Sewers and wastewater

A sewer system overflow occurs when sanitary sewers are overwhelmed by stormwater inflow during wet weather events. 

A wastewater treatment plant bypass occurs when flow exceeds capacity of the treatment plant. Untreated wastewater and storm water discharge directly into local waterways through an outlet to assist in preventing basement flooding. The wastewater treatment plant treats as much sewage as possible prior to any plant bypass by directing a portion of the flow to receive primary treatment but it bypasses secondary treatment.

Reducing the number of weeping tile drains to the sanitary sewer is required to avoid overflow and bypass issues. It is estimated that there are approximately 50,000 homes within the City of London that have weeping tiles directly connected to the sanitary sewer.  These flows can overwhelm the sewer system during heavy rainfall and can cause basement flooding, sewer system overflows, and bypasses. 

Bypasses and overflows at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and pumping stations for 2024. Volumes are in cubic metres and durations are in hours.

How can you help?

If your home's weeping tile is connected to the sanitary sewer inside your home, you can have your weeping tiles disconnected from the sanitary sewer and reconnected to the City’s stormwater system.

The City has a Basement Flooding Grant Program in place to assist homeowners with the cost.

For further questions about the Basement Flooding Grant By-law, or to find out if you qualify for grant program, please contact sewers@london.ca or call 516-661-2489 x5489

Free FOG Cups can be picked up at City of London EnviroDepots and at London Public Library locations.  

• Put into a food soiled paper product (i.e. paper egg carton, soiled food paper packaging not coated in plastic such as a flour bag) or use newspaper to soak up
• Pour small amounts directly into your Green Bin. Use a paper or certified compostable liner in your Green bin to contain and/or absorb the material. 

What is FOG and why do we collect it?

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can block London's sewer system when they're poured down your sink or into your toilet.  When FOG hardens, you could end up flooding your basement or even your neighbour's.

What is a fatberg and how can you prevent them?

FOG cups

The City of London provides residents with FOG cups for no charge (limit 2 per household per visit) to collect their fats, oils and grease.  When the cup is full, it may be returned to a City of London EnviroDepot where it will be used to generate green energy.

One full FOG Cup can be turned into enough energy to power a refrigerator for a day. 

The certified compostable FOG cups can also be placed inside the Green Bin, including the lid. If you are not using a FOG cup, you can also collect fats, oils and grease in a coffee cup or can that you can place into the freezer. If using a coffee cup or can please put into the garbage.

Certified compostable cups may also be used for FOG and put into the Green Bin. Please look for one of these logos on the cup or packaging:

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FOG can go directly into the Green Bin. Before washing pots, pans and dishes wait for the FOG to solidify by letting it cool at room temperature or in the fridge. Scrape it into the Green Bin and use an absorbent material such as paper towel or soiled paper to wipe out the container and put into the Green Bin.  

Small amounts of liquid cooking oils that will not solidify can be poured directly into the Green Bin. It may help to use a certified compostable liner or paper liner along with absorbent soiled paper products to soak it up. Large amounts of liquid cooking oil should be put into a tightly sealed container and dropped off at the EnviroDepots. 

If you have questions related to FOG cups, please contact Waste Management at Rsharon@london.ca or call 519-661-2489 x 4935.

A Private Drain Connection is the portion of sewer pipe from your property line to the City’s sanitary sewer main.  The portion of the pipe on private property is called the building sewer. Together, the Private Drain Connection and the building sewer are known as the sanitary lateral pipe.

The homeowner is financially responsible for the entire length of the sanitary lateral pipe. The main distinction between the two sections of pipe is that City staff may be involved in the repair work for the Private Drain Connection portion, while the maintenance, repair and replacement of the building sewer can be done by any qualified contractor the homeowner chooses in accordance with appropriate permits.

The homeowner is responsible for the entirety of the pipe because the homeowner controls what is discharged to this sewer pipe from their property. 

The City is responsible for the sanitary sewer main within the roadway that runs in front of the property.

Please refer to the City of London’s Drainage By-law for more information.

In some cases, both sanitary and stormwater drain into a common pipeline that leads it to a nearby wastewater treatment plant. This type of sewer is no longer constructed, but is occasionally found in old sewer systems. 

The City of London has invested almost $11 million into separating combined sewers in the downtown over the last three years. These measures help mitigate the sewer system by reducing, or even eliminating, the chance of wastewater overflows. 

Toilets and sinks are not garbage cans

Drains are designed for wastewater and toilet paper only. Flushing the wrong things down your toilet or sink can block sewer pipes and may cause flooding at your home.  It is also extremely important to keep medicines and garbage out of the toilet.

The IWSFG seal of approval 

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"Flushable" and "Biodegradable" are both unregulated terms, meaning they can be put on just about anything. The best way to know if a wipe can or cannot be flushed is to check packaging for the seal of approval from the International Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG). 

Wipes without the IWSFG seal of approval always belong in the garbage bin, even if the wipe package says "flushable".

What can I flush? 

Flushable: 

• Toilet paper 
• Urine & feces 
• Wipes with the IWSFG seal of approval 

DO NOT flush: 

• Wipes (baby, disinfectant, etc.) that don't have the IWSFG seal of approval 
• Paper towels
• Feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads, etc.)
• Cotton balls and pads
• Condoms 
• Disposable masks
• Plastics of any kind (no matter how small!)
• Medicine (Remember to always dispose of medicines by taking them to your pharmacy)
• Face masks

Only rain should go down the drain

Storm sewers and catchbasins collect water outside and drain directly into the nearest creek, river or lake. This water is not treated, so it is important to not put waste such as animal waste, automotive fluids, garbage, and chemicals down a catchbasin.

Pouring any chemicals in the storm sewer is illegal and pollutes our rivers and lakes.

One litre of motor oil spilled down a catchbasin can contaminate one million litres of water.

When you wash your car on your driveway or the street, the soapy, dirty water runs into our creeks and river. To avoid having dirty water run into our storm sewer system, consider these options for washing your car:

• Use a commercial car wash facility. These facilities treat wastewater and discharge it into the sanitary sewer system where it will receive further treatment. Commercial car washes are regulated to practice water conservation. Washing your car at home can use as much as 50 percent more water.
• Find a location where the wastewater won’t flow into the storm sewer. For example, washing cars on a gravel surface or grass allows the wastewater to be absorbed before it reaches the storm sewer.

Draining pools and hot tubs

If you are draining a pool or hot tub, remember to dechlorinate the water and drain onto your lawn, if it can be properly absorbed into the ground without flowing onto your neighbours property or storm water system.

Salt water pools should be discharged to the sanitary system connection on your property. The water from salt water pools have such high levels of chlorides that this water cannot be discharged to the storm sewer system.

Restaurant grease

Grease build up is often the main cause of sewer back ups at restaurants.  Grease interceptors are required anywhere food is cooked, processed or prepared. 

Grease interceptors are containment units designed to trap grease, oil, solids and other debris. They prevent these substances from getting into the sanitary sewer system where they can eventually block the entire pipe. Grease interceptors need to be properly sized, installed and maintained. Cleaning food wastes and oil out of grease interceptors is required on a regular basis.  

Oil and grit separators

Oil and grit separators are structures  integrated into the City’s stormwater system. As rain and melted snow wash from the ground surface and enter stormwater grates located on roads and in parking lots, oil and grit separators:

• Remove sediment
• Screen debris
• Separate oil 

Property and business owners are responsible for maintaining this device as per London’s Waste Discharge By-law. Spills happen, so make sure your oil and grit separator is working properly to capture them.

If an oil and grit separator is not maintained, it can result in toxic runoff entering our stormwater system

Construction sites

Erosion and sediment control plans are an integral part of site development and construction sites.  Sanitary sewers are not built to handle storm water from construction sites and basements.

It is also important to manage wash water at a construction site.  Wash water for latex paint or concrete should never go into the storm sewer system. 

For more information and educational materials, please contact Wastewater Treatment Operations at 519-661-5701