License to Operate for Central Water/Wastewater System

Do I need an approval to operate my current drinking water and wastewater facility?

Yes, you are required to obtain a Licence to Operate for a water supply facility or a wastewater treatment facility from the department if you have a facility that qualifies. 

• Please note that if a system is comprised of more than one facility, each facility needs to be licensed separately.
• If your facility currently has an approval to operate (issued as a Certificate of Approval or COA), you do not have to update the approval for five years unless the department determines that it requires updating. This might occur if there have been substantial changes to the facility since the original approval, such that the facility would now be classified at a different level.

What qualifies as a drinking water supply and wastewater facility where I need a Licence to Operate?

You need a Licence to Operate If you own or lease any of the following types of facilities: 

1. municipal drinking water supply facility or wastewater treatment facility;
2. drinking water facility with five or more connections (including campgrounds);
3. private wastewater treatment facility that discharges treated wastewater to surface water; or
4. alternative wastewater treatment facility that discharges treated wastewater to subsurface with flows exceeding 6,810 L/day (1,500 igal/day)

How do I obtain a Licence to Operate my facility?

A Licence to Operate can be issued to the owner provided the following conditions are met:

• the facility has been assessed and a Facility Classification Certificate issued
• the owner has registered the facility and assigned a registration number
• the owner has designated an operator-in-charge who holds an operator’s certificate at the classification 
• the appropriate Licence to operate application form has been submitted.

How long is a Licence to Operate valid?

The Licence to Operate is valid for five years from the date of issuance unless the Licence is suspended or revoked.

Is there a fee for a Licence to Operate?

There is a fee to obtain a licence, as follows: 

• Very Small & Small facility - $50
• Class I & II facility - $250
• Class III & IV - $500

Fees are HST exampt. Make cheques payable to the Minister of Finance.

Who can I contact for more information?

Morley Foy, P.Eng (Approvals & Compliance Engineer)
4th Floor, Jones Building(link is external)
11 Kent Street
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8
Telephone: (902) 368-5036
Fax: (902) 368-5830
Email:  mmfoy@gov.pe.ca

Ben Lanigan (Drinking Water and Wastewater Supervisor)
4th Floor, Jones Building
11 Kent Street
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8
Telephone: (902) 368-5043
Fax: (902) 368-5830
Email:  bpklanigan@gov.pe.ca