Wastewater

Wastewater, also called sewage, is what goes down the drains at home, work and school. It travels through sewers to a plant that treats the wastewater from your community.

It is important to keep storm water out of the sanitary sewers that flow to wastewater treatment plants. Learn how to do your part.

Not all residences and workplaces are connected to sewer systems. Some rural communities rely on individual septic systems.

Region of Waterloo Responsibilities

The Region of Waterloo Engineering and Wastewater Programs group oversees the operation and maintenance of 13 treatment plants and six pumping stations. We treat wastewater from all three cities and four townships.

Each day, the Region's wastewater plants treat 165 million litres of wastewater - enough to fill about 65 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

How Wastewater Treatment Plants Operate

The Region of Waterloo has contracted the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to operate and maintain all of its wastewater facilities. Certified OCWA staff ensure all facilities comply with Ministry of Environment requirements. The goal is that treated water does not negatively affect the environment when it leaves the plant.

In about a day of cleaning, wastewater passes through a multi-stage process, including physical, chemical and biological treatment. Solid material removed from wastewater is put in digesters which break down the solids into biosolids over a two-week period.

Biosolids are Beneficial

Biosolids, a nutrient-rich organic material, are a by-product of wastewater treatment. They can be used as fertilizers, bio-fuels and more.

Historically, the majority of the Region's biosolids were spread on agricultural land as a fertilizer. However, the Region is now reviewing its biosolids strategies to ensure they are used in the most environmentally sustainable way.

Wastewater Master Plans

Wastewater treatment is governed by a variety of master plans, the main one being the Long-Term Wastewater Master Plan. To view our master plans and details on projects underway, click on the following links. Short summaries of the plans and projects are also available.

Long-Term Wastewater Master Plan

Review of the Region of Waterloo East Side Servicing