Monitoring Wastewater Overflows and Bypasses

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Wastewater Treatment Plant Bypass Log

Updated weekly

Table data is not official record.

WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM OVERFLOWS

Updated weekly
January 1, 2020 through June 24, 2020 the Overflow Log shows CSO tank overflow events. Starting June 25, 2020 the Overflow Log will show all monitored overflow location events. Table data is not official record.

The City of Hamilton has a large complex wastewater collection network consisting of both separated sewer and combined sewer systems. Modern areas of the City have separated sewer systems, which consist of sanitary sewers that carry wastewater from toilets and household drains in one sewer system, and storm sewers which carry surface water such as rainwater or snowmelt in another separated system. In older areas of the City a combined sewer system collects both storm water (rainwater or melt water), and wastewater in the same pipe. During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, combined sewers are inundated with large volumes of storm water that can exceed the capacity of the pipes.

Bypasses and CSO events are a necessary operating condition to prevent rainwater and wastewater from backing up and causing basement flooding, surface flooding of our roads and potential damage to the Wastewater Treatment Plants. Flooding from large volumes of storm water at the treatment plants can cause significant damage to mechanical and electrical equipment as well as ‘wash out’ the microscopic organisms needed for secondary wastewater treatment, which can affect the wastewater treatment plant’s ability to function for several days or weeks.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations staff monitor incoming flows and system/plant levels and make operational adjustments to the treatment processes as required.