Attn GTA homeowners with downspouts that drains into sewer sytem!

See article here --> http://www.thestar.com/article/272564 & here --> http://www.thestar.com/article/273179.

Essentially, to help the environment, the city of Toronto has a free downspout disconnection program (http://www.toronto.ca/water/). This program reduces the amount of clean water that drains into the sewers and better utilizes the sewers to treat dirty water. But this program will soon end and downspout disconnection will soon be mandatory (unless deemed unsafe by the city).

So, better call before the free service ends and homeowners have to foot the bill.

Thanks for the reminder I'll let my parents know.

Originally Posted by eelfliw

See article here --> http://www.thestar.com/article/272564 & here --> http://www.thestar.com/article/273179.

Essentially, to help the environment, the city of Toronto has a free downspout disconnection program (http://www.toronto.ca/water/). This program reduces the amount of clean water that drains into the sewers and better utilizes the sewers to treat dirty water. But this program will soon end and downspout disconnection will soon be mandatory (unless deemed unsafe by the city).

So, better call before the free service ends and homeowners have to foot the bill.

This is perplexing to me. Surely if you disconnect the downspout from the sewer the water will just drain into the street and the sewer anyway?

If the downspout in your house connects to the sanitary sewer (a common thing in older Toronto homes) then that water mixes with sewage, creating an even larger quantity of water that needs to be treated by the sewage treatment plant. If the plant can't treat all the sewage in a heavy rainstorm, it gets dumped into Lake Ontario instead because it has to go somewhere. That's why the beaches get closed periodically due to e.coli contamination.

So by disconnecting your downspout from the sanitary sewer, you are easing the burden on the waste water treatment system.

The drains in the street go to the storm sewer, which does not get treated by the sewage treatment plant. There are some few exceptions where the storm and sanitary go into the same pipe (called combined sewers) but these are slowly being phased out.

You can send an e-mail to ddp@toronto.ca to register. Send in your name, address, phone# and if you want a rainbarrel or not. You'll get a confirmation, but they aren't coming until 2008.

Also, tell them if they need to call in advance before they come over to ensure that the gate it open etc.

These details are in the voicemail when you call. 416-392-1807

Originally Posted by brunes

This is perplexing to me. Surely if you disconnect the downspout from the sewer the water will just drain into the street and the sewer anyway?

different sewer systems. Storm water does not end up in the same place sewage does. Most cities storm water runs into the river/lake untreated.

Originally Posted by brunes

Surely if you disconnect the downspout from the sewer the water will just drain into the street and the sewer anyway?

The square grate against the curb where rainwater goes is not called a sewer, it's a catch basin. The outlet of the CB is not at the bottom, it's in the side, several feet above the bottom. The idea is for the solids to settle into the bottom while the clear rainwater is drawn off into the storm sewer. Periodically you clean the guck out of the bottom.

Originally Posted by eelfliw

See article here --> http://www.thestar.com/article/272564 & here --> http://www.thestar.com/article/273179.

Essentially, to help the environment, the city of Toronto has a free downspout disconnection program (http://www.toronto.ca/water/). This program reduces the amount of clean water that drains into the sewers and better utilizes the sewers to treat dirty water. But this program will soon end and downspout disconnection will soon be mandatory (unless deemed unsafe by the city).

So, better call before the free service ends and homeowners have to foot the bill.

This is not for GTA as the title of this thread indicated. It is for within City of Toronto.

Originally Posted by e-man

You can send an e-mail to ddp@toronto.ca to register. Send in your name, address, phone# and if you want a rainbarrel or not. You'll get a confirmation, but they aren't coming until 2008.

Also, tell them if they need to call in advance before they come over to ensure that the gate it open etc.

These details are in the voicemail when you call. 416-392-1807

I emailed the City of Toronto my information, but have not received any email confirmation they have received my information. Is there suppose to be an email confirmation that I have signed up for the program?

Originally Posted by gman

This is not for GTA as the title of this thread indicated. It is for within City of Toronto.

I was just thinking the same thing.

Originally Posted by FIDO

I emailed the City of Toronto my information, but have not received any email confirmation they have received my information. Is there suppose to be an email confirmation that I have signed up for the program?

Yup. I got one. Maybe send it again or check your spam folder.

program was cut last night. Yay, another cost of living in Toronto ...

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/278453

I love how the earlier star article cites it would be easy for DIYers and maybe a couple hundred bucks to a thousand (!). But it costs the city $1300 to do each one (!!!!). Nice cost containment there.

Originally Posted by Rosico

I love how the earlier star article cites it would be easy for DIYers and maybe a couple hundred bucks to a thousand (!). But it costs the city $1300 to do each one (!!!!). Nice cost containment there.

The add'l money is for site inspection & written report (they won't install drains that drain above ground if it poses a danger, eg. flooding the bsmt). Plus post install inspection.

All in all, it creates jobs for the unions. So, the add'l money is the union premium.

What, you think Miller would approve of programs that don't benefit his union buddies?