Sewer systems are made up of three components: public sewer lines on City property that collect and send waste water or storm water to a treatment facility, building sewer or sewer lateral pipes that connect the home to the sewer main and private sewers not owned by the City but collect sewage or waste water from more than one property.
Although sewers are designed to handle normal to above-average flow, melting snow, groundwater table elevation, intense rainfall or a combination of any of these factors can cause sewers to exceed their capacity.
Basement floods may be caused by sewer backups, drainage entering surface openings or cracks, or because surface water has exceeded sewer capacity. Sewer lateral and main sewer blockages may also be the cause.
All water should drain away from the building and window wells. It is illegal to divert storm run-off into the sanitary sewer system. This is the most significant contributor to sewer capacity limitations and consequent basement flooding.
Homeowners are responsible for all sanitary and storm sewer drainage on their property including roof drains and opened ditches. The City is responsible for sanitary and storm sewer drainage beginning at the property line where the City’s right of way begins.
Sanitary sewer lateral roddings are usually requested when a resident experiences a sewage backup. The Public Works Division is responsible for roddings and can be contacted at 705-759-5201, Monday – Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to request a sewer lateral rodding and to confirm charges. Should an emergency occur, Public Works can be contacted 24 hours a day through a night watchman at the same phone number. Requests for sewer lateral roddings outside regular hours are subject to additional fees.
Homeowners requesting a lateral rodding must provide access to the sewer lateral via a proper cleanout. Public Works will not inspect or attempt to rod the sewer lateral if an access point has not been created. Homeowners will be responsible for rodding charges if the blockage or refusal is determined to be on private property.
Video inspections of sewer pipes are carried out by the City’s Engineering and Planning Department. Often times, sewer lateral roddings will result in the sewer crew requesting a video inspection of the lateral. In this case, the homeowner will not be charged for the video inspection. If the homeowner requests a video inspection prior to the sewer crew carrying out a rodding, the homeowner is solely responsible for the fees. In addition, the homeowner will be required to pay the camera fee even if the video indicates the blockage is on City property.
FAQ
Who repairs culverts?
Public Works repairs culverts on city property through an annual culvert repair program. Your request will be evaluated and scheduled accordingly. If your request is to widen an existing entrance, a permit will be required from the Building Department at the Civic Centre, 99 Foster Drive. Your permit fees cover installation, material and culvert maintenance costs.
Who repairs sidewalks and curbs?
Public Works has an annual sidewalk and curb repair program. Requests are evaluated and scheduled accordingly. If your request is to widen an existing entrance, a permit is required from the Building Department at the Civic Centre, 99 Foster Drive. Your permit fees cover installation, material and maintenance costs.
How can I have ditching done in front of my home?
Public Works has an annual ditching program. Your request will be evaluated and scheduled accordingly.
When will restoration to city property (sidewalk, lawn, curb etc.) be done after a sewer lateral was repaired?
If the sewer lateral was dug in the winter/spring – restoration will be done in the fall. If the sewer lateral was dug during the summer/fall – restoration will be done the following spring. Restoration work is delayed to allow the portion of property to settle.
Does the city do sewer roddings?
The homeowner will be charged for any sewer service call to free a blockage that occurred as a result of a problem on the private side of the lateral or any blockage that has occurred as a result of a substance or material introduced from the homeowner side of the system.
There is a fee of $176.99 plus HST for sewer rodding. After 3:30 p.m., during the work week and weekends, the charge is $353.98 plus HST. The City will not charge for a sewer service call due to a blockage if the blockage was caused by a failed pipe on the city side of the property line.
A no charge service call does not mean that the municipality is assuming responsibility for damage to the homeowner’s property as a result of a sewer blockage. A plumber will need to be contacted, at the homeowner’s expense, if proper access to the sewer lateral is not available, or if the access is located in a confined space (i.e. located under the house, in a crawl space, etc). If the homeowner requests sewer camera work, Public Works provides sewer camera work service at a cost of $250.