in accordance with the Victoria Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, the Municipal Government Act and any other applicable act or bylaw. ## 11. Severability If any section of this Bylaw is found invalid, the remaining sections shall remain in full force and effect. If the bylaw contradicts the Servicing Standards of the Municipality, this bylaw will prevail. ## 12. Effective Date This W&S System Maintenance Bylaw, Bylaw# 2026-09, shall be effective on the date of approval and adoption below. ## First Reading: This W&S System Maintenance Bylaw, Bylaw# 2026-09, was read for the first time at the Council meeting held on the 23rd day of March 2026. This Was System Maintenance Bylaw, Bylaw# 2026-09, was approved by a majority of Council members present at the Council meeting held on the 23rd day of March 2026. ## Second Reading: This W&S System Maintenance Bylaw, Bylaw# 2026-09, was read a second time at the Council meeting held on the 13th day of April 2026. This W&S System Maintenance Bylaw, Bylaw# 2026-09, was approved by a majority of Council members present at the Council meeting held on the 13th day of April 2026. ## Approval and Adoption by Council: This W&S System Maintenance Bylaw, Bylaw# 2026-09, was adopted by a majority of Council members present at the Council meeting held on the 13th day of April 2026. ## 13. Signatures Mayor (signature sealed) Chief Administrative Officer (signature sealed)