Sewers

For health, safety and environmental protection reasons, the City of Ottawa operates thousands of kilometres of sewers, a complex wastewater collection system.

Types of Sewers

Sanitary sewers carry wastewater from homes, commercial buildings and industrial sources to the wastewater treatment plant, the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre. After treatment, the water is returned to the Ottawa River. There are 2,000 km of sanitary sewers in Ottawa.

Storm sewers carry rainfall and other surface run-off (from parking lots and roadways) directly to the nearest creek, stream or river, generally without treatment. There are 1,500 km of storm sewers in Ottawa.

Combined sewers carry both wastewater and run-off to the wastewater treatment plant. There are 125 km of combined sewers in Ottawa.

Wastewater discharged into sewers is governed by Ottawa's Sewer Use By-law. To obtain a copy of the By-law, please call a representative of the Sewer Use Program at 613-580-2424, ext. 23326. Sanitary and combined wastewater is treated at the Pickard Centre which operates under the authority of a Certificate of Approval issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE).

Sewer problems

If you are having a problem with your sewer backing up, please call 3-1-1.

Make sure to visit the Sewer/Watermain Rehabilitation page to find out how we keep up your drainage/water supply systems.