Overstrength Surcharge Program
In the City of Brantford, the Sewer Use Bylaw, Chapter 281 governs what can be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. If an industrial or commercial user of the sanitary sewer cannot comply with limits for three specific parameters (biochemical oxygen demand, (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) or total suspended solids (TSS), the company has the option of entering into an “Overstrength Surcharge Agreement,” with the City of Brantford. These three parameters are included in the program because they are treatable by the Water Pollution Control Plant. In this agreement, the company’s wastewater is sampled monthly and analyzed for BOD, COD and TSS. The companies are then billed for wastewater that exceeds the City’s bylaw limits. The billing is based on a cost recovery equation, which takes into consideration each company’s sample results and water usage volumes. All other bylaw limits within the Sewer Use Bylaw must be met. Refer to Chapter 281 and 277 of the municipal code (see Bylaws at the bottom of the Sanitary and Storm Sewers page) or call the Pollution Control Department at 519-752-5263 for more information on this program.