Some Toronto homeowners have two water pipes running from their home to the street. One is a sanitary sewage pipe that carries contaminated water from toilets, washing machines, sinks and bathtubs to a treatment plant. The other is a stormwater pipe that directs rainwater, melted snow and discharges into local rivers, streams or Lake Ontario.

When a sanitary plumbing fixture is mistakenly connected to a storm drain, waste is sent directly into local waterways. An incorrect connection to a storm drain creates a cross connection which is responsible for polluting our rivers and lakes with raw sewage.

The City of Toronto is working diligently to locate cross connections. If you are illegally connected to the storm sewer system, a bylaw officer will visit your home and you will not be able to use that plumbing fixture until the problem is corrected.

To avoid creating a cross connection:

• Contact Toronto Building customer service to view drain plans of your home or property before beginning your renovation.
• Get a City building permit – it’s required by law, and the small upfront fee can save you thousands of dollars.
• Consider hiring a licensed plumber to make sure that you are properly connected to the sewer system.

For more information, contact the Scarborough Toronto Building office at (416) 396-7526, or visit www.toronto.ca/water/cross.htm.