York Region and the local municipalities are committed to I&I reduction and have initiated a large-scale program to identify strategies that will benefit the local and regional sewer systems.

The work plan for this program consists of the following main components:

1. Flow Monitoring Program - including the development of standards for monitoring and assessing inflow and infiltration in all areas of the Region.
   • This component of the program started in February 2008 and is currently underway through the largest temporary flow monitoring project in Canadian history.  The results of the monitoring will determine the amount of inflow and infiltration currently entering the system at key locations. Approximately 40 per cent of the entire wastewater system is being monitored through 120 flow monitoring locations.
      
2. Implementation of inflow and infiltration reduction pilot projects using various technologies in selected areas, including follow-up flow monitoring to determine the effectiveness of the pilot project.
   • Once high inflow and infiltration flow areas are identified, rehabilitation and mitigation projects will be identified and implemented. If successful, these pilot projects could then be rolled out across the system where warranted.
      
3. Cost/benefit analysis to determine best applications of rehabilitation and replacement for I&I reduction.
   • Results from the pilot projects in conjunction with a thorough understanding of deficient areas will form the basis for cost analysis to determine the extent and expected benefits of expanding the pilot projects to full scale rehabilitation projects.
      
4. Project recommendations and cost sharing methodology for further inflow and infiltration reduction projects.
   • Once the analysis is completed, the scope of the full implementation will be defined and cost sharing approaches between the Region and the area municipalities will be defined prior to full-scale implementation. The full implementation of works will be clarified after analyzing the monitored data collected upon completion of the pilot projects.

Pipes
Wastewater mains are designed to accommodate small amounts of I&I,, however, as the system ages, cracks and fractures allow additional clear water to enter the system. 

Manholes Manholes are designed as an access point for our wastewater mains and can also be a source of I & I. Surface water can enter through manhole covers that are subject to ponding/flooding or in sag conditions.
Groundwater can potentially enter inside the manhole through cracks or faulty joints.

Sump pumps
Sump pumps are designed to capture surface or ground water that enters basements or crawl spaces and pump it away from the house. Sump pumps should not be connected to the sanitary sewer. Preferably, sump pumps should drain onto the ground or into the storm sewer system.
 

Downspouts
Roof drains and downspouts direct storm water from roof gutters to the ground or storm sewer through pipes and downspouts. Roof drains should never be connected to the sanitary sewer.
 

Illegal/Unauthorized Connections
Unauthorized connections from any source other than sanitary system may result in additional flow that the system was not designed to accommodate.