Multiple Residential Properties - Sewer Drains

The Works Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations embodied in the communication dated October 4, 1999, from Councillor Joe Pantalone, Trinity Niagara, subject to adding the words "on City property" after the word "situations".

The Works Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to submit a brief report directly to Council for its meeting on October 26, 27 and 28, 1999, on current standards with respect to multiple drains.

The Works Committee submits the following communication (October 4, 1999) from Councillor Joe Pantalone, Trinity Niagara:

Recommendation:

That the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to regularize multiple drain situations:

(1)where the department is already doing work at or near the locality;

(2)where it is recognized that it would be cost-effective; and

(3)where there is a blockage problem that is likely to re-occur;

and further that the Commissioner report to the Budget Advisory Committee as part of the Capital Budget process on what funds need to be allocated to achieve this cost-effective measure.

I have discussed the above with the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and he is supportive of this recommendation.

The Works Committee also submits the following report (June 18, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To provide for each district the distribution of homes currently serviced with corporate/City's sewer drains to which multiple private sewer drains are connected, the estimated total cost to install a corporate sewer at each home in the City, an implementation strategy, and an alternative strategy to reduce conflicts/disputes among neighbours regarding sewer drains.

Financial Implications:

The estimated total cost to install an individual corporate drain to each home in the City is approximately $1,326 million for homes currently with 'Y' connected drains (two homes), and approximately $44.4 million for homes currently serviced with header drains (more than two homes).

Recommendation:

That this report be received as information.

Council Reference:

At its meeting of May 26 and 27, 1999, the Toronto Community Council, having received a letter from Councillor Pantalone (May 19, 1999), requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in consultation with appropriate officials, to report on:

(1)sewage drains servicing multiple residential properties;

(2)problems which are encountered with such sewage drains (including neighbour disputes and inefficiencies with such drains); and

(3)how a city-wide program similar to the Water Service Upgrading Program could achieve separate drains for each residential property.

Discussion:

Wastewater from a home flows/discharges to the City's sewer by means of a drain which is made up of two sections. The section from the sewer to the property line, known as the City or corporate drain, is owned by the City which is responsible for any problem found therein. The other portion from the property line to the house, known as the private drain, is owned by the homeowner who is responsible for any problem found therein.

There are three types of drain connections:

(i)a single drain servicing a single home;

(ii)Y' connected drains (a single City drain servicing two homes via a 'Y' connector); and

(iii)'header' drain (a single City drain connected to a header drain into which more than two individual private drains are connected).

The estimated number of homes serviced by the three types of drains are:

Problems associated with drains are collapsed/broken pipes, or blockage by roots or debris. These problems are common to both the private and the City drains. Disputes among residents with single and 'Y' connected private drains are not common and are easily resolved. However, disputes regarding investigations and repairs associated with header drains occur frequently because the investigation to locate and repair the problem is complex, often requiring costly excavation on City property to solve a problem for an up-stream property. Then there are disputes as to who pays and in what proportions. The disputes become even more complicated when the header drain is located beneath verandas, steps or flower gardens or is at the rear of the homes.

One option to avoid disputes among neighbours regarding drain problems is for the City to provide a single corporate drain to each home. The estimated cost to provide single corporate drains to the 221,000 homes serviced by 'Y' connected drains is $1,326 million, and to the 7,400 homes serviced by header drains is $44.4 million. The average cost to install an average corporate drain is taken as $6,000.00. Installation will be more costly if the depth of the sewer exceeds three metres or is in a difficult location.

Implementation of a program to systematically provide individual corporate drains for 'Y' connected private drains is relatively simple, since their locations are known. However, knowledge of where most of header drain connected private drains are located is limited, and unless a separate program to locate them is carried out, it will be difficult to implement a systematic installation program concurrent with the 'Y' connected drain program. Therefore, it may be preferable to carry out this program on an 'ad hoc' basis, i.e., to install only when they are found during a complaint investigation.

As can be noted in the foregoing, the provision of individual corporate drains to homeowners throughout the City would be costly and have limited benefits. As an alternative, to reduce the incidence of disputes arising out of drain problems, staff suggest that 'clean-outs' be systematically installed at 'Y' connectors and at the 'T' junctions of the corporate drains and the header drains. By so doing, such clean-outs will preclude the need for costly excavation and will provide easy access to both the corporate drain and the private drain for the purposes of locating problems (via closed circuit television camera inspections) and of removing drain blockages. The cost of installing clean-outs will be the responsibility of the affected homeowners.

With respect to new drain installations, the Draft Sewer Use By-Law which is currently in a public consultation phase recommends that an individual corporate drain be installed to each house.

Conclusions:

The provision of all homes with individual corporate drains will eliminate disputes among homeowners whose properties are serviced with corporate drains with multiple private drain connections, however, it is far too costly with limited benefit.

A less costly and effective alternative to reduce disputes and conflicts among homeowners whose properties are serviced with corporate drains with multiple private drain connections, is to install clean-outs at 'Y' connectors and at the 'T' junction of the header drain and the corporate drain when problems occur.

Contact Name:

Wayne Green, Director

Quality Control and System Planning

Telephone: (416) 392-8242

Fax: (416) 392-2974

e-mail: wayne_green@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca

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Councillor Joe Pantalone, Trinity Niagara, appeared before the Works Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.