Sewer Main Renewal

The life expectancy of an underground sewer main is approximately 100 years. Keeping pace with sewer renewal each year helps us to avoid costly mega-projects. If upcoming construction is scheduled in your neighbourhood, you will receive a letter outlining the project schedule and other details.

In the meantime, here's some background information about our water and sewer system and why we need to do this work.

The Sewer System

Wastewater and drainage flows from sinks, toilets, drains, downspouts, and appliances from your home and travels by gravity through a network of collection pipes. At some point, these pipes empty into a much larger diameter sewer referred to as a trunk sewer which is operated by Metro Vancouver. Once in the trunk sewer, the flow eventually reaches a sewage treatment facility - most of Vancouver's flow is treated at Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant near Vancouver International Airport. Overall, the City operates and maintains 2800 km of sewer mains - enough pipe if laid out consecutively, to reach beyond Winnipeg.

Why is this work necessary?

Underground pipes deteriorate over time - mostly from soil conditions and aging. Pipes can break if they're not replaced, which could result in property damage and service disruptions. That's why we replace about 20 km of sewer main, as well as install hundreds of metres of new service connections, and numerous catch-basins every year. For a list of proposed water and sewer construction projects as well as other infrastructure upgrades, visit our Road Ahead page.

What happens when construction starts?

Stage 1: Crews dig a trench for the water or sewer main and install the new pipe. You'll notice lots of activity and equipment on the road. Parking restrictions will be in place to allow for digging and movement of supplies and equipment. Crews typically begin work at 7:00 a.m. and work until 3:30 p.m. Sometimes weekend work is scheduled if project time-lines or traffic volumes require it.

Stage 2 : When the underground work is complete, the street, boulevard, and sidewalks will be restored. This work may take place some time after the trench is filled and temporarily patched. Why the delay? We generally wait until there are several sites requiring restoration in one area before sending crews back to do the work. This helps to reduce costs and maximize efficiency. Weather is also a factor: we avoid planting boulevards with grass sod or seed during the dry, hot summer months.

After construction

If you have experienced construction recently in your neighbourhood, please fill in our survey to let us know how we did. You can access our construction form below. Download the Construction Survey Form now! ( PDF, 85KB) If you have any questions about the work in your area, please feel free to speak with the working foreman.

Alternately, please contact: Gregg Lowes, @ gregg.lowes@vancouver.ca or contact a citizen service representative at 3-1-1