When asked, businesses and institutions in York Region discharging wastewater to the sewers must complete a Discharger Information Report with general information about the company, how it functions and how it disposes of wastewater. Businesses are also required to submit a Discharger Information Report if their discharge location is new, or there is a change in any of the information submitted in previous reports. York Region uses this information to assess the risk of the facility for damaging the sewer system or endangering the health and safety of employees. 

When required, please create a user account and complete a Discharger Information Report, found on the Sewer Use Bylaw Services portal. For instructions on how to use this online service, please refer to the User Reference Guide on the portal.

Fats, oils and grease build up in sewers and over time can cause sewer back-ups. All restaurants and other businesses that cook, process or prepare food must have a grease interceptor to stop fats, oil and grease from going down the drain. They must also maintain the grease interceptor as per the bylaw.

It is also important that homeowners not pour their fats, oil and grease or household hazardous waste down the drain. These can be disposed of at a York Region Household Hazardous Waste Depot.

Learn more about how to fight FOG.

Download the No Fats Oils or Grease Down the Drain sign for print.

Businesses can make a request to York Region to enter into a surcharge agreement to allow them, at an additional cost, to regularly dispose of certain types of highly concentrated sewage into York Region’s sewer system.

Eligibility

A surcharge agreement can only be made for disposal of the following substances:

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5)
• Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
• Total Phosphorus
• Phenolic Compounds (4AAP)
• Total Suspended Solids

Cost

Businesses will be billed annually for surcharge sewer use. The total surcharge  fee includes  the annual surcharge amount determined from the annual excess loading of each parameter, the maintenance fee, laboratory costs and the new surcharge agreement fee (if necessary). To reduce laboratory costs, businesses may wish to conduct their own monitoring and sampling. To apply to conduct your own sampling, please complete the Self-Monitoring Application Form. Surcharge agreements are in place until either party wishes to cancel them.

Surcharge fees and rates

How to Apply

To apply for a surcharge agreement or inquire about the self-monitoring program or for more information, please call at 1-877-464-9675.

Businesses that are out of compliance with the Sewer Use Bylaw (No. 2011-56) may request to undertake changes to their facility or processes that will prevent or reduce contaminants in the company’s wastewater.   These businesses are encouraged to enter the Region’s Compliance Program to temporarily allow exceedances of the bylaw criteria while changes are made.

Compliance fee

How to Apply

To enter in a Compliance Program Agreement or for more information please call at 1-877-464-9675.

Dewatering activities are controlled by the Sewer Use Bylaw. Dewatering includes removing water from a construction site, pond or tank and discharging it into the sanitary or storm sewer.  Refer to Sections 1(l), 3.2 and 5.2 of the Bylaw for more information.

Any dewatering that discharges directly to Region-owned infrastructure requires approval from York Region.  You must complete a dewatering activity Discharge Approval Application Form online at Sewer Use Bylaw Services Portal.

If you are located in the local municipalities of Richmond Hill, Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Georgina, East Gwillimbury or King   and need to temporarily drain water into the sanitary sewer or storm sewer system you must also fill out a dewatering activity Discharge Approval Application Form.

For dewatering to storm or sanitary sewers owned by the local municipalities of Vaughan, Markham or Newmarket you must submit your discharge permit application to the local municipality. York Region will only issue a discharge approval after receiving the local municipality’s discharge permit.

Eligibility

A property or project owner can apply for dewatering approval. Contractors or engineers responsible for on-site activities may also apply with authorization from the owner.

Processing Time

Reviewing a dewatering application takes approximately three to six weeks after the receipt of complete application package. Applications for a project with a maximum discharge rate of five litres per second or less will take approximately three to four weeks to approve.

Cost

Application fee is non-refundable and is required upon submission of a dewatering discharge application to York Region except for applications located in Vaughan, Markham and Newmarket that does not discharge to York Region infrastructure first. Dischargers to a sanitary sewer will be billed a volumetric discharge fee and a dewatering maintenance fee at the end of the project and/or end of the year (if the project is not completed by the end of the year). York Region will also pass on laboratory costs for analysis of samples taken by York Region staff.

Dewatering fees

How to Apply

A user account is required before a dewatering activity discharge approval application can be made. Apply online through the Sewer Use Bylaw Services portal. For instructions on how to use this online service, please refer to the User Reference Guide on the portal.

Reminder that applicants whose dewatering discharge site is located in Richmond Hill, Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Georgina, East Gwillimbury and King areas and for all applications that discharge directly to York Region’s infrastructure must apply via the portal.

As a service to York Region residents and businesses not served by a municipal wastewater system, York Region accepts hauled wastewater at designated wastewater facilities.

York Region has developed the Hauled Wastewater Receiving Policy (amended January, 2019) under the authority of York Region’s Sewer Use Bylaw to clarify the regulation of the discharge of hauled wastewater to hauled wastewater receiving facilities in York Region. The Policy establishes the procedures, terms and conditions applicable to participation in the Hauled Wastewater Receiving Program.

Hauled Wastewater Fees

How to Apply

All haulers must register annually, prior to using any hauled wastewater receiving facility. A user account is required before a wastewater hauler registration application can be made. Please apply online through the Sewer Use Bylaw Services portal.  For instructions on how to use this online service, please refer to the User Reference Guide on the portal.  You also need to download and complete the Site Use Condition and Performance Requirements Form, which can be submitted through the portal.

Information pertaining to sewer use and water resources (e.g. environmental control orders, dewatering discharges, soil and water contamination, site visit information, chemical releases or spills and remediation for a property) are routinely disclosed through an environmental site assessment request.

Environmental Site Assessment Fee

How to Apply

Submit a completed environmental site assessment request letter together with a cheque for the appropriate fee and mail to:

Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement
Environmental Services Department
The Regional Municipality of York
380 Bayview Parkway
Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 4W3