Combined sewer overflows and the Sewer Separation Program
A combined sewer system collects domestic sewage, industrial wastewater and storm water runoff. During heavy rainfall events, the volume of flow in the system can exceed its capacity and result in a combined sewer overflow (CSO). In the event of a CSO, excess wastewater is discharged untreated directly into local water bodies, being a contributing source of water pollution.
In 1978, Council established the Sewer Separation Program with the intent of reducing CSOs and pollution discharge to local waterways and improve their overall water quality level. It has since become a provincial requirement that all CSOs be eliminated by the year 2050. Since the program's beginning, it has primarily focused primarily on the downtown corridor, False Creek area and the West End of the city. The Downtown Granville and Yaletown areas are now fully separated with a continued focus on further separation of the downtown corridor: the False Creek area, the West end of the city and to some extent, the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona, Still Creek and Fraser River areas.
Additional benefits of the program include:
- A reduction in cross connections between sanitary and storm water lines and inflow and infiltration into the system through continual monitoring of the program.
- Savings of about $100, 000 annually in Regional District (Metro Vancouver) levies, which is a result of the Metro Vancouver change in cost allocation methods in 1995.
Residents and private property owners should note that the program allows for $1,000 reimbursement towards the cost of plumbing alterations on private property and the provision for a separated sewer connection to serve the property. However, this applies only to properties in those areas outlined in the program.
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