The Town's Utilities Bylaw sets the terms of responsibility for the repair, maintenance and renewal of water or sewer service lines. There are differences when it comes to either water or sewer service lines that property owners should be aware of.
Water Service Lines (Section 4.1)
The property owner is fully responsible for keeping the service line between the premises and the curbstop in operational condition. The Town is responsible for the condition of the service line between the curbstop and the main.
Possible exceptions:
(A) In the event of a leak or burst that is the interests of general municipal water conservation to address, consideration to some discretionary cost sharing may be given on a service line between the premises and the curbstop. It is important that suspected leaks before the meter are reported.
(B) If Council has initiated or approved a Local Improvement project pursuant to the Local Improvement Policy (2022) for the purpose of constructing, repairing, improving and maintaining streets, curbs, sidewalks, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer in a neighbourhood or section of street.
It is important to note that the Town will not pay for or cost share on discretionary upgrades or replacements to the service line between the curbstop and the main for reasons other than repair to the existing service. Please inquire at the Town Office if there is a strong economic development case (reserves policy section 8.7) around a desired service renewal or enhancement (e.g. increasing the diameter of service for an industrial or commercial purpose that leads to to increased local employment, assessment, multiplier effects, etc.).
Sewer Service Lines (Section 9.1)
The property owner is fully responsible for keeping the service line in operational condition (at all times) between the premises and the main. This means that the Town will not (generally) cost share on sewer service line maintenance or repair.
Possible exceptions:
(A) if damage or blockage can be proven to have been caused by a public tree in a boulevard.
(B) If Council has initiated or approved a Local Improvement project pursuant to the Local Improvement Policy (2022) for the purpose of constructing, repairing, improving and maintaining streets, curbs, sidewalks, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer in a neighbourhood or section of street.
(C) Sewer backup situations caused accidentally by sewer main maintenance (e.g. flushing) will be evaluated on a case by case basis, but it is important to stress that the Town is not responsible for the consequences of a poorly maintained or degraded private sewer line or lack of adequate venting/ backflow prevention.
It is important to be able to accurately describe the line issue or problem that you have in detail so that Utilities can best advise how the town might be able to assist. Plumber's camera footage is very helpful to all concerned.
Sewer Line Maintenance - it's important
The Town is not typically responsible for what happens to your sewer line between your home and the sewer main in the street. Property owners needs to take special care of their line and investigate backflow problems/ deficiencies, particularly if it is an older line:
If you are concerned about backflow, it important that your sewer line has:
- A backflow prevention valve and clean-out access in the basement of the home;
- An unobstructed vent stack (check regularly for blockages like bird's nests);
- A functioning basement sump pump - they're not just for rainwater.
Flush with Care and Preventing Sewer Backflow
On occasion, we experience an increased amount of foreign substances and objects in our sewer system, causing back-up in sewer mains, residences and at our sewage plant.
This can cost the Town thousands of dollars in contractor services, maintenance work and equipment failures.
Face masks, undissolved so-called “Flushable Wipes” (while they flush they do not dissolve) and any kind of cloth are a major contributor to back-ups.
“FOG” - Fats, Oils and Grease also lead to back-ups and wastewater treatment problems. In large concentration, phenomena known as 'fatbergs' have been known to develop in sewer mains. Fats oil and grease should be collected in cans or jars and disposed of in the garbage not down the sink.
The only things that should go into a toilet are the THREE Ps:
- Paper
- Pee
- Poo
All else causes problems and increased costs to repair and maintain our Wastewater (Sewage) collection and treatment system. This impacts YOUR utility user fees and property taxes.
Causing a back-up can affect a whole block. Just talk to someone who has experienced a raw sewage back-up in their residence and appreciate that it is worth being more careful in the use of the Town's sewer system.
The Town will always investigate camera footage and other information if it is felt that an issue in the sewer main itself is causing problems. If it can be established that a boulevard tree, for example, has caused a blockage in a service line, it will be investigated.