Water, sanitary and storm services perform different jobs. Water supplies buildings and site systems, sanitary carries wastewater for treatment, and storm infrastructure manages rainfall, snowmelt and land drainage.
Water service
The water system may support domestic use, fire protection, irrigation or approved process demands. Design considers demand, pressure, fire flow, backflow protection, metering and municipal connection requirements. Private fire and domestic arrangements can vary by municipality and building design.
Sanitary service
Sanitary sewers receive wastewater from plumbing fixtures and accepted operational uses. The design estimates flows, checks gravity or pumping needs, and coordinates pipe depth with the building and municipal sewer. Unusual discharges may require pretreatment or municipal authorization.
Storm service
Storm systems collect rainfall and snowmelt from roofs and surfaces. They can include catchbasins, sewers, swales, storage, treatment and LID measures. The site must also have a safe major flow route when the minor system is exceeded.
Parks illustrate the distinction: washrooms discharge to sanitary; roofs, paths and fields generate stormwater; and fountains, splash pads, irrigation blowdown or wash-down water require source-specific review. No operational discharge should be assigned to a system only because that pipe is nearby.
Bous Engineering prepares coordinated site servicing plans for all three systems. Read what a servicing plan shows and why rainfall normally stays out of sanitary sewers.
Key takeaway
Treat water, sanitary and storm as connected but distinct systems. Confirm each demand and discharge, its destination, and the local requirements before finalizing service locations.
Bous Engineering supports servicing, stormwater, grading and municipal approval assignments across Eastern Ontario.