Dewatering Discharge Approval

To request this service, a discharge approval from the City and York Region is required before dewatering begins.

A dewatering discharge approval is required for:

• construction dewatering, including groundwater and stormwater.
• excess rainwater – harvested or stored and to be released to the City’s sewer systems.
• excess surface water – any water that collects on private property that needs to be discharged to the City’s sewers.
• cleaning ponds – maintenance activities on ponds that require water to be discharged into the City’s sewer systems.
• emptying tanks – any stored water that requires discharge into the City’s sewer systems.
• any other forms of wastewater discharges requiring discharge into the City’s sewer systems.

Steps to receive a discharge approval:

1. Read below application process guidelines
2. Apply online a minimum of eight to 12 weeks before planned discharges are required. Ensure all additional attachments before submitting your request. (See Section C below).
3. Pay online.
4. Once submitted, City staff will review the application and contact the applicant if additional information is required.
5. Once processed, the approval will be emailed to the address included in the application.
6. The applicant is to contact the City prior to commencing discharge as noted in Section D below for inspection by City’s By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services.
7. Once the setup and water quality samples are reviewed and to the satisfaction of the City’s By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services, final authorization to discharge is provided.

Please read the requirements below and have all required attachments ready for upload before submitting the discharge approval applications. Once ready, you may do so online.