Sanitary or stormwater discharge permits

If you need a discharge permit for our sanitary or stormwater system, find the process and application below.

On this page:

1. About this process
2. When you need a permit
3. Types of permits
4. What you need for your application
5. Submit your application
6. After you apply
7. Relevant bylaws

About this process

We regulate the discharge of water, wastewater and stormwater in compliance with the Region of Waterloo Sewer Use By-Law 21-036 and the City of Kitchener Municipal Code Chapter 930 for Sewer Systems to ensure the health and safety of the environment, public and city staff.

Discharge permits help to protect our sewer system and regional wastewater treatment plants by ensuring there is enough capacity in the sewer system and limiting unnecessary material from being discharged. 

Depending on your situation, you may need separate discharge permits from the Region of Waterloo. Apply on their website.

If you want to drain your pool or hot tub, visit our backyard pool safety page.

When you need a permit

If you need to discharge water, wastewater or stormwater into the sanitary or storm sewer system, you must submit an application for a Discharge Permit and get approval.

You need a discharge permit for any stormwater or wastewater discharges into city or regional sewers including, but not limited to:

• construction dewatering
• well or groundwater
• excess rainwater or surface water
• wastewater to sewers that exceeds the bylaw limits
• other types of wastewater discharges

Types of permits

The Region of Waterloo handles most of the discharge permits in Kitchener. We accept applications for temporary discharge permits for city sewers.

Learn more and apply:

• temporary discharge permit
• other permits through the Region of Waterloo

If you want to drain your pool or hot tub, visit our backyard pool safety page.

Temporary discharge permit

A temporary discharge permit allows the property to discharge water temporarily for construction-related dewatering activities.

Choose the option that suits your needs:

• city sewers: application requirements below
• regional sewers: apply through the Region of Waterloo

Other permits through the Region of Waterloo

Apply for these permits through the Region of Waterloo:

• general discharge permit: allows the property to discharge water from a private well or rain harvesting process
• surcharge permit: allows the property to discharge water that exceeds the by-law limits for one or more treatable parameters:
  • Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD),
  • Total Suspended Solids,
  • Phosphorus, or
  • Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
• compliance permit: allows the property to discharge water that exceeds the bylaw limits temporarily. The compliance permit includes specific timeframes and conditions, expecting necessary changes to be implemented to ensure the discharge is within the allowable limits before the permit expires.

Apply through the Region of Waterloo

What you need for your application

In your application for a City of Kitchener temporary discharge permit, you must include:

• cover letter
• project design brief
• supporting documents

Cover letter

Your cover letter must include:

• applicant information (legal name and address)
• agent or consultant information (name, title and address)
• owner information (name, title and address)
• brief project/site information (examples: subdivision number, site plan number, project name, municipal address, etc.) and description of the dewatering activity
• identify and list the documents included in the submission

Project design brief

Your project design brief must include:

• existing conditions, description of proposed works, and approximate project schedule
• groundwater conditions, including average groundwater level on the property
• depth of excavation and site grade elevation
• contamination history of soil and/or groundwater for the premises
• identification of environmentally sensitive / protected areas
• engineering drawings with discharge setup information:
  • location of source material and discharge location
  • identification of city infrastructure
  • quantity and quality management infrastructure (e.g., tank, control manhole, treatment system, etc.)
  • piping layout, location of flow meters, sampling ports, treatment facilities, flow control valves, etc.
  • method of discharge (including how the use of the city property, sidewalks, and roads will not be impacted or cause unsafe conditions for the public)
  • equipment specification information
• monitoring plan
  • volume and flow rates (with supporting calculations)
  • proposed duration dates, including times of operations
  • emergency contact information and management plans
• sewer capacity review
  • review of the downstream capacity for the sewer to accept the requested maximum total discharge flow rate
• other information
  • all effluent must meet the sewer by-law and all other regulatory requirements

Supporting documents

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

All temporary discharge permit submissions must include digital copies of the items outlined below as applicable:

• certificate of insurance
• Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) requirements and approvals:
  • Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) - for construction dewatering if discharge is greater than 50,000 litres and less than 400,000 litres per day; and/or,
  • Permit to Take Water (PTTW)
• Water Taking Report and Discharge Report, as required under MECP EASR
  • all reports and drawings must follow the MECP requirements
• laboratory analysis
• hydrogeological report
• other reports and documentation

You must monitor water levels in the receiving sewers often to avoid adverse effects. Do not discharge during heavy rainfall.

You must stop discharge immediately and notify our operations staff in case of any adverse effects (quantity and/or quality).

Submit your application

Please apply at least eight weeks before planned activities.

If you have any questions, please send us an email.

After you apply

When we get your application, we will review it for completeness. If we need more information, we will contact you.

If we approve your application, an issued approval will contain conditions relating to the discharge activity that must be followed during the approval period. If you do not comply, we may revoke your approval or take enforcement actions.

Relevant bylaws

Review these relevant bylaws to help with the application process:

• Region of Waterloo Sewer Use
• City of Kitchener Sewer Use