Excess water in the sewer system
Sanitary sewers are designed to carry wastewater from sinks and toilets, but often end up carrying water as well. This happens when extra groundwater and rainwater flows into sanitary sewers, also known as "inflow and infiltration". This extra water takes up space that is needed for wastewater, contributing to sewer overflows. It also means there is less sewer space left to service new buildings as the region grows.
Some of the extra water in the sewer system gets in through municipal and regional sewers, but a lot of it comes from pipes on private properties. This extra water enters sewers through pipes that are cracked, have leaky joints, or are improperly connected to a property’s sanitary sewer line.
Learn how inflow and infiltration affects our sewer system
How wet weather pricing works
Metro Vancouver introduced wet weather sewer pricing in 2024. With wet weather pricing, member municipalities pay fees that reflect the sewer capacity they use during wet weather. This user-pay approach means that communities that put more water into the regional sewer system (because of inflow and infiltration) will contribute more toward the operation of the sewer system.
The goal of wet weather sewer pricing is to have every community pay for the amount of water they send through the sewer system. It also aims to make sure that we are investing in expanding sewer and wastewater treatment capacity only when it is needed to accommodate population growth, and not to address gaps in infrastructure maintenance.
Wet weather pricing will be phased in over ten years and will vary by municipality. Pricing is established in the GVS&DD Cost Apportionment Bylaw, 362, 2023.
How wet weather pricing affects residents
Member municipalities that are part of the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) currently pay a yearly levy to cover the wastewater services that they use, including wastewater treatment plants and the regional sewer system. A wet weather pricing component will be added to the current levy. Many municipalities recover levy costs through municipal taxes and utility rates.