Stormwater and Wastewater
Stormwater and Wastewater...where should the flows go?
It’s probably not something you think about very often, if ever, but properly dealing with stormwater and wastewater flows is critical. Keeping stormwater (rain, surface water or groundwater) out of the wastewater (flow from toilets, sinks, showers, etc.) system is important for the protection of your home, our environment and infrastructure.
Why? Because wastewater systems were designed to only carry wastewater.
In some areas, during heavy rain, stormwater finds its way into the wastewater system. This can result in backups into homes, overflows into nearby streams or lakes, streets, and adds additional unnecessary loads to wastewater treatment facilities.
Risk of exposure to untreated wastewater is not acceptable to the public, environment, regulatory agencies or Halifax Water.
Halifax Water provides water, wastewater and stormwater services to its valued customers and is taking an active role in addressing this serious issue.
In some areas of HRM, such as older parts of the Halifax peninsula and downtown Dartmouth, combined systems (wastewater and stormwater in one pipe) are still in place. Halifax Water is continuously undertaking enhancements to systems.
These efforts include significant investments to repair and upgrade systems in the streets. However, private properties are also a significant source of stormwater entering the wastewater system.
Halifax Water is implementing a program to assist our customers to identify stormwater sources on their property, and develop a plan to eliminate them.
If you have questions, please call 490-RAIN (7246) or send an email at rain@halifaxwater.ca.
"To provide world class services for
our customers and our environment"
|
