Sanitary Sewer System
Our municipal wastewater system protects lakes, streams, and rivers in the Greater Sudbury region from contaminants that would otherwise compromise the quality of these water bodies. Once used, water must again undergo treatment before it can leave the system and be reintroduced to nearby watersheds. The sanitary sewer system collects sewage from properties that are serviced within it. Private sewer lines are connected to the City’s sanitary network of pipes which transport sewage to wastewater treatment plants and lagoon systems.
Wastewater originating from homes and buildings within Garson, New Sudbury, Minnow Lake, Downtown, Copper Cliff, the West End, and the South End is transported to the Kelly Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, while Greater Sudbury communities are equipped with separate sanitary systems that direct sewage to their respective sewage treatment plants or lagoons.
Sewage transport in the Sanitary Sewer System
The sanitary sewer system differs from the water distribution system by using gravity to move sewage from higher to lower elevations. Wastewater flows downhill until it reaches a low point in the system. When it needs to be lifted to higher elevations, lift stations are used. These stations, located at low points, pump wastewater to higher areas where it can flow downhill again.
Lift stations create pressure differences that move wastewater toward areas of lower pressure, even at higher elevations. Wastewater collects in an underground tank, or wet well, where sensors monitor the water level. When the level reaches a certain point, submersible pumps activate, forcing wastewater through a force main pipeline. Some lift stations use submersible pumps, located in the wet well like a sump pump, while others use dry well pumps connected to the wet well via piping.
Challenges of the Sanitary System - Stormwater
Greater Sudbury Water, wastewater Compliance Officers monitor properties and enforce Greater Sudbury's Sewer Use By-law 2010-188. This by-law prohibits:
How you can help prevent sewer backups in the sanitary system
Remember:
- Collect stormwater using rain barrels, and install preventative plumbing on your property
- Ensure your home's rain gutter downspouts, weeping tiles, and sump pit systems do not drain directly into the sewer system
- Your toilet is not a trash can—only human waste and toilet paper should enter the sanitary sewers.
To learn more about Inflow and Infiltration, preventative plumbing, the Residential Inflow and Infiltration Subsidy Program (RIISP), or how to protect your homes plumbing checkout the following links: