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Sanitary Sewer System

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1. What is wastewater?

Wastewater is what we flush down the toilet and what goes down our drains. It comes from many different sources, both domestic and industrial, and contains many different compounds.

Contrary to what most people believe, our wastewater does not contain exotic chemicals, metals, or highly toxic substances. Our wastewater is composed primarily of natural organic substances, which are byproducts of human, animal, and plant processes.

The primary elements in our wastewater include nitrogen, phosphorous, ammonia, and carbon. Camrose Creek naturally contains all of these substances. However, the large quantities present in the wastewater could be harmful if they were not removed. The Camrose wastewater treatment facility removes about 90% of these compounds before the water is released to the environment.

2. What produces residential wastewater?

The major household contributors of wastewater are toilets, sinks, showers, and floor drains.

Most of the water used in a home ends up in the sanitary sewer system.

• 40% is flushed down the toilet


• 30% is used in showers and baths


• 15% is used for dishwashing and laundry

Combined, these account for 85% of household wastewater and the majority of residential wastewater.

Another major source of wastewater comes from the weeping tiles in some homes. Weeping tiles are pipes surrounding the foundation of buildings that absorb any excess moisture near the foundation to protect it from water damage. Weeping tiles in houses built in Camrose between 1970 and 1994 discharge foundation water into the sanitary sewer system.

Unfortunately, improper grading can result in large amounts of surface water entering the sanitary sewer during rainstorms. During major storms, these large flows can overload a sanitary system, causing sewage backup and widespread basement flooding.

To control this flooding and put the responsibility for lot grading back on homeowners, City Council passed a bylaw in 1994 which prohibited the connection of weeping tiles to the sanitary sewer. This change should significantly reduce the amount of water in the sanitary sewer system in new areas, especially during major storms.

3. What can go down the drain?

Camrose has strict bylaws pertaining to wastewater disposal, which help protect the environment from harmful substances that our treatment system may not be able to remove. The bylaws, including the City of Camrose Sewer Bylaw, impose strict penalties for discharging harmful substances into the sewers.

In general, anything that could harm the sewer, animals, vegetation or humans is not permitted in the sewer system. These include but are not limited to:

• paints


• organic solvents


• any corrosive matter (by itself or in combination)


• any dye that may alter the color of sewage works effluent.

The strength of the wastewater is measured by how quickly a sample of a specific size consumes oxygen at a given temperature. The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of our wastewater before treatment averages around 280 mg/L. After treatment the BOD is approximately 8 mg/L.

Note: Copies of all bylaws are available at City Hall located at:
5204-50 Ave.
Camrose, AB T4V 0S8

4. How is sanitary disposal regulated?

Inspectors can test the quality of the wastewater entering the system. This allows the City to regulate disposal and ensure compliance with the bylaw. If anyone is found discharging harmful or prohibited substances into the sewer system, the City can impose strict fines or disconnect their public sewer service.

Some industries have wastewater with high levels of phosphorous, nitrogen, or grease. While not prohibited, these high levels cause increased maintenance and operational costs to treat the sewage. If the strength of the wastewater is above the levels specified in the bylaws, the City can either levy extra charges for the treatment or require the industry to pre-treat its waste.

5. What does the treatment process remove?

Because sanitary waste in Camrose is primarily composed of organic matter, a natural treatment system is used. By bubbling large volumes of air through the wastewater, the natural processes of organic decomposition are enhanced. No chemical systems are used. The aeration system removes most of the nutrients found in the water. These include phosphorous, nitrogen, and carbon.

Removing the nutrients in the wastewater is crucial in limiting environmental damage to Camrose Creek. In addition to removing the organic substances in the water, the process also removes solid debris such as rocks, clay, sticks, cans, and rags.

The City's treatment system does not have a magic process which can remove any and all pollutants. This is why we need the Sewer Bylaw and the cooperation of our citizens and industries. Limited amounts of heavy metals and other chemicals are removed by a settling process and are retained by the sludge which forms at the bottom of the storage lagoon, but the system cannot handle large amounts of these types of substances.