Wastewater

The Sanitary Sewer Lateral Conditions Responsibility Chart identifies who is responsible for various types of conditions to the sewer lateral. The fees are at the discretion of the Works Supervisor.

The owner must call a plumber to investigate and clear the blockage. The City will reimburse the owner appropriately upon the submission of a copy of the paid plumber's invoice. See the responsibility chart above for details.

City Tree Roots

If a sewer blockage is caused by roots from a City tree, your plumber must contact us to inspect the site to confirm if tree roots are the cause of the blockage. If it is determined that City tree roots are the cause, you may be eligible for a rebate of the amount of your invoice up to $175, or half of the plumber's paid invoice, depending on where the tree and roots are found. We must be notified and inspect the site when roots are being removed. See the responsibility chart above for more information.

Private Tree Roots

If a sewer blockage is caused by roots from a private tree, the owner will not be eligible for any rebates.

Using common sense will reduce the risk of sewage backfills and cost repairs.

• Don't pour grease down the toilet or any sink. Eventually, this liquid hardens around the pipe restricting water flow and increasing the chances for a blockage. Instead, dispose cooking grease into an old coffee can or milk carton and dispose of it in your household garbage.
• Don't flush inappropriate items such as paper towels, disinfectant wipes, baby wipes, sanitary wipes, feminine hygiene products, rubber items, small toys, etc. These items do not breakdown and will eventually lead to the whole line being blocked as well as contaminating our local rivers and streams.
• Clear off you dinner plate first before rinsing it. Larger food particles will collect in the drain over time if there is not enough water flow to carry them away.
• Use a drain grate to help catch any small items that may eventually lead to a blockage. (i.e., hair, small toys, small lids, etc.)

Flushing paper towel and wipes down the toilet can cost a resident hundreds of dollars to unblock or repair their sanitary service. It is even more costly to the Municipality as it causes breakages in critical machinery. Even ”flushable” wipes can cause problems.

In the case of excavation of the sewer lateral, you or your contractor must expose the lateral sewer at the property line and contact us immediately to confirm the cause of the problem. Contractors or homeowners are not permitted to excavate within the city road allowance without receiving prior approval. Contact our Engineering Technologist for information on permits required if excavating on the city right-of-way either by email or phone at 519-539-2382 ext. 3114.

If the lateral is collapsed or broken on the road allowance and is confirmed by an authorized City official, we will cover the total cost of the repair within the road allowance.

Note that just because a blockage is created on City property does not guarantee that we will cover the cost to resolve the problem. An authorized City official will determine who is responsible for the bill.

Woodstock's Waste Water Treatment Plant, which is managed by the County of Oxford, is located at 195 Admiral St. You must call ahead or make arrangements, as staff may have the gate closed when working inside the facility. Please call 519-537-8531. Facility hours are Mondays to Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no charge for this service.