Contact(s)
Wastewater ServicesWastewater Treatment Centre - 40 Kitchener St.
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The sewer and wastewater system in the City of Orillia consists of approximately 140 kilometres of sanitary sewer, 20 sanitary sewage pumping stations, approximately 9 kilometres of sanitary forcemain, more than 2,000 manholes, a septage receiving facility and a Wastewater Treatment Centre. Wastewater services provided by the Environmental Services and Operations Department includes:
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Discharge of Water from Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs | ||||
Discharge of water from swimming pools and hot tubs contains chloride, bromine, salts, copper-based algaecides and other chemicals harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms that live in our creeks, rivers and lakes. Here is what you should do:Chlorinated Water:
Salt Water:
ADJUST pH levels to 6.0-9.0 for discharge to storm sewer systems. Off property impacts are the responsibility of the swimming pool or hot tub owner. |
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Sewer Backups | ||||
A sanitary sewer system is a complex network of pipes and pumps buried beneath the street. The system is designed to transport wastewater from homes, businesses and industries to the treatment facility. When low areas of land must be sewered or where pipe depth under the ground surface becomes excessive, pump stations are normally installed. Sanitary sewer backups are typically caused by:
Structural defects in pipes - Significant sags in the service line, cracks, holes, protruding laterals, misaligned pipes, offset and open joints, and collapsing pipe material are all possible causes of backups. |
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How to Help Prevent a Sewer Backup | ||||
Here are a few things that you can do to prevent a sewer backup:
Review your residential insurance policy or contact your agent to determine whether your policy covers damages due to sewer backups and/or water damage. In many cases, this additional coverage can be purchased at a minimal cost to cover your home in the event of a sewer back up incident. If you experience a sewer backup, record the details of damage and contact us and your insurance agent. |
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What City Staff Will Do | ||||
The first priority for City of Orillia staff arriving at the scene of a flood or sewer backup is to determine whether the sewer is functioning properly. City staff will determine whether the cause of the blockage originated on the private side of the sewer connection or on the City side. City staff will first check the City's main sewer system adjacent to your property to make sure that it is working properly. Within the City, property owners are responsible for the sewer lateral between the premise and the City's sewer main regardless of property boundary. Property owners are financially responsible for repairs to lateral services if they reside on private property. If a spot repair is required between the sanitary sewer main and property line, the cost associated with labour and materials is shared 50/50 between the City and property owner, provided the need for the spot repair was not caused by an action of the property owner or tenant (City Policy 9.2.1.1 - Connections). A deposit of 50% of estimated repair is required prior to the City commencing with this repair.
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Sewage Discharge By-law | ||||
You cannot put everything down the sewer. The City of Orillia's wastewater treatment plant is designed primarily to service households with normal domestic wastewater. It cannot efficiently remove the toxic pollutants contained in some of the waste produced by business, industries, and institutions. Discharges that do not meet the requirements outlined in Orillia's Sewage Discharge By-Law. could have serious consequences for public health and safety, the environment, and municipal infrastructure. Even if the discharge is very small in quantity, the total combined effect can be significant. Unauthorized discharges could result in:
Environmental Compliance Inspections The City of Orillia performs Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) environmental compliance inspections to ensure facilities are adhering to the requirements the City of Orillia’s Sewage Discharge Bylaw (Chapter 1047). Inspections are conducted to ensure that processes are in place at ICI locations to restrict harmful chemicals and materials being discharged into the sanitary sewer that could lead to sewer back-ups, harm sanitary treatment and protect the environment. The City annually conducts focused sampling at ICI facilities to ensure due diligence to Chapter 1047 sanitary discharge limits. Educating and providing assistance to ICI properties to ensure compliance is the first and foremost objective of the program. The City strives to inspect approximately 80 facilities per year. The City will strive to inspect the following facilities: Year 1, the City plans to conduct inspections on restaurants and dentist offices. Year 2, the City plans to conduct inspections on restaurants and hotel/motels, grocery stores and food processing facilities. Year 3, the City plans to conduct inspections on restaurant, mechanical garages, transit and nursing homes.. Note: Due to number of restaurants within the City of Orillia, the City cannot inspect them all within a year therefore, the City will rotate and inspect restaurants once every three years, unless there has been an environmental concern. As well, facilities deemed as a higher risk to the sanitary system are inspected annually to support compliance and the City’s due diligence. Due to unforeseen scheduling issues, the City may require revising the above schedule as needed. Please contact the Environmental Officer at 705-325-2394 should you have any questions or concerns. The City appreciates your cooperation and understanding. |
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Water and Sewer Connections and Estimates | ||||
Customers who wish to connect to the municipal water or sanitary sewer system will be permitted to, provided there are services available at the property line. An Application and Estimate for Water and Sewer is required and must be paid for before a building permit will be issued. For all water or sewer connection inquiries, please call 705-329-7249. |
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Sinks are not trash cans! Use of Garbage Grinders is Prohibited! | ||||
Did you know?
For the reasons above, Orillia's Sewage Discharge By-Law. prohibits garbage grinders or food scrap grinders from being installed or connected to the City's sanitary sewer system. The by-law also prohibits residential, industrial, commercial and institutional establishments from replacing existing garbage grinders. Owners who continue to use their existing garbage grinders could end up paying for the cost of clearing sewer blockages on the street. What can YOU do?
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Please don't flush that! | ||||
Pharmaceuticals, personal hygiene products, household hazardous waste, and fats, oils and grease are flushed down the toilet regularly. Flushing your unused medications causes trace pharmaceuticals to be detected in groundwater (including drinking water), soil, lakes and streams. Personal hygiene products, fats, oil and greases cause damage to the sewer system, including pipelines and pumps. This can cause backups to the sewer system which has the potential of backing up into your own home; this can be costly, let alone very unpleasant! The City of Orillia's Wastewater Treatment Centre is not equipped to treat and remove large amounts of fats, oils and grease from the sewer system. This can cause major longterm impacts to Lake Simcoe's ecosystem. By taking the 'I don't flush pledge', you can help drastically reduce the amount of unwelcome items in The City of Orillia's sewer system and Lake Simcoe. For more information, please click here: View the I Don't Flush YouTube video.
Below is a list of items that should NOT be disposed of in the toilet:
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Other helpful links for business owners | ||||
Businesses have unique needs when it comes to water and sewage issues. Contact us if you have specific questions. Below are some helpful links:
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We attempt to make our website documents accessible, however, some of these documents may not completely meet the AODA accessibility requirements. If you require assistance or communication support, please contact 705-326-1502.