Wastewater Collection & Treatment

The Woodward Avenue Treatment Plant has an average daily capacity of 409 million litres. The facility is a secondary conventional activated sludge plant with sludge dewatering and digestion. There are five wastewater treatment processes used at this plant, including:

• Preliminary treatment
• Primary treatment
• Secondary treatment
• Effluent disinfection
• Sludge digestion

The Woodward Avenue Treatment Plan digester complex treats:

• primary treatment sludge
• thickened secondary activated sludge

This complex has five primary and three secondary anaerobic digesters. The digestion process uses a heated biological process to reduce the volume of organic matter and destroy pathogens. This process produces methane gas and biosolids. The methane gas is used as a fuel or converted into electricity. The treated biosolids, after being conditioned, are approved for use on agricultural land.

The Dundas Wastewater Treatment Plant has an average daily capacity of 18.2 million litres. The facility is a conventional activated sludge plant with tertiary filtration. There are five wastewater treatment processes used at this Plant, including:

• Preliminary treatment
• Primary treatment
• Secondary treatment
• Tertiary filtration
• Effluent disinfection

Biosolids are stored on site in covered holding tanks until they are transported to the Woodward Avenue Treatment Plant for further processing.

The WWQMS is a set of policies and procedures implemented to effectively and efficiently collect and treat wastewater in a manner that protects the environment, meets legal and regulatory requirements & meets City of Hamilton’s commitment to a high-quality wastewater system. 

The WWQMS Policy CLEAN ensures the City’s commitment to:  

• Compliance with all legal and other requirements  
• Leaders in pollution prevention 
• Effective communication with the community 
• Always improving the Wastewater Quality Management System; and  
• Noteworthy innovation 

The WWQMS was built upon Hamilton Water’s strong quality management system foundation, existing operational framework and staff expertise. The City of Hamilton's Wastewater Quality Management System (WWQMS) received endorsement from Council on December 16, 2020. The WWQMS was fully implemented and operational in 2021.

Hamilton Water is the Operating Authority for the City's wastewater collection and treatment systems. Hamilton Water has established and maintains the WWQMS such that it meets legal and other requirements including financial planning and annual reporting.

The WWQMS Operational Plan Summary Report informs Mayor and Council of the WWQMS’ performance and milestones. In addition, printed copies of the WWQMS Operational Plan Summary Report can be found at the following locations:

• Clerk's Office
• City Hall
• Hamilton Water Storefront at 330 Wentworth St N, Hamilton

Download the Hamilton Water Financial Plan (PDF, 642 KB) or pick up a printed copy at the City of Hamilton Water Customer Service Area, 330 Wentworth Street North, Hamilton.

Download the 2021 Bypass and CSO Overflow Log

If you require these any of these in an alternative format such as Braille or large print, call 905-546-2489.