Sewer Use By-law
The Town of BWG’s Sewer Use By-law 2013-68 regulates the discharge of sewage, storm water and land drainage. It applies to all direct and indirect discharges to storm or sanitary sewers and land drainage works in BWG, focusing on Industrial, Commercial and Institutional facilities (ICI’s) into municipal infrastructure.
Sewer Use Bylaw FAQs
1. What is the Sewer Use Bylaw?
The Sewer Use Bylaw prohibits, regulates and inspects the discharge of water and sewage into the sanitary and storm sewers within the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury’s (BWG) Municipal infrastructure.
The Sewer Use Bylaw establishes limits for various water quality parameters such as:
- phosphorus
- nutrients
- and suspended solids
2. Why is the Sewer Use Bylaw Important?
It is important to know that there are two types of sewer systems within BWG. The sanitary sewer carries wastewater from homes and businesses to the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) where it is treated. The storm sewer system collects rain water and melted snow from the streets and discharges it into local creeks and streams.
In order to maintain properly functioning sanitary and storm sewers, hazardous substances such as paints and fuels must not enter the municipal sewer systems. In order to ensure that this does not happen, discharges must be controlled at their sources.
Benefits of the Sewer Use Bylaw include:
- Healthier aquatic environment
- Protection of local water bodies
- Improved water quality
- Continued beauty of local natural resources for residents enjoyment
Unacceptable discharges to the sanitary and storm sewers could result in:
- The release of harmful substances to local water bodies
- Damage to municipal infrastructure
- Interference with the normal operation of the WPCP
- An inability to re-use the treated sludge (biosolids) as an agricultural fertilizer
- A threat to the health and safety of the public and staff of BWG
3. Who is affected by the Sewer Use Bylaw?
The Sewer Use Bylaw applies to all discharges to any sanitary or storm sewer in BWG. The Sewer Use Bylaw affects industrial, commercial (including restaurants, dental offices, etc.) and institutional facilities (ICIs).
4. Why do we need a Sewer Use Bylaw?
We need a Sewer Use By-law to:
- Protect the public, municipal workers and property from hazardous conditions
- Protect sewers from corrosion, obstruction or other damage
- Protect the environment from contaminants
- Achieve optimum wastewater efficiency
- Prevent operational process upsets and breakdowns
- Maintain WPCP compliance with provincial operating and treatment requirements
5. Who enforces the Sewer Use Bylaw?
The Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Division along with the Wastewater Division are responsible for the enforcement of the Sewer Use Bylaw 2013-68. Town Staff monitor and sample ICI facilities in BWG. Town Staff are also responsible for investigating complaints regarding sewer discharges from both ICI facilities and the public.
6. I own a restaurant with an older style grease interceptor. Will I need to replace it?
No. The Bylaw requires that discharge limits are met, which can be accomplished with proper maintenance of an older interceptor. New installations and upgrades must be Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-approved models.
