The City of Markham is proud of its water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater management systems provided and maintained for our residents, businesses, and industries. Find out more about where our water comes from, what wastewater is and how Markham manages our stormwater below.
The City of Markham delivers clean, safe drinking water.
We’re proud to maintain our state of the art water distribution system. Through a system of pipes, valves, hydrants, pumping stations, and reservoirs, we deliver high quality, reliable drinking water to our residents, businesses, and industries. Learn where Markham’s water comes from and how it’s treated, tested for quality and delivered to your home.
Our drinking water comes from Lake Ontario. It's fed by rivers, streams, and storm water ponds. Lake Ontario is part of Canada's Great Lakes watershed, which is the largest fresh water system on Earth. Approximately 9 million people in Ontario and New York State rely on Lake Ontario for their drinking water!
It's important to protect all water sources from pollution. This will protect our drinking water and the natural environment.
Markham's water comes from Lake Ontario. It is treated in the City of Toronto and sometimes Peel Region. Water from Lake Ontario has many impurities. They can be harmful to us if we don’t clean the water. Impurities can be:
Physical: materials that don't dissolve in water and make the water appear "dirty"
Chemical: substances dissolved in the water from natural and manmade processes
Biological: viruses, bacteria, algae, and other small living organisms (City of Toronto).
For a closer look at the treatment process, visit the City of Toronto website for more information.
Disinfection with Chloramine
The City of Toronto's water treatment facilities disinfect source water using chloramine. It's a chemical compound that contains chlorine and ammonia.
Chloramination is the process of adding chloramine during the treatment process. This disinfects and kills microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and algae. Chloramine is used instead of chlorine because it lasts longer in the distribution system. It makes the water more resistant to contamination as it travels from Toronto to Markham.
Chlorine has been a safe and reliable tool for over a century. It's stopped the spread of waterborne disease. If you don't like the smell a chlorine in your drinking water, fill a pitcher and let it stand overnight in the refrigerator.
Fluoridation
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in the environment. It's found in soil, air, and water. Fluoride is added at the end of the water treatment process to help prevent tooth decay. Many dentists and health experts want cities to add Fluoride to water. Long-term scientific studies also show that it is helpful and safe.
After treatment, clean water is pumped to York Region. York Region does more testing, storage, and provides additional pressure for Markham's system. Markham then pipes the water to residents and businesses.
Markham's distribution system provides high quality treated water to about 350,000 customers daily. It has:
Over 1,000 kilometres of watermains
11,000 watermain valves
8,500 municipal fire hydrants
Markham is a distribution-only system. We don’t own treatment, pumping, or storage facilities. Markham's water is tested to meet Ontario Regulation 170/03 standards. Licensed Waterworks staff collect water samples. These samples are analyzed at the York Durham Regional Environmental Laboratory.
Watch this "Markham's Water Distribution System" video to learn more!
The City is responsible for the public portion of the water distribution system – spanning from the water main to the municipal property line. Beyond the property line is the private portion of the system and is the responsibility of the property owner. If you suspect there is an issue with any component that the City is responsible for, please contact the Customer Contact Centre at customerservice@markham.ca or 905.477.5530.
How it's all connected
Markham's Responsibility
Service (Curb) Box: Protects the curb stop valve and should be secured and flush with the ground. Never touch or cover it.
Curb Stop Valve: Located underground, this valve controls the flow of water from the water main to your property.
Remote Meter Reading Device: A small box mounted on the exterior of your property that allows the City to obtain meter readings without entering the premise.
Water Mains: More than 1,000 kilometres of underground pipes throughout the City that carry water to water service lines.
Service Connection: The part of the pipe that runs from the water main to the curb stop valve in front of your property.
Water Meter: Records the volume of water used by your property.
Property Owner's Responsibility
Water Service Line: Pipe that runs between the curb stop valve and your property.
Indoor Water Shut-off Valve: Shuts off the water supply to your property.
Indoor Plumbing: The system of water pipes, drains, fittings, valves and fixtures in your building that distribute water.
Property owners shall provide free, clear and unobstructed access to the water meter at all times. Tampering or any alteration to the water meter is prohibited under the City’s Water Use By-law 2019-53.
It's safe to drink Markham's Tap Water because it's…
Healthy
— a great calorie-free alternative to sugary drinks or caffeine
Convenient
— delivered right to your home or workplace
Inexpensive — 1000 times less expensive than bottled water
Well-Tested— Waterworks staff test Markham water several times a day
Green
— bottled water creates unnecessary waste and litter. It also takes energy to bottle, package, cool, and move.
Support a cleaner environment by choosing tap water! Instead of drinking bottled water, fill a refillable water bottle and bring it with you! We're proud to supply clean, safe, affordable water to all Markham residents.
"Our top priority is providing high quality drinking water to all our customers. We are constantly testing to ensure all standards and regulations are met for a safe, clean and healthy drinking water supply". — Eddy Wu, Manager, Operations and Maintenance, Waterworks, City of Markham
Myth: I need to boil my water to make it safe to drink. Fact: Markham tap water is well tested and safe. It does not need to be boiled or filtered. Drink it straight from the tap!
Myth: There is plenty of drinking water on the Earth… Fact: About 75% of the earth’s surface is water. 2% is drinkable, but only 1% is accessible!
Myth: I recycle my water bottles, so it's not a problem to drink bottled water. Fact: Only a small percentage of bottles are recycled. Many end up as litter or garbage. Even if you recycle plastic bottles, that takes extra. Municipal water uses far less energy and cost.
Myth: Bottled water tastes better. Fact: Do your own blind taste test at home and you might be surprised! Markham tap water does well against brand name bottled water. In fact, many bottled water brands come from municipal tap water. It's also easy to add zest to tap water. Add slices of citrus fruits, cucumber, or berries for a refreshing drink. Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge to save running the tap till it is cold.
Myth: I should avoid drinking my tap water if it is cloudy. Fact: Cloudiness is caused when air becomes trapped in water. This can happen when it travels through pressurized water pipelines. Air can stay trapped until it come out of your faucet. The cloudiness is caused by thousands of air bubbles. They give water a hazy appearance, but don't affect the safety or taste of the water.
Wastewater is any and all water that is used in industrial, commercial or residential buildings that goes down a drain. Wastewater is produced through actions such as doing the laundry, taking a shower or even flushing a toilet. This water then flows into pipes specifically made for wastewater and enters Markham’s sanitary sewer system.
The City of Markham's sanitary sewer system collects and moves domestic/industrial wastewater to the Duffin Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant located in Pickering, Ontario.
There are pipes throughout your home that only collect wastewater. These pipes are a homeowner's responsibility. They include the drains leading from kitchen sinks, toilets, and showers. Keeping these pipes free of debris - like hair or grease - keeps them functioning properly.
The section of pipe that runs beneath your home to the property line is also a homeowner's responsibility. If that section of pipe gets clogged with large objects being flushed down a toilet, by a large amount of grease buildup, or by tree roots on your front lawn, it is the homeowners' responsibility to have it cleared out.
Remember, sinks and toilets are not a garbage can. Please dispose of diapers, large objects, hair and grease into the garbage or the green bin and not into the wastewater system. Backups are most commonly caused by items that should never be flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain.
The City of Markham's sanitary sewer system collects and moves domestic/industrial wastewater to the Duffin Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant located in Pickering, Ontario.
Once Markham's wastewater reaches the Duffin Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant, it goes through an extensive cleaning process. This process includes four general steps.
Step 1: Screening
The first step in wastewater treatment at the Duffin Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant is screening. The screening phase removes any large, inorganic objects that may be found in the wastewater. These objects could include things such as rags, diapers, personal hygiene products, and any other inorganic objects that entered the sanitary sewer system along the way to the plant.
Step 2: Primary Treatment
The second step in wastewater treatment at the Duffin Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant is primary treatment. Primary treatment removes solid organic matter (also called human waste) from the wastewater. In order to remove this solid organic matter, the treatment plant uses settlement tanks. These settlement tanks work by first allowing the solids to settle to the bottom of the tank, then moving the liquid portion of the wastewater on to secondary treatment.
Step 3: Secondary Treatment
The third step in wastewater treatment at the Duffin Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant is secondary treatment. Secondary treatment removes small pieces of organic matter from the wastewater using aeration lanes. These aeration lanes encourage bacteria to eat the tiny bits of solid organic matter that were not removed in primary treatment. Lastly, the partially treated wastewater is moved onto final treatment.
Step 4: Final Treatment
The last step of wastewater treatment at the Duffin Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Plant is final treatment. Final treatment uses a mixture of settlement tanks and sand beds to remove the good bacteria used in secondary treatment. First, the wastewater is placed in a settlement tank to remove the larger clumps of bacteria. Secondly, the wastewater passes through a sand bed, removing almost all of the small clumps of bacteria.
Once the wastewater has passed through the sand bed, it is considered filtered water. All filtered water is discharged into Lake Ontario.
Flooding of the sanity sewer system can occur on residential/industrial property, or on public and city regulated property. Sanitary sewer backups can be a result of blockages or pipe breaks.
Blockages occur because of excess grease, food or any other materials such as wet wipes, flushed or poured down the drain. This material accumulates in pipes and restricts the flow, causing a backup. Breaks in underground pipes may happen due to faulty installation, pipe age, digging, or invading tree roots.
The City of Markham will repair any blockages or breaks on the Markham-owned portion of the pipes as quickly as possible. However, pipes in a residential/industrial building, as well as the underground pipes from the building to the property line, are the responsibility of the property owner.
The City of Markham’s stormwater management system works hard to decrease flood damage as well as protect the natural environment, including Lake Ontario our drinking water source. Markham is continually working to make the stormwater management system better and more effective for our residents, businesses, and industries
The City of Markham, its residents and businesses value our environment and its natural resources. Our stormwater management activities help protect and enhance our water resources, and maintain the continued health of our streams, rivers, lakes, fisheries and natural heritage systems.
Stormwater management policies and practices also help manage the risk of flood damages in natural and urban drainage systems.
Markham's stormwater management systems have evolved from basic ditch and storm sewer drainage networks, to advanced storage and treatment facilities that manage both the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff and snowmelt.
Today's stormwater management policies and standards promote systems that mimic the natural water cycle and protect sensitive fish species in our environment.
Markham's Stormwater Management Strategy is a set of programs and projects that serve to advance City policies and meet the regulatory requirements related to the operation and maintenance of our drainage systems, and to implement priority capacity upgrades of storm sewer networks. The results of this strategy help the City achieve its strategic priorities related to environmental protection (policies to protect land, water, habitat and living species) and to delivery of cost-effective and responsive municipal services. Programs and projects also help the City achieve desired level of services goals consistent its broader asset management planning framework.
Our stormwater management strategy activities have been classified into broad categories including:
The Strategy is carried out in close partnership with local and provincial agencies that have roles in regulation of water resources and natural heritage systems. Activities within the strategy are funded through a combination of sources including:
Property taxes;
Development/growth-related charges;
Grants: and
Cost-sharing.
The Stormwater Management Strategy was developed after consultation with various stakeholder, community meetings, and presentations to Council. For consultation process and flood control funding, visit the Council Presentations section for details.
If you would like more information on Markham's Stormwater Management Strategy, please contact stormwater@markham.ca.
If you would like to make a comment on Markham's Stormwater Management Strategy or funding sources, please complete our Feedback Form.
Facts & Figures on Markham's Stormwater System
Markham stormwater infrastructure represents a considerable investment built up over decades and consists of:
Markham's stormwater management and drainage systems are key components of the City's infrastructure that help protect the environment and reduce the risk of flooding to private property. Recent studies have identified capacity limitations in older drainage systems that would require significant investments to upgrade.
While most of the City's stormwater management activities are adequately funded through existing sources, a long-term sustainable funding source for flood control projects did not exist. Staff, after extensive consultation with Markham residents and businesses at Community Meetings, recommended the implementation of the Markham Flood Control Program, and the associated funding, to come from the Stormwater Fee.
What is Markham’s Flood Control Program?
The Flood Control Program is a long term, City-wide initiative to improve storm drainage capacity and limit surface and basement flooding risks in urban areas. Improvements will provide a more consistent level of service across Markham and help protect both public and private property. The program will also make critical infrastructure more resilient to climate change and extreme weather.
While the City’s program will improve the effectiveness of its drainage systems over the long term, businesses and residents are encouraged to take action to reduce the risk of flood damage on their own properties. This can often be achieved through maintenance of their private drainage system, or where appropriate, implementation of improvements or practices that can reduce flood risks and damages. For tips on what you can do to reduce the risks of flood damage on your property article [PDF] in the fall 2014 issue of Markham Life, a good source of current information on Markham projects, programs and plans.
How will Markham’s Flood Control Program be funded?
To help fund the program, the implementation of a City-wide Stormwater Fee was adopted by Council on November 26, 2013. This Fee will pay for flood control improvement works that lower flood risks and provide a more consistent level of service across the City.
Who Will Pay the New Fee?
To help fund the program, a City-wide Stormwater Fee will be charged to all properties. These fees, combined with Canada Gas Tax funds, will provide dedicated funding for both approved and future storm infrastructure improvement projects City-wide.
How Much is the Stormwater Fee?
The annual rate for residential properties, effective January 2015 is $47 per property unit. The residential fee will be charged once a year through your Markham Tax Bill. Non-residential properties will be charged in 2016.
Community Information Meetings & Council Presentations
Recognizing the importance of drainage services and the potential impacts to residents and businesses, Community Information Meetings were scheduled to provide background on Markham's Stormwater Management Strategy and flood control needs. The sessions provided an opportunity for feedback on adopted flood control policies and funding sources.
Past Community Meetings
Consultation with the public and stakeholders about City-wide Stormwater funding options presentation materials used at the meetings:
Our drinking water comes from Lake Ontario. It's fed by rivers, streams, and storm water ponds. Lake Ontario is part of Canada's Great Lakes watershed, which is the largest fresh water system on Earth. Approximately 9 million people in Ontario and New York State rely on Lake Ontario for their drinking water!
The City of Toronto's water treatment facilities disinfect source water using chloramine. It's a chemical compound that contains chlorine and ammonia.
It's safe to drink Markham's Tap Water because it's…
Myth: I need to boil my water to make it safe to drink.
The City of Markham, its residents and businesses value our environment and its natural resources. Our stormwater management activities help protect and enhance our water resources, and maintain the continued health of our streams, rivers, lakes, fisheries and natural heritage systems.
The Strategy is carried out in close partnership with local and provincial agencies that have roles in regulation of water resources and natural heritage systems. Activities within the strategy are funded through a combination of sources including:
Markham's stormwater management and drainage systems are key components of the City's infrastructure that help protect the environment and reduce the risk of flooding to private property. Recent studies have identified capacity limitations in older drainage systems that would require significant investments to upgrade.