Ontario. Dept. of Health. Division of Sanitary Engineering

• Division of Sanitary Engineering

• Ontario. Sanitary Engineering Branch

The Division of Sanitary Engineering was established in 1920, during a reorganization of the Provincial Board of Health. Prior to 1920, functions held by the Division were undertaken within the Provincial Board of Health, which was empowered (under The Public Health Act, 1882) to review all plans for municipal water works and sewerage treatment and disposal systems. A Standing Committee to oversee these matters was established by the Board in May 1882. Review and approval was made compulsory in 1895 and in 1913 a full-time engineer was appointed to undertake this function. In 1916 an "Engineering Service" was formed under the direction of the Provincial Sanitary Engineer.

In 1924 the Provincial Board of Health was replaced with the Ontario Department of Health, and the Sanitary Engineering Division continued to exist in the new Department. From 1936 to 1938, the Division was known as the Sanitary Engineering Branch.

On 1 April 1957 the Branch's responsibilities relating to the supervision of public water supplies, public sewerage disposals, plumbing regulations, and stream pollution control were transferred to the Ontario Water Resources Commission, Division of Sanitary Engineering. The remaining functions were assigned to a new Division of Environmental Sanitation in the Department of Health.

The Division of Sanitary Engineering administered the Public Health Act and associated legislation related to water supply, sewerage systems, stream sanitation, refuse disposal, milk and food sanitation, frosted food locker plants, cemeteries, recreational sanitation, and all forms of environmental sanitation in Ontario. All plans for water and sewerage works to be constructed in the province had to be reviewed and approved by the branch, which also supervised plan operations.

After 1946, the branch was involved in investigating boundary water pollution under the auspices of the International Joint Commission. The branch also provided advice to local health agencies concerning sanitation issues and investigated problems relating to sanitation in the province.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Directory and Guide to Ontario Government Services, 1950

Inventory 62

McTaggart, 1900-1955

McTaggart, 1956-1970

Canadiana Authorities, 1996-12-24

Board of Health/Department of Health Annual Reports, 1882-1957

Canadiana has this as "Ontario. Sanitary Engineering Branch".

Archivist(s):
R. Anger, J. Pudden