Sewer Discharge Permits

Overstrength Discharge Permit

• Allows the property to discharge wastewater to a sanitary or combined sewer system that exceeds the by-law limit for one or more treatable parameters. Treatable parameters are those that can be treated at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant including:
  • Biochemical oxygen demand
  • Suspended solids
  • Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
  • Oil and grease (animal and vegetable)
• Overstrength Discharge Permits allow the City to recover the costs from the discharger for treating these overstrength wastes.

Surcharge Discharge Permit

• Allows the property to discharge wastewater to a sanitary or combined sewer system where the water was not purchased from the City’s potable water supply. The discharge must meet the parameter limits in the By-law and free from prohibited substances.
• Surcharge Discharge Permits allow the City to recover the costs for treating wastewater that is discharged to the sewer system but not captured on water bills.

Compliance Discharge Permit

• Allows the property a period of time when they can discharge wastewater to a sewer works that exceeds the By-law limits. To be eligible for this permit, you must commit to making process changes and/or installing treatment equipment to comply with the By-law. We issue this permit with strict timeframes and conditions to ensure you complete the required changes. 
• We only issue this type of permit when the discharge does not:
  • impair the operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant
  • impair the collection system
  • impair the quality of the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s biosolids
  • pose a health and safety risk for City staff, the public or the environment

Chlorides Discharge Permit

• Allows the property to discharge wastewater to a sanitary or combined sewer system with chlorides concentrations greater than 1500 mg/L but less than 4000 mg/L. To receive this permit, you must implement a discharge monitoring program and provide periodic reports to the City as outlined in the conditions of the permit.
• You may also be issued a permit that allows a discharge of wastewater to a sanitary or combined sewer system with chlorides concentrations greater than 4000 mg/L but less than 5000 mg/L. You must submit an engineering study indicating the likely reduction of the life span of an exposed sewage works as a result of the discharge. You must also pay for any likely reduction identified in the study or any reduction that results from the actual discharge.

Temporary Discharge Permit

• Allows the property to discharge non-routine and short-term wastewater to the sewer works for a period of up to six months.

Conditional Discharge Permit

• Allows the property to discharge wastewater to the sewer works for which a higher level government authority is required, including but not limited to discharges that contain PCBs, waste radioactive prescribed substances, leachate from a waste disposal site, water from a groundwater remediation project or water that is discharged to a storm sewer.

Construction Dewatering Permit

• Allows the property to discharge wastewater from construction dewatering activities to a sanitary, combined, or storm system for up to three years. View more information about Construction Dewatering Permit

You must apply for a Sewer Discharge Permit within 60 days of written notice by an officer. A Sewer Discharge Permit expires three years from the date of issuance unless there is an earlier date set out in the permit or when the permit is revoked.

Sewer Discharge Permit Application Form(PDF, 2.18 MB)

You must also submit supporting information (identified in Section 2 of the form) including:

• City water and sewer charges for the premises (Horizon Utilities account number)
• Certificate of Insurance
• Release and Indemnification Form (if required)
• Application fees will be invoiced through the current utilities service provider (Alectra Utilities) during the application processing

The original and complete application for a Sewer Discharge Permit must be emailed to [email protected]

We verify all information provided on the application form and accompanying documents. We do not accept incomplete applications; these are returned to the applicant.

Additional Information

You may be required to submit additional information during our review of the application, including but not limited to:

• Engineering reports
• Water balance study
• Calibration records

The City will contact the applicant in writing should additional information be requested.

Fees Effective January 1, 2024

Fees Effective January 1, 2025