About Wastewater

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aerial photo of the Kitchener wastewater treatment plant.

Wastewater is any water that leaves a home or building through a drain such as a toilet, sink, bathtub, dishwasher or washing machine. Wastewater from homes and buildings connected to the municipal sewer system travels through underground pipes to a wastewater treatment plant for treatment before returning to the local river system. If you live on a farm or in a rural area you probably have your own septic system. Septic systems are the responsibility of the property owner.

Each day, Region of Waterloo wastewater plants treat about 180 million litres of wastewater - enough to fill about 3,600 backyard swimming pools. As Waterloo Region grows, this amount continues to increase. The Region is continuously planning, expanding and upgrading our wastewater treatment infrastructure to meet that growing demand while protecting our natural resources.

Find out what happens after you flush the toilet.

It takes wastewater about 24 hours to travel through a multi-stage treatment process. The solid material is treated separately from the liquids. Digesters produce biosolids by breaking down the solids and killing potentially harmful micro-organisms over a period of weeks. The liquids are treated and returned to the local river system.

The Region of Waterloo owns 13 wastewater treatment plants, six pumping stations and a de-watering facility. The Region of Waterloo oversees operation of these facilities by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA).

Help keep stormwater out of sanitary sewer pipes

Stormwater does not receive the same treatment as wastewater. Stormwater is rainwater or snow melt that travels into drainage systems before returning to the local river system without treatment. The cities and townships are responsible for stormwater management.

Help keep stormwater - such as rain, basement sump pump discharges and foundation drainage - out of sanitary sewer pipes. Do not connect stormwater discharge pipes to the sanitary sewer system. Proper drainage of stormwater helps to:

Reduce costs by keeping treatment for wastewater only. Stormwater does not require the same level of treatment as wastewater
Reduce stress on pumping stations and treatment plants. Water from sump pumps or other drains mistakenly connected to the sanitary system will increase flows into wastewater treatment plants and increase the risk of a sanitary sewage backup into homes and businesses
Reduce environmental impacts. While we design our wastewater treatment plants to address storms, a larger storm may cause untreated or partially treated wastewater to end up in the local river system as a result of increased flows at pumping stations and treatment facilities

What not to flush or pour down the drain

Proper disposal of waste helps to keep sanitary sewer pipes and wastewater treatment plants working properly. Use the Region of Waterloo Waste Whiz to find out how to properly dispose of your waste.

Put wipes, even 'flushable' ones, in the garbage

No wipes - including ones marked "flushable" - should be flushed down the toilet. They don't break apart and block pipes which can overflow, causing health concerns, environmental issues, and property damage. For property owners, blocked pipes can lead to toilet and sink overflows and costly repairs. For municipalities, blocked pipes increase costs due to unscheduled maintenance and may result in increased water rates for all of us.

what happens to wipes and other non-flushables at the wastewater treatment plant

Properly dispose of fats, oils and grease

Fat, oil and grease - also referred to as FOG - should never go down your drains as they can block sewer pipes and cause buildup on wastewater handling equipment. Blocked pipes can overflow causing health concerns, environmental issues, and property damage.

Businesses discharging fat, oil and grease must comply with the Region of Waterloo Sewer Use By-law 1-90. Workers, management, facility owners, and property owners all must understand and manage the type of materials going down the drain. Read the Managing fats, oils and grease information sheet to learn more.

Fat, oil and grease can block pipes

Return unwanted medication to your local pharmacy

Medicines poured down your sink or flushed down your toilet may end up in our waterways. Ask about take back programs at your local pharmacy or search for your nearest location on the Health Product Stewardship Association website.

Properly dispose of chemicals, oils and paints

Buy only what you need and properly dispose of unused materials. Consider using green alternatives instead. Drop off certain Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) at the Region of Waterloo landfill or visit the Orange Drop website for drop off locations.

Examples of waste items and where to put them

Use the garbage to dispose of:

Disposable diapers
Wipes including baby, disposable, disinfecting and flushable wipes
Bandages and wraps
Extinguished cigarettes
Cotton swabs with a plastic rod
Dental floss
Disposable toilet brushes and cleaning sponges

Use the Green bin to dispose of:

Coffee grinds, egg shells and food
Fats, oils and grease
Hair
Paper towels and napkins
Cotton balls, pads and swabs with a rolled paper or wooden rod

Sewer Use By-law, environmental enforcement and spills response

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks strictly regulates the design and operation of our treatment plants. Each Regional plant must meet strict environmental quality standards set by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. The Region of Waterloo monitors the treated water leaving our wastewater treatment plants to ensure our facilities meet the standards and are not harming the natural environment.

Industrial monitoring and sewer use bylaw enforcement

The Sewer Use By-law 1-90 regulates and controls the discharge of water and wastewater into the sanitary and/or storm sewer distribution system within Waterloo Region. The By-law protects the wastewater treatment system and the water quality of the Grand River.

Environmental spills response

A spill is the release of a substance that is harmful to the environment, such as oil, fuel, chemicals or pesticides into a sewer or the environment. Quick actions can reduce the cleanup time and protect the local environment. Report a spill immediately if you witness or suspect a spill has occurred or is about to occur.

Biosolids strategy

A treated solid, known as biosolids, has many uses. For example, it can be applied to agricultural land as fertilizer, used to restore mining sites, or taken to the landfill for disposal. The Region of Waterloo is currently developing a new Biosolids Strategy and we need everyone's involvement to help identify the best possible solutions.

Privately hauled wastewater and septic systems

Not all residences and workplaces in the Region are connected to municipal sewer systems. Many rural communities and small settlement areas rely on privately-owned septic systems to treat and dispose of their wastewater. Septic systems are the responsibility of the property owner.

The Region of Waterloo accepts and treats privately hauled wastewater from septic tanks, holding tanks and portable toilets.