Wastewater and Sewer Systems

About wastewater

Wastewater is water and anything else that goes down the drain including shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, pee, poop, and toilet paper. Some materials should not go down the drain such as wipes and grease that can block pipes and cause sewer backups.

We work with the Cities and Townships to collect and treat wastewater.

In North Dumfries and Wellesley Townships, the Region of Waterloo collects and treats wastewater from properties connected to the municipal sanitary system.
In Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and in the Townships of Wilmot and Woolwich, the Cities and Townships collect the wastewater from properties connected to the municipal sanitary system and returns it to the Region of Waterloo for treatment.
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.

We oversee the operation of 13 wastewater treatment plants, seven pumping stations, and a de-watering facility by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks strictly regulates the design and operation of the treatment plants.

Each treatment plant must meet strict environmental quality standards set by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
We monitor the treated water leaving the treatment plants to ensure the facilities meet the standards and are not harming the natural environment
Environmental Enforcement and Laboratory Services (EELS) is responsible for environmental protection through monitoring, enforcement, and laboratory analysis in support of Regional, Provincial and Federal legislation.
Each year we release monitoring reports that document actual wastewater flows and capacities

Our sewer systems

Sanitary sewer system

Moves wastewater from buildings to a wastewater treatment plant
Wastewater is any water that leaves a building through a drain such as a toilet, sink or bathtub
Once treated at a municipal plant, this water returns to the local waterway

The Cities and Townships manage the sanitary sewer systems while the Region of Waterloo is responsible for wastewater treatment. The exception is North Dumfries and Wellesley Townships where the Region of Waterloo manages the sanitary sewer systems.

Storm sewer system

Returns stormwater (rain and snowmelt) from paved surfaces to local waterways without treatment
Drainage points are grates or square openings typically found by curbs along roads
Never use storm drains to dispose of chemicals, concrete, paint or other hazardous materials

The Cities and Townships manage the stormwater sewer systems. The exception is North Dumfries and Wellesley Townships where the Region of Waterloo manages the stormwater sewer systems.

Sewer Use By-law

Sewer Use By-law 21-036 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 water quality of the Grand River. Businesses must follow the Sewer Use By-law 21-036 and apply for a permit.

Help keep stormwater out of sanitary system

Do not connect stormwater discharge pipes to the sanitary sewer system. This includes rain, basement sump pump and foundation discharges.

Disconnecting sump pumps and other drains from the sanitary system helps to:

Reduce costs by only treating wastewater. Stormwater does not need the same level of treatment.
Reduce stress on infrastructure. Reduces flows into the treatment plants and the risk of a backup into the building.
Reduce environmental impacts from increased flows during larger storm events. We design our wastewater treatment plants to address storms. Larger storms can mean increased flows at pumping stations and treatment facilities. This may cause untreated wastewater to end up in the local river system.

Privately hauled sewage and septic systems

We accept sanitary discharges from pre-approved licensed commercial haulers that clean out privately owned residential septic tanks and portable toilets.

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. It is important to have a licensed contractor clean out and inspect the tank every 3 to 5 years.