Sewers

Your home is connected to a community-wide network that manages our sewage. Learn about the City of Cornwall’s sewer system and your responsibility as a property owner.

Understanding the sewer system:

• Sanitary sewer is the City's public pipe system in the street that carries community wastewater to the treatment plant.
• Sewer lateral is the private pipe that connects your home's toilets, sinks and drains to the public sewer main in the street.

Your responsibility

As a property owner, you are responsible for maintaining and repairing your entire sewer lateral, from your house all the way to its connection with the City's system. You are responsible for all maintenance costs, such as clearing grease or tree roots, to prevent blockages.

If you have a blockage

If your drains are blocked, you should call a plumber to clear them. If you and the plumber suspect the problem is under the City's street or sidewalk, you must pay for the inspection to pinpoint the issue. If the inspection confirms the City's pipe is broken or collapsed, we will repair it at our own expense. If the problem is on your private property, you are responsible for the repair cost.

Sewer backups

A sewer backup happens when a blockage in a pipe causes wastewater to reverse its flow and come back up. This can result in sewage overflowing from a manhole or backing up into a home through a low drain like a basement floor drain or bathtub.

Common causes of backups include:

• A buildup of grease, debris, or foreign objects in the pipes
• Tree roots growing into and blocking the pipes
• The collapse of old, broken pipes
• Excess rainwater entering the sewer system during heavy storms

What to do during a sewer backup

As soon as you notice a backup or a manhole overflowing, call Municipal Works at 613-932-5354 and ask for the Sewer Section. We will check the public sewer main to see if it is blocked.

If the public sewer is not blocked, the problem is likely in your private sewer pipe. You will need to call a plumber to clear the blockage. If the plumber suspects the issue is with the part of your pipe under the City's street or sidewalk, you must pay for a video inspection to locate the exact problem. You will also need to provide the City with the location of your pipe.

Preventing sewer backups

Regular maintenance of your private sewer pipe is the best way to prevent sewer backups.

Follow these tips to keep your pipes clear and prevent problems:

• Pour cooled grease into a container and throw it in the garbage
• Put food scraps in the garbage, not the sink
• Use a wastebasket for diapers and hygiene products and never flush them
• Call a plumber if you smell sewage or to undo any illegal drainage pipes connected to the sewer

Make sure that you never:

• Pour grease, fat or oil down any drain
• Flush anything other than toilet paper
• Plant trees with large root systems near your sewer pipe
• Connect sump pumps or backyard drains to the sanitary sewer as it's illegal and can cause overflows