Managing your water, wastewater and stormwater systems on your property

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Potential deficiencies that are not readily visible are often overlooked when buying or selling a home serviced by Halifax Water wastewater and/or water systems.

As a homeowner within the Halifax Regional Municipality, you are responsible for a number of things on your property that affect Halifax Water's systems - water, wastewater and storm water.

Stormwater in the Wastewater System

Stormwater from your home or property is not permitted to enter the Halifax Water wastewater system.  To ensure compliance before selling or buying a home, consider where the storm water goes from sump pumps interior/exterior drains, and downspouts. Also consider the age and condition of the wastewater lateral.

What can go wrong?

• Excess flows can overload the wastewater system.

• An old and deteriorated lateral can collapse and become blocked.  These can lead to a sewer back-up and/or basement flooding. Repairs and clean up can be costly.  Before you buy or sell, check the wastewater and storm water connections:

• Hire a CCTV contractor to video your wastewater lateral.

• Check for illegal storm water connections to the wastewater system.

• If you need help, contact a knowledgeable contractor like a plumber or home inspector.

halifaxwater.ca/homeowner-responsibility

Lead in Drinking Water

Homes built before 1960 within the existing Lead Service Boundary may contain private lead water service lines.  The plumbing in homes built before 1986 may contain lead solder or fittings coated in lead.

To learn more about the health effects of lead in drinking water, how to identify a lead service line, rebate  information when replacing lead service lines, and to see if your home falls within the Existing Lead Service Line  see links below:

halifaxwater.ca/lead-drinking-water

halifaxwater.ca/lead-line-rebate

What Am I Responsible For?

Halifax Water is responsible for, and continually maintains and upgrades, the public water, wastewater and storm water systems (the portion of the underground piped systems found in the street, as well as ditches and culverts, within the public right-of-way).

As a property owner, you are responsible for the maintenance and operation of the water, wastewater and storm water systems located on your private property. Your laterals are the underground pipes extending from your building to the Halifax Water system in the street. You may have one or more laterals to your home:

The water lateral delivers water from the main in the street to inside your house. A water meter measures the amount of water delivered which is how you are billed.

The wastewater lateral is designed to carry flows from toilets, sinks, bathtubs, showers, dishwashers and washer machines.

The storm water lateral is designed to carry flows created by rain, groundwater and snow melt including stormwater from sump pumps and yard drains.

As a homeowner you need to know where your property line is located and to ensure that your private water, wastewater and storm water systems (including laterals) are not carrying inappropriate flows such as pollutants, cross contamination or inflow and infiltration.

Source:  https://halifaxwater.ca/homeowner-responsibility