BEFORE YOU APPLY
The Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice 2009 (SOP) provides the perofrmance objectives, design standards, and material requirements related to onsite system designs. The SOP 2009 is available from the Alberta Learning Resources Center or phone: (780) 427-2767.

Homeowner Information - Advice for selecting a Private Sewage System.

Applications
In order to issue a private sewage disposal permit, the applicant must submit:

• System Design (Homeowners should consider hiring a System Design Consultant)
  

  System Desing Support Examples:
  Treatment Mound Systems	Disposal Field Systems
  Open Discharge Systems	Holding Tanks

• Completed permit application
• Soil Profile Log Form (download form at right)
• Lot Diagram (download form at right)
• Soil Analysis and Classification from a Laboratory
• Method of payment

Eligibility

• The applicant may be the owner and occupant of the property or may be a Certified Private Sewage Installer or Designer.
  Ensure the that prospective installer is a Certified Installer.

Site Inspection Stage

• Rough-in Inspection: During installation

MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Septic Tanks or Sewage Holding Tanks shall not be located within:

• 1m (3.25') from property line
• 10m (33') from any water source or water course

No part of the Disposal Field measured from any part of a trench shall be located within:

• 1.5 (5') from any property line
• 15m (50') from any water source or water course
• 5m (17) from a septic tank or package treatment plant
• 10m (33') from any basement, cellar or crawl space
• 1m (3.25') from any non-basement building or does not have a permanent foundation
• 5m (17') from a building that has a permanent foundation but no basement, cellar, or crawlspace

No part of a Treatment Mound shall be located within:

• 3m (10') from any property line
• 15m (50') from any water source or water course
• 3m (10') from a septic tank
• 10m (33') from any basement, cellar or any non-basement building

An Effluent discharge to the ground surface shall not be located within:

• 50m (165') from any water source
• 45m (150') from a water course or from a building
• 90m (300') from any property line

A Lagoon that serves a single dwelling or duplex shall not be located within:

• 100m (330') from any water source or water course
• 45m (150') from a building
• 30m (100') from any property line

On a Property that adjoins a permanent body of water such as a lake, river, stream, or creek, the effluent disposal component of a private sewage system shall be located:

• Not less than 90m (300') from the shore of the body of water or
• Where a principal building is located between the system and a body of water, the distance may be reduced to the minimum distance requirements for that method of treatment and disposal.

All measurements shall be taken from the outside of the Berm, where the side slope of the Berm intersects with the natural grade.

Septic Tanks for Houses and Duplexes
Number of Bedrooms	Minimum working capacity of Septic Tanks in Litres (gallons)
3 or less	3360 (740 IG)
4	4260 (940 IG)
5	5200 (1150 IG)
6	6130 (1350 IG)