Wastewater and Sewers

Wastewater Treatment

The Region treats wastewater and releases effluent into certain bodies of water. Waste quality must meet high standards as set by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

We own and operate these water pollution control systems:

• Cannington Lagoons
• Corbett Creek Water Pollution Control Plant
• Courtice Water Pollution Control Plant
• Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant
• Harmony Creek Water Pollution Control Plant
• Lake Simcoe Water Pollution Control Plant
• Newcastle Water Pollution Control Plant
• Nonquon River Water Pollution Control Plant
• Port Darlington Water Pollution Control Plant
• Sunderland Lagoon
• Uxbridge Brook Water Pollution Control Plant

View our wastewater treatment process diagram

View our Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant page

Wastewater collection

The wastewater collection system moves wastewater from homes, businesses and institutions.

It uses a system of underground pipes and pumping stations. Wastewater ends up at a water pollution control plant.

Durham Region owns and operates:

• More than 50 pumping stations.
• More than 2,000 kilometers of sanitary sewer pipes.
• More than 60 kilometers of forcemain pipes.

Water Pollution Control Plant and Sanitary Sewage Pumping Station Bypasses, Spills and Overflows

A bypass occurs when sewage is diverted around parts of the sanitary sewage pumping station (SSPS) system or water pollution control plant (WPCP) resulting in potentially partially treated sanitary sewage. An overflow takes place when untreated sewage is discharged from the SSPS system or WPCP at designed locations other than the approved site. Release of untreated sewage from undesigned locations is the SSPS and WPCP is classified as a spill. Extreme weather events such as significant rainfall and snow melt can overwhelm the SSPS systems and WPCPs causing bypasses and overflows. Equipment failure such as a break in the pressurized sanitary sewer pipe (forcemain) conveying sanitary sewage to the WPCP can result in a spill if wastewater leaks into the environment.

Bypass, spill and overflow location, frequency and duration

All bypass, spill and overflow events are reported to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks through the Ontario Spills Action Centre. Data collected includes the affected facility, date, time, duration, volume and cause of each event. The Region also details all efforts taken to minimize the potential impact of the event on the receiving water body.

*Duration and volume are estimated

Recreational Vehicle Holding Tank Waste Disposal

You can empty your recreational vehicle holding tank at these locations:

Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant
901 McKay Road, Pickering
Open Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day 

Courtice Water Pollution Control Plant
100 Osborne Road, Courtice
Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays)

Port Darlington Water Pollution Control Plant
93 Port Darlington Road, Bowmanville
Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays)

Uxbridge Brook Water Pollution Control Plant
127 Main Street North, Uxbridge
Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays)

Water pollution control plants annual performance reports

2016 Water Pollution Control Plants Annual Performance Report 

2015 Water Pollution Control Plants Annual Performance Report

Basement flooding and blocked sanitary sewers

If you have basement flooding or a blocked sanitary sewer please contact your local depot.

Biosolids management

Biosolids are a by-product of the wastewater treatment process. During wastewater treatment, we remove and treat solids. This reduces smell and pathogens. The treated solids produce nutrient-rich organic matter. We call this matter biosolids. In Durham Region, biosolids are burned or applied to farms. Durham Region applies between 1,000 and 5,000 dry tonnes of biosolids to land each year depending on weather and availability.

Sewer odour complaints

Sometimes you may notice an earthy-like smell coming from your bathroom sink. It can also come from your basement floor drain. The odour might come from of a dried out drain. Water should always be present in the drain. It prevents the smell from coming back out of the pipes. The drain may also need a cleaning. You can use a store bought drain cleaner. Follow manufacturer guidelines.

If the smell is still present, please contact your local depot.

Sewer Use By-Law

The Sewer Use By-law controls discharges to Durham Region sanitary sewers and storm sewers. The by-law protects the environment and the operation of our water pollution control plants. It limits what gets in to our sewers. If you have questions about the Sewer Use By-law please contact:

The Regional Municipality of Durham
Works Department
Sewer Use by-law Office
2400 Forbes Street
Whitby, Ontario
L1N 8M3

Telephone: 905-576-3352

Sewer locates

The Region can locate water pipes and sanitary sewers on public property only. We can find the water service box or extensionernal shut off valve for a home, business or institution. Use a private company to find watermains on private property. If you would like to request a water or sewer locate on public property, please contact your local depot.

Asset management

The Region's formal asset management program includes:

• Evaluation of assets and their condition.
• Identification of key challenges and risks.
• Detailed option analysis.
• Financial strategy with a multi-year economic and financial forecast.
• Assessment of financing options for existing assets and future growth.

Wastewater Master Plan Study

The Wastewater Master Plan Study develops a long-term strategy for all municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems in Durham Region.