Benefits of a separated sewer system
Separating rainwater from sewage is beneficial because it:
- Eliminates combined sewer overflows
- Prevents flooding by increasing capacity
- Allows rainwater to be used as a resource
We are working toward the Province of BC's environmental goal to eliminate sewage overflows by 2050. As we replace combined sewer systems with separated sewer systems, properties will also need to have separated sewer systems.
In a combined sewer system, rainwater runoff is combined in a single pipe with sewage from homes, businesses, and industry.
During drier weather, the rainwater and sewage are carried to the sewage treatment plant together. But in heavy rains, high volumes of rainwater can exceed the capacity of a combined sewer system causing mixtures of rainwater runoff and untreated sewage to release into receiving waterbodies.
