Toronto's Sewers Bylaw
Municipal bylaws control the quality and quantity of substances discharged into their sanitary and stormwater sewer systems.
In July 2000, Toronto City Council enacted a new Sewers Bylaw – (Municipal Code, Chapter 681). The Environmental Monitoring & Protection Unit is responsible for enforcing the City's bylaw. For updates to Municipal Code, Chapter 681, see here: www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/
The bylaw sets strict limits on heavy metals and toxic organic compounds in wastewater discharged to the sanitary and stormwater sewers and natural watercourses. More ...
What's new
Grease Traps for Child Care Centres
In an effort to manage the issue, The City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 681, Sewers (bylaw), requires all commercial, industrial and institutional facilities that cook, process or prepare food on the premises, to dispose of fats, oils and grease properly, and to install and maintain a proper interceptor (grease trap) on appropriate plumbing fixtures.
Children's Services is working with Toronto Water and Toronto Public Health to ensure that child care operators who cook, prepare or process food on their premises are aware of the requirement to install a grease trap and ensure that they are compliant. More on grease traps.
Construction Debris
Keeping construction wastewater, waste and other debris out of the storm sewer helps prevent storm sewer blockage, road flooding and harmful substances from entering local waterways where it can harm aquatic habitat.
Car Washing Tips
The City of Toronto has made cleaning up our waterways a priority. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring that we keep chemicals, toxins and household hazardous waste out of the sewer system.
Swimming pools
The City of Toronto in conjunction with the Pool and Hot Tub Council of Canada created an Environmental Best Management Practice (BMP) to help pool contractors and homeowners with swimming pools and hot tubs/spas comply with the Sewers Bylaw (Municipal Code Chapter 681-Sewers) and to reduce the negative impacts of pool discharges to the natural environment.
Sewers Bylaw
Toronto’s Sewers Bylaw, Municipal Code, Chapter 681 (PDF), aims to protect water quality. It sets strict limits on heavy metals and toxic organic compounds in wastewater discharged to the sanitary and stormwater sewers and natural watercourses, helps facilities identify ways of reducing and/or eliminating pollutants at source, and works to improve the quality of biosolids.
Pollution Prevention (P2) Planning
The City of Toronto is one of the first municipalities in Canada to incorporate Pollution Prevention (P2) Planning requirements into its Sewers Bylaw.
Sewer Surcharge Rebate Program
City of Toronto water consumers can apply for a rebate for the surcharge on water rates.
