Sewer Lateral Cross-Connections

Two types of cross-connections

Complete cross-connection occurs when a home’s sanitary pipe is mistakenly tied to its storm water pipe or vice versa.

Partial cross-connection happens when a home’s internal plumbing is mistakenly tied to its stormwater pipe that leads to the storm sewer main.

Cross-connections can:

• Allow harmful waste to enter the stormwater channels which end up polluting local creeks and natural watercourses.
• Overburden the sanitary sewer system and wastewater treatment plant with stormwater
• Result in expensive repairs in order to correct the complete or partial cross-connection

What is the City doing about it?

The City created a Sewer Lateral Cross-Connection program in 2002 to identify and confirm cross-connections within Hamilton. The program inspects over 45km of mainline sewer pipes each year to find existing cross-connections. Once found, the City digs up the pipes and they are properly connected. The City has fixed 370 cross-connections to date, resulting in more than 70 million litres annually of wastewater going back into the collection system rather than out into watercourses.

What you can do to prevent cross-connections

You can help prevent partial cross-connections. When planning renovations or additions in your home, ensure that you have the proper permits. Whether you are hiring a professional contractor or doing the work yourself, it is extremely important that you have the proper permits and appropriate inspections completed. This will ensure that the work has been done correctly, prevent costly repairs in the future and harm to the environment.