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“It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it.” That “someone” is our wastewater collection and treatment system, our sewers. It is an amazing achievement of civil engineering, but because it is largely unseen, is given little thought by the public. This is unfortunate, for something that is so critical to our health and environment. What goes down our toilets, drains and storm sewers is out of sight and out of mind, until we have a sewage backup into our basement or experience stormwater flooding.

Wastewater treatment has not changed substantially over the decades. What has changed is the list of pollutants that are in it, many of which our treatment plants were not designed to effectively remove or break down. Residential wastewater once consisted of “normal” sanitary waste from toilets, laundry, bathing, etc. but now contains household cleaners, disinfectants and various and assorted other household chemicals.

“Pharmaceuticals, personal care products and pesticides is an emerging concern in the wastewater industry in general and we are aware of their presence in our two wastewater treatment plants … The city has participated on previous studies specific to pharmaceuticals and micro plastics in our wastewater. Right now, we see control of these products entering the sewer system through public education an important strategy.” (Bert Posedowski, City of Hamilton, 2016)

There is a sewer use bylaw, with strict limits, that states what can and cannot be discharged into the sewer that applies to everyone connected to the sewer system, industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors alike. But there appears to be little awareness of the bylaw among the general public. The city can only trust that residents will use the system responsibly, and not as a convenient way to dispose of household hazardous wastes for instance, flammable, toxic or explosive materials such as paint thinners and gasoline. These materials can damage the sewer system, endanger other sewer users or interfere with wastewater treatment processes. In 1992, in Guadalajara, Mexico, explosions from gasoline leaking into the sewer killed more than 200 people and damaged 1,000 buildings. Twenty square blocks of Guadalajara were levelled or seriously damaged. In Louisville, a major hexane leak from the Ralston-Purina plant in 1981 destroyed more than 21 kilometres of sewer lines and streets. The incident has been cited as an example of the dangers associated with discharges of hazardous waste to sewer systems.

It’s not only hazardous wastes that are a problem, but so called “flushables” — wipes, diapers, paper towels, feminine products, etc. — in addition to waste cooking oils and grease that cause blockages and backups in the system.

During heavy rainfall events, when the wastewater collection system is at capacity, combined sewer wastewater, albeit diluted, and stormwater, which picks up all manner of pollutants and debris — motor oil, antifreeze, soil, animal feces, road salt, etc. — is discharged directly to the environment. Reducing these pollutants is critical to protecting our natural environment. The use/overuse of fertilizers and pesticides on our lawns further exacerbates this problem. As we continue to pave over our urban environment, stormwater flows, erosion and flooding will only increase. We can reduce the amount of hard, impermeable, surfaces like concrete and asphalt driveways and patios and replace them with more porous materials like permeable paving stones or grass. Planting trees and shrubbery can reduce erosion. We can disconnect eavestrough downspouts from foundation drains and direct the water onto our lawns, to rain barrels or a rain garden.

One in a hundred year storms are becoming one in five year events, but we can ease the burden on an already overworked system. It’s in our own best interest and that of our local environment to do so. It was important to call out the city over “Sewergate,” but we also need to be more thoughtful about how we use our sewer system. Could it be, like Rodney Dangerfield, it gets no respect?

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