If you need to request an alteration to our sanitary or stormwater system, find the process and application below.

  1. About this process
  2. Types of alterations
  3. When to request an alteration
  4. When you don’t need to request an alteration
  5. What you need for your application
  6. Submit your application

About this process

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has recently granted the City the authority to approve certain Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs) to the Consolidated Linear Infrastructure (CLI) under certain conditions.
Our CLI-ECA approval process covers most alterations that meet the preauthorized MECP requirements for the entire municipal sewage collection system and stormwater management system owned and operated by the City of Cambridge.

Development projects no longer need to submit individual pipe-by-pipe MECP applications for future alterations; however, will need to make sure they:

  • are built following MECP design criteria
  • meet the requirements as defined in the CLI-ECA
  • satisfy other provincial and municipal approved conditions

If the project does not meet the MECP design criteria, the project may still be approved, but requires a direct submission to the MECP.

Depending on your project, you may also need to apply for an individual ECA from the MECP or submit an application for a CLI-ECA alteration with the Region of Waterloo.

Types of alterations

There are two types of alterations related to the City’s CLI-ECA applications:

  • sanitary (sewage) collection system: all connected sewage collection works within the City of Cambridge and owned and/or operated by the City of Cambridge including pumping stations and pipes
  • stormwater management system: all connected stormwater management works within the City of Cambridge and owned and/or operated by the City of Cambridge, including pipes, stormwater management facilities, and Low Impact Development (LID) infrastructure

When to request an alteration

Projects resulting in the following alterations will require a CLI-ECA application:

  • changing, replacing or extending sanitary sewers and storm sewers, including extensions into new residential developments
  • adding new sewage pumping stations or changing existing sewage pumping stations
  • adding new stormwater management facilities or changing existing facilities (examples: wet pond, infiltration basins, engineered wetlands, oil grit separators)
  • adding new or changing existing equipment with emissions to air (examples: emergency power generators or venting for odour control) related to sanitary and storm sewers, sewage pumping stations and/or stormwater management facilities

If you have questions about CLI-ECA alterations, send us an email.

You don’t need to apply for a CLI-ECA alteration for privately owned sewage works on industrial or commercial land.

For these projects, you may still need an individual ECA from the MECP, or a building permit.

What you need for your application

Completed Application Form
Please complete the MECP Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approval Application Form.
City Engineering Clearance Letter

Before an application will be reviewed the City’s Engineering Dept will need to complete a thorough design review of the project and issue a clearance letter to the proponent.  This letter confirms that the design meets all related provincial and municipal design criteria and must be included with your CLI-ECA application package.
Complete MECP Forms

Note: electronic signatures are accepted and preferred.

Sewage Collection System Alterations

Download and complete the applicable MECP forms:

Please include this information:

  • the City of Cambridge ECA number is 015-W601
  • provide specific project information and indicate appropriate supporting documentation
  • provide verification by a Licensed Engineering Practitioner with their PEO license number 

 

Stormwater Management System Alterations

Download and complete the applicable MECP forms:

Please include this information:

  • the City of Cambridge ECA number is 015-S701
  • provide specific project information and indicate appropriate supporting documentation
  • provide verification by a Licensed Engineering Practitioner with their PEO license number 

 
Application Fee

Application fees are collected under the City’s Municipal Fees and Charges By-law, as amended:

  • administrative processing fee: $1,000
  • stormwater management pond: $6,000
  • sanitary (sewage) sewers (adding, changing, replacing, or extending): $3,000
  • storm sewers (adding, changing, replacing or extending): $3,000
  • sanitary pumping station: $5,000

We will begin processing your application following receipt of all supporting documents and your application fee.

Please make cheques payable to “The City of Cambridge – Accounts Receivable”, quoting the site information (project name, property address, and/or owner’s name).

Please send us an email to confirm your applicable fees.

 
Supporting Documents

Open the accordions below to find the files that must be included in your submission.

All Submissions

In addition to the completed Application form and MECP Forms, all submissions are to include digital copies of the items outlined below (as applicable):

  • Grand River Conservation Authority Approval Letter
  • Source protection supplementary document (including mitigation measures if applicable)
  • Engineering Drawings (including but not limited to Removal Plans, Sediment and Erosion Control Plans, Grading Plans, Plan/Profile Drawings)
  • Storm Sewer Design Sheets and Drainage Plans
  • Sanitary Sewer Design Sheets and Drainage Plans
  • Stormwater Management Report, including operation, inspection, testing and maintenance plans
  • Functional Servicing Report
  • Geotechnical Report
  • Sanitary Pumping Station Design Report, including operation, inspection, testing and maintenance plans

All reports and drawings must follow the MECP requirements (sewage, stormwater) and our standards as detailed in the site plan and subdivision application forms.

 Submit your application

 1. Send the application by file transfer

Send us an email to arrange for a file transfer to send your completed application, including a scan of the application fee cheque, digitally.

Please make cheques payable to “The City of Cambridge – Accounts Receivable”, quoting the site information (project name, property address, and/or owner’s name).