Wastewater

The Township of Springwater operates and maintains the municipal sewer system in serviced areas to help collect wastewater from homes, businesses, and public facilities. This includes maintaining sanitary forcemains, manholes, pumping stations gravity mains and related infrastructure, responding to issues within the Township-owned system, and planning repairs and upgrades to support reliable service, protect public health, and help safeguard the environment.

Annual Performance Reports

The Annual Performance Reports for municipal sanitary collection provides a summary of how the Township’s sanitary collection system has performed over the year. These reports help keep residents informed about the operation, maintenance and overall condition of the system, including any major repairs, upgrades, monitoring activities and compliance-related information required under provincial regulations.

Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approval (CLI-ECA) Reports

A Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approval (CLI-ECA) is a provincial approval issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) that allows municipalities to manage eligible water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure works under a single approval framework. These annual reports help demonstrate that municipal stormwater systems are functioning as intended and continuing to meet provincial compliance requirements.

Municipal Sanitary Collection System Annual Reports

This report was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Compliance Approval for a Municipal Sanitary Collection Systems. The report covers the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

'As per Schedule E of the Township of Springwater Sanitary Collection System Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) Number: 128-W601, the annual performance report must be made available, on request and without charge, to members of the public who are served by the Authorized System; and must be made available, by June 1st of the same reporting year, to members of the public without charge by publishing the report on the Internet, if the Owner maintains a website on the Internet.'

Municipal Sanitary Collection System Annual Performance Report (ECA# 128-W601)

Significant Drinking Water Threat Assessment

A Significant Drinking Water Threat Assessment outlines how proposed changes to stormwater and sewage infrastructure are reviewed in areas that may be more vulnerable to impacts on municipal drinking water sources. It helps determine whether a project could pose a significant drinking water threat and identifies measures to protect drinking water quality before work proceeds. This type of assessment supports compliance with Ontario’s Clean Water Act, 2006 and applicable source protection requirements.

Significant Drinking Water Threat Assessment for Proposed Alterations

Protect your pipes

Protect your pipes by safely disposing non-flushable items and fats, oils and grease. Everything we deposit into a toilet or sink needs to be removed at a wastewater treatment facility. From baby wipes and hygiene products to cooking oils and sandwich spreads, non-flushable items can clog pipes, damage infrastructure and negatively impact our lakes and rivers.

Fats, oils and grease

When fats, oils and grease (FOG) cool, they form blockages. Blockages can lead to basement flooding and sewage overflows onto streets and surrounding areas. These clogs can also damage your local wastewater facility and your rates may go up to cover costly repairs.

What is FOG?

FOG is fats, oils and grease. These include:

Sandwich spreads
Milk and cream
Salad dressings
Butter and magarine
Sauces and gravies
Meat fat

How can I properly dispose of FOG?

Follow these tips to protect your pipes from FOG:

After a meal, let leftover FOG cool in pans and then scrape into the green bin.
Liquid FOG can be poured into containers such as tin cans, empty coffee cans or milk cartons and left to harden, then scraped into the green bin.
Wipe excess FOG from pans and dishes with a paper towel and dispose of it in the green bin.

Pharmaceuticals

Did you know that traces of pharmaceuticals are being detected in the environment, primarily in water (surface water, groundwater, and drinking water) and soil? One of the ways pharmaceuticals get into our environment is by consumers flushing them down the toilet or the sink.

Most pharmacies will take back unused or expired pharmaceuticals. Visit healthsteward.ca to find your local pharmacy by address/postal code.

Personal hygiene products

Many items we use on a daily basis cannot go down our drains.

Non-flushable items

Common hygiene items that are flushed⁠—but shouldn't be⁠—include:

Personal care wipes/baby wipes and facial tissue
Tampons, sanitary pads
Diapers
Condoms
Cosmetics
Cotton swabs
Dental floss
Hair dye
Hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol
Nail polish and remover
Perfume and cologne
Waxes

Household hazardous waste

Many items we use for general cleaning, home maintenance, gardening and automobile care can be dangerous if poured down our drains. These items contain toxic ingredients and should be used and disposed of with caution. Please check the County of Simcoe's Waste Wizard to find out where to dispose of household hazardous waste products.