Public Service Announcement - Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater Treatment Issues

Over the past few weeks, the District of Lillooet has noticed a change in the composition of the wastewater entering the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The treatment of wastewater is a delicate biological process and minor changes to the wastewater that enters the system can negatively affect the treatment process. Some of these changes could be: increasing the amount of wastewater entering the system; increasing the concentration of the wastewater; introducing wastewater which has previously not been discharged but may contain components that affect the treatment process; or discharging substances that are prohibited under section 4 of the Sewer Connections and Regulations Bylaw 430 (e.g. toxic chemicals). We suspect this incident is probably an innocent error and not a malicious attempt to interfere with the wastewater treatment process, so we are asking for your help to keep our community's system working well for all of us.

If you are unsure what substances are prohibited, please read the summary below or view the Sewer Connections and Regulations Bylaw 430.
 

Prohibited Wastes & Waters

Sewer Connections and Regulations Bylaw 430, Summary of Section 4
 

The following shall not be discharged into any pipe, main, manhole, gutter, or aperture of the sewer system:

• Any gasoline, benzene, naptha, alcohols, or other flammable or explosive liquids, solid, or gas
• Any solid or viscous substance capable of obstructing sewage flow or interfering with the operation of the sewage works or treatment facilities, including, as examples, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, grass, insoluble shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, asphalt, creosote, plastics, wood, animal-paunch contents, offal, blood, bones, meat-trimmings and wastes, fish or fowl heads, shells, entrails, lard, tallow, dough, chemical residues, hair and fleshings, spent grain and hops, whole or ground paper or plastic dishes/cups/ food and beverage containers, garbage, paint residues;
• Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance which is capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard
• Drainage from fixtures discharging radioactive wastes shall be installed in accordance with Safety Codes published by Radiation Protection Division, Department of National Health and Welfare, Ontario
• Any material from a cesspool or septic tank, except at authorized receiving stations
• Any chemical or industrial liquid wastes likely to damage or increase maintenance costs on the sanitary sewer which may detrimentally affect public or private sewage-treatment systems, or contaminate surface or subsurface waters, shall be pre-treated to render them innocuous prior to discharge into a drainage system. Detailed plans and specifications of the pre-treatment facilities shall be approved by the authority having jurisdiction before any portion of such facilities are installed
• Nothing in this Bylaw shall be construed to permit the connection of surface water to the common sewer. The connection, either directly or indirectly, of roof leaders, foundation drains, field drains, sumps or any other collector of surface or ground water is NOT permitted.