The City of Mission operates a collection and trunk main sewerage system serving the urbanized areas of Mission. Most of the properties without municipal sewer service use ground disposal systems (septic tanks), however there are a small number of properties which employ holding tank systems.
Sanitary Sewer versus Storm Sewer
The sanitary sewer system, typically referred to as the “sewer system”, collects and disposes of waste and fluids from the internal plumbing system (toilets, shower, bath, laundry, sinks etc) of homes or other type of buildings. The storm sewer system, typically referred to as the “drainage system”, collects and disposes of the water from outside of the buildings (roof down spouts, foundation drains, driveways, lawns etc.). The City of Mission operates both a sanitary sewer system and a separate storm sewer system. Some communities operate only a single sewer system (often referred to as a combined sewer system) where both internal and external fluids are collected and disposed of via a single sewer main system.
Mission Sanitary Sewer System
The sewer system services 26,000 of the total 35,000 residents living in the City of Mission via 135 kilometers of sewer mains. The majority of the sewer system is gravity with 8 sewage pump stations located in areas where gravity service is not practical. All sewer mains flow to a point just down stream of the Mission Bridge at the Fraser River where a sewer trunk main laid along the bottom of the Fraser River carries the sewage to the JAMES sewage treatment plant, which treats sewage from both the Mission and Abbotsford communities.
Connection and/or Disconnection of Services
Source Control
The purpose of the Abbotsford/Mission Water & Sewer Commission Source Control Program (SCP) is to reduce the amounts of contaminants that industries, businesses, institutions and households discharge into the sanitary sewer systems. These discharges may contain significant quantities of contaminants and other substances that can affect the collection and treatment system as well as the health of workers, the public, and the aquatic environment. Some contaminates will be removed in the solids and end up in the bio-solids, a condition that can restrict the beneficial use or result in costly remediation and recycling efforts. The efficiency of the treatment and its costs are closely related to the quantity and quality of the wastewater treated. Consequently, an effective source control program is an economical and sustainable means of managing wastewater treatment.
Sewer Backups
In spite of staff’s best efforts, sewer backups can occur. The seriousness of the backup will often determine the City of Mission’s response. If you encounter one or more slow draining plumbing fixtures (toilet, sink, bathtub etc.) in your home or place of business, you should contact and employ a plumber to investigate and attempt to correct the problem because in most cases the problem is either internal or within your property.
If you experience sewage flowing up from fixtures, you should contact Public Works immediately by calling the emergency phone number shown on this page and advise us of your situation. In this very rare situation it is likely the sewer main is blocked and City staff will respond and begin inspecting the sewer for possible blockage.
If you have a complete blockage (no draining of your plumbing fixtures), you should again contact and employ a plumber to investigate and attempt to correct the problem, but should also contact Public Works by calling the emergency phone number shown on this page and advise us of your situation. City staff will begin inspecting the municipal sewer system for possible causes. In most cases, the blockage is internal or within your property and failure to call the plumber will likely result in a delay in restoring use of your facilities. City staff will advise you on the results of their inspection of the municipal sewers but will not investigate nor attempt to correct problems on your property.
With any sewer backup, there is the potential for property damage. Residents should immediately take whatever reasonable steps are necessary (and possible) to minimize the damages, such as:
- moving valuable items to a location where they’re not subject to being damaged by backing up sewage; and
- seeking help immediately from a licensed plumber.
Sewer Maintenance Programs
The City of Mission has various programs to ensure the continued effective operation of the sewer system: