During periods of heavy rain or snowmelt, older sewer pipes can be too small to handle the water. When this happens, water can back up into your basement.
There are 283 CSO locationsthroughout Niagara. Overflows were designed to allow excess water to exit the sewer systems when the pipes could not handle the increased flows due to wet weather and melting snow.
The 283 locations include both municipal and regional infrastructure.
While this system prevents basement flooding, there are health and environmental concerns from releasing untreated water into ditches and rivers. We are working to reduce and eliminate these concerns.
We no longer install combined sewers, and are working on projects to construct new water treatment facilities in increase capacity, upgrade older sewer pipes and disconnect downspouts that run directly into the sewers. These improvements are reducing the need for these overflows.
Do not flush toilets, or run dishwashers/washing machines during heavy rainfall
Do not pour paint, oil and pesticides into storm sewer drains
Wash your car at a commercial car wash where the water is often recycled before being released into the sewers
Wash your car at home over grass or gravel with a biodegradable soap to allow water to drain into the ground
Disconnect your downspouts and let water run onto your lawn
Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater from your downspouts. This water can be used to water your plants and grass
Install low flush toilets to reduce water consumption
For more information contact Niagara's Water & Wastewater or call 905-984-3624.