Rainwater and our sewerage system

Sewerage system overflow web

How rainwater can affect our sewerage system

Each town has a sophisticated system of storm water drains specifically designed to deal with our annual downfalls. Contrary to many people's perceptions, it is a different system independent of the sewerage system. There is a very good reason for this.

Every drop of water that makes its way into our sewerage system, whether it is wastewater or rain, has to be pumped, purified and treated as effluent. It is the only way we can guarantee clean water and public health. Here is the problem - our sewerage system, while able to process these extra waters, is designed specifically to treat household wastewater. Treating storm and other excess water as well, places a costly and unnecessary burden on our sewerage system and on ratepayers.