Wastewater & Sewers

Property owners are responsible for water and sewer piping from the property line all the way into their home. This means that any leaks or pipe issues on private property are also the property owner's responsibility.

Your water meter is City-owned property, however it's the property owner's responsibility to ensure that the water meter is kept in good condition, in a space where it won't get damaged or be exposed to freezing temperatures.

Sewer Blockage

If you detect a sewer blockage at your property, call the City of Cambridge's Environmental Services Division at 519- 623-1340. Staff are available to answer your call 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

If you have a sewer blockage, the property owner must call Ontario One Call (ON1Call) at 1(800) 400-2255 for a Sewer Safety Clearance. There is no charge for this service.

Once you receive clearance from ON1Call, contact Cambridge's Environmental Services Division and a crew will come to investigate the location and cause of the blockage.

Blockages on public property (not caused by homeowner activities) will be cleared without charge. Fees will apply if the blockage occurs on private property or is attributable to homeowner negligence. .

The City of Cambridge decides who is responsible for covering the cost of clearing a sewer blockage. Please note that the Environmental Services Division will not reimburse the homeowner, tenant or plumbing contractors for the cost of the sewer block removal without prior inspection to determine the cause.

If you are being advised that your sewer line needs to be repaired or replaced, you should: 

  • Contact the City of Cambridge Environmental Services division at 519-623-1340 to review the scope of repair with City staff, as repairs may require coordination regarding the city owned portion of the pipe.
  • Review the location of the property line
  • Contact the City of Cambridge Building Division to determine if a plumbing permit is required
  • Always confirm contractor credentials and pricing when hiring one

 

Backflow Prevention

There are many items you should not flush or pour down your drains because they can:

  • Damage or block your home plumbing, which can lead to basement flooding
  • Damage the City's sewer pipes
  • Damage wastewater treatment plants
  • Harm the environment and aquatic habitats in the lake, local streams and rivers

You shouldn't flush or pour the following items down your toilet or drain:

  • Wipes or baby wipes (even flushable wipes can cause problems)
  • Tampons or sanitary pads
  • Condoms
  • Cotton swabs
  • Dental floss
  • Facial tissue
  • Paper towels

Fats, oils and grease are often from cooking and can be found in meats, fats, lards, cooking oil, shortening, butter, margarine, food scraps, baking goods, sauces, salad dressings and dairy products.

When warm fats, oils, and grease are washed down the sink or toilet into the plumbing system they cool, harden and stick to the inside of sewer pipes. Over time, the grease will build up and can block the entire pipe. Blocked pipes can lead to problems, such as:

  • Overflow of raw sewage into your home, business, or neighbouring property
  • Basement flooding
  • Contact with disease-causing organisms
  • Raw sewage overflow into parks, yards, streets, creeks, rivers and the lake
  • An increase in operation and maintenance costs to clean and repair damaged sewer pipes

Don't dispose of medications (prescription and non-prescription such as pain relievers, cough syrups, antibiotics, veterinary drugs, etc.) by flushing them down the toilet or pouring them down the sink. Traces of these drugs are found in the environment because people don't dispose of them properly. Return any unused medication products to the pharmacy or dispose of them through household hazardous waste services.

Other household hazardous waste includes:

  • Paints
  • Pesticides
  • Cleaning products

Wastewater Quality Management System

The City of Cambridge developed a Wastewater Quality Management System (WWQMS) Operational Plan in 2023, inspired by the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS) developed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment Conservation, and Parks (MECP). The implementation of a Quality Management System (QMS) helps support ongoing due diligence to ensure the Wastewater Collection System is operating in accordance with applicable legislation/regulations. Additionally, a QMS supports continual improvement within the Environmental Services Division. The City's WWQMS policy commitments are listed below, and additionally, the Operational Plan is available upon request by emailing publicworks@cambridge.ca.

  • Delivering safe and sanitary wastewater services that protect the environment
  • Meeting all applicable legislation and regulations
  • Maintaining and continually improving our Quality Management System

View the City's 2025 Wastewater System Performance Report accompanied by Appendix A - 2025 Newton Landfill Sampling Report.