The City has three different types of sewer systems to deal with the stormwater from rainfall and wastewater produced by daily activities. Storm sewer systems capture and convey natural runoff through a network of ditches or pipes and then discharge it into the natural bodies of water through gravity and pump station outfalls. Sanitary and combined sewers are an underground network of service connections, pipes, manholes and pump stations that collect and convey wastewater to the regional trunk sewers and wastewater treatment plants operated by Metro Vancouver. Combined sewer systems collect both the sanitary sewage and storm water into a single pipe. The city is replacing this type of sewer because during large storms the rainwater can result in the system reaching its capacity and overflowing into the Fraser River.
The Sewers and Drainage Branch is responsible for the maintenance, repair and upgrading of the sanitary and storm sewer system including storm and sanitary sewer mains, services to the property line, drainage pumps, sanitary lift stations, dykes, drainage system, and equipment pool.
Groundwater Discharge
Site remediation, redevelopment activities and construction excavation can lead to the collection of groundwater that needs to be appropriately managed and removed from the site. In the City of New Westminster's urban setting, this is most readily done by discharging to the sanitary/combined system or storm sewer system. All discharges to any part of the sewer systems are regulated by the City of New Westminster's Sewer and Drainage Regulation Bylaw No. 7746. If groundwater discharge is required, special consideration is required to determine whether the discharge must be directed to the sanitary/combined sewer system or the storm sewer system.
Do you need a wastewater discharge permit? Groundwater Discharge Submission Form (PDF)
Homeowner Sewer Service Maintenance
Wastewater can be described as the "used" water that enters the municipal system through sewer services from homes and businesses. When these services are not maintained properly, they can cause severe damage to the municipal system, as well as your own sewer service and home or business. Our goal is to maintain municipal infrastructure and we need you to help keep it clear and working properly by following the tips below.
Maintaining Your Sanitary Service Connection
Homeowner Sewer Service Repair
The City of New Westminster's Sewerage and Drainage Regulation Bylaw outlines the homeowner's responsibility for the maintenance, cleaning, and unplugging of the household storm and sanitary service connections between the house and public sewer main, as well as all charges incurred.
What if your sanitary service connection is blocked?
Private Property Blockage Advice
- Shut off all sources of water (faucets, dishwasher, laundry, etc.) to control the back up of your sewer system.
- Immediately call a licensed plumber to inspect your service.
- If the plumber deems the blockage to be external of the building, have them root cut or flush the service to the municipal sewer main. Ensure that they attempt to clear the blockage to the municipal sewer main or inspection chamber (if applicable) and not just the property line.
- If the blockage cannot be cleared by the plumber due to a collapse in the pipe on the municipal works portion of the service, call Engineering and Public Works at 604-526-4691 and inform them that the plumber attempted to clear the service to the City main but could not relieve the blockage. Proof of plumber's attendance may be requested upon arrival of City staff.
- City staff may attempt to clear the blockage provided there is access to the service from outside the building. If your building is not equipped with an external clean out, please contact a private company to install a clean out external to the building. City staff do not perform any work inside buildings.
Engineering and Public Works Response
City staff will respond by inspecting the upstream and downstream manholes to ensure that no blockage in the City main exists. Following the inspection of the city main, City staff will assess the inspection chamber on the homeowner's property line (if applicable). Where there is no inspection chamber installed on the service connection at the property line, the homeowner shall be responsible to clear the blockage to the City main.