Septic Systems
About half of Colwood households are served by septic systems. When properly maintained and situated, septic systems are an environmentally friendly and economical option. Properties with septic systems pay the Capital Regional District Onsite Sewage Parcel Tax which allows the CRD to monitor the maintenance of septic systems. Read more about Septic Systems in the CRD.
Municipal Sewer Service
Colwood properties currently connected to sewer service are charged a sewer user fee to help maintain the almost 40,000 m of pipes and infrastructure, including 10 lift stations, in safe working order. The City’s system also services commercial properties including, Royal Roads University, DND lands, two golf courses, schools, and the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.
Please protect our sewer systems. The only items that should be flushed are human waste and toilet paper. Wipes and other personal care items can damage sewers, which can mean expensive repairs for you and other taxpayers. Read more: Sewer Savvy - What NOT to flush [PDF/296KB]
Is there a long term plan for sewers in Colwood?
See where sewer lines exist in Colwood on the City's interactive GIS map.
Council endorsed a Sewer Master Plan Update for planning purposes on September 25, 2023. The update details the many complex considerations related to expanding sewer service in Colwood, including cost, geology, existing infrastructure, and growth expected for each area of the City. Council directed staff to provide options for how sewer service could be expanded throughout Colwood using a phased approach.
Connecting to Sewers in Colwood
Properties that are adjacent to existing sewer lines may inquire about paying to connect. There are several steps involved when requesting a sewer connection:
- The property owner submits an application followed by application fees.
- City staff process the application - mapping the location of the property and existing sewer services.
- City staff draft a bylaw for the connection which is then presented to Council for three readings, followed by fourth reading at a subsequent meeting, which triggers a work order for the City to install the connection on public property.
- The property owner must arrange to decommission any current septic treatment system and extend the connection from the property line to the home.
- The property owner is billed for the cost of the connection on public property as well as annual sewer servicing fees.
Regional Wastewater Treatment
The CRD Wastewater Treatment Plant at McLoughlin Point provides tertiary treatment for wastewater from the core area municipalities of Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich, Oak Bay, View Royal, Langford and Colwood, and the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. The plant was built to meet the provincial and federal regulations for treatment. Read more on the CRD Wastewater Treatment website.
Colwood’s Capacity in the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
When the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant was constructed, each municipality in the CRD estimated the amount of wastewater flow they would generate to determine their capacity. Facility costs were divided among municipalities based on these projected future flows.
The CRD is responsible for flow monitoring to ensure facilities are sufficiently sized to treat the region’s wastewater as we grow. When a municipality reaches 90% of its capacity in the treatment plant, the municipality will need to purchase additional capacity in the treatment plant.
Tracking Colwood’s housing growth and wastewater flows
- Our community is growing by an average of about 334 new dwelling units per year (see more on the Building Stats page). Colwood’s five-year Provincial housing target is 950 units (starting in August 2024).
- Each new unit connected to sewer service increases our flow rate and impacts our capacity in the regional wastewater treatment facility.
- Colwood continues to monitor reported flows and capacity in the region's wastewater treatment facility to plan for the future, just as every household on septic service must plan for regular pumping and eventual system replacement.