The backbone of modern site servicing
Robust sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) are the silent heroes of every successful development, safeguarding public health, environmental quality, and long-term asset performance. Whether tying a single commercial plaza into a municipal trunk or coordinating hundreds of laterals in a master-planned subdivision, these connections must satisfy stringent technical, regulatory, and scheduling demands.
Delta Group has been delivering flawless sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) across Ontario for decades. Our reach spans Bolton, Brampton, Brantford, Burlington, Caledonia, Cambridge, Dundas, Etobicoke, Flamborough, Georgetown, Grimsby, Guelph, Halton Hills, Hamilton, King City, Kitchener, Milton, Mississauga, Niagara Falls, North York, Oakville, Orangeville, Paris, St. Catharines, Toronto, Vaughan, Waterloo, and Waterdown. This guide details best practices, leading-edge technologies, and Delta Group’s turnkey approach—giving civil engineers, municipal planners, project managers, municipal officials, developers, and commercial property owners/managers a playbook for reliable, high-quality site-servicing success.
1 | Sanitary vs. storm: understanding the dual network
Sanitary sewer
- Conveys domestic and industrial wastewater to treatment plants
- Must be watertight to prevent groundwater infiltration
- Typically laid at steeper grades (≥2 %) to maintain self-cleaning velocity
Storm sewer
- Carries rain and snowmelt directly to watercourses or storm ponds
- Focus on hydraulic capacity; joints may be semi-watertight
- Often deeper than sanitary to achieve gravity flow under roadways
Professional sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) demand distinct pipe materials, bedding specs, and inspection protocols for each network.
2 | Regulatory landscape in Ontario
| Regulation / Standard | Relevance to sewer connections | Delta Group advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Building Code | Minimum invert depths, pipe sizing, inspection | In-house BCIN-qualified designers |
| Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP) | Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) | Proven track record of fast approvals |
| Municipal design manuals (e.g., Toronto Sewer & Watermain Design Criteria) | Trench widths, bedding class, testing | Familiarity with 30+ local specs |
| OPSD / OPSS | Standard drawings and specs for provincial roads | Certified Ontario Provincial Standards compliance |
| CSA B182, ASTM C478, ASTM D3034 | Pipe, MH, and joint material standards | Supplier pre-qualification program |
3 | End-to-end connection workflow
- Utility locates & CCTV pre-survey
- Hydro-vac daylight critical crossings; inspect existing main integrity.
- Traffic & trench safety set-up
- Book lane closures, install trench shoring and atmospheric monitoring.
- Mainline tap or manhole core
- Sanitary: PVC saddle or pre-benched manhole core; storm: cut-in tee or concrete coring.
- Lateral installation
- Use SDR-35 PVC, HDPE, or concrete with laser-guided grade control (±6 mm).
- Bedding and backfill (Gran. ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘M’ as per local spec)
- Compaction testing every 300 mm lift to 98 % SPMDD.
- Testing & commissioning
- Air or water test sanitary lines, deflection tests for flexible pipe, CCTV final.
- Surface restoration & record drawings
- Full-depth asphalt or concrete repair, GIS-ready as-builts, photo logs, density reports.
Delta Group’s integrated crews compress these steps into tight schedules without compromising quality.
4 | Materials and technologies transforming sewer connections
| Innovation | Benefit | Application |
|---|---|---|
| HDD and micro-tunnelling | No open-cut under highways or rails | Storm outfalls, deep sanitary laterals |
| Polypropylene triple-wall pipe | High stiffness + corrosion resistance | Shallow storm sewers in corrosive soils |
| Watertight mechanical couplings | Speedy live-main tie-ins | Small-dia sanitary services |
| Laser-guided TBMs | Millimetre line-and-grade accuracy | Trenchless trunk sewers |
| AI-assisted CCTV analytics | Rapid defect coding, predictive maintenance | Post-installation QA/QC |
5 | Storm-water considerations—beyond the pipe
Well-designed storm sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) integrate with:
- On-site LID features (permeable pavement, bioswales) to reduce runoff
- Oil-grit separators to improve outfall water quality
- Flow control devices (orifices, Vortex valves) safeguarding downstream channels
Delta Group coordinates hydrologic/hydraulic modelling, ensuring your site meets municipal Stormwater Management criteria.
6 | Quality assurance: test once, install once
- Mandrel deflection testing: plastic pipe ≤5 % deflection at 30 days
- Low-pressure air tests: 25 kPa for 7 minutes/100 m of pipe
- Vacuum testing of manholes: 24 kPa, ≤1 kPa drop in 60 seconds
- Mandated CCTV: 360° pan/tilt post-backfill, defect coding to NASSCO PACP
Pass-first-time culture saves clients time and re-excavation costs.
7 | Risk management & safety
- Confined-space protocols: entry permits, gas monitors, rescue tripod
- Traffic control: Book OTM Book 7-compliant plans for arterial tie-ins
- Trench safety: Engineered shoring for >1.2 m depth in Type 3 soils
- Water intrusion control: Well-point or deep-well dewatering with turbidity curtains
8 | Sustainability and resiliency
Delta Group champions green practices:
- Recycled concrete & asphalt as trench backfill where permitted
- Low-carbon concrete manholes with slag and fly-ash blends
- Smart flow-monitoring sensors for predictive maintenance
- Erosion-control matting using biodegradable coconut fibre
9 | Case study: high-profile sewer tie-ins in Vaughan
Scenario: A 40-hectare industrial park required 45 sanitary and 60 storm sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) to two regional trunks—on a 14-month fast-track schedule.
- Challenges: Deep rock at 7 m, high groundwater table, busy arterial frontage.
- Delta Group solutions:
- Pre-blasted starter trenches; rock-saw trenching to maintain schedule
- Multi-pump deep-well system with real-time turbidity monitoring
- 3 × 1500 mm micro-tunnelled crossings beneath arterial road with zero lane closures
- Full BIM coordination with consultant team, eliminating re-work
Results: All connections commissioned two months early, with 0 lost-time injuries and 100 % CCTV pass rate.
10 | Frequently asked questions
How long does a typical residential lateral connection take?
One working day with pre-approved locates and traffic control, including reinstatement.
Can you upsize existing laterals without street excavation?
Yes—pipe-bursting techniques allow insertion of a larger HDPE pipe through the existing alignment.
What’s the lifespan of PVC vs. HDPE for sewer laterals?
Both exceed 75 years; choice depends on soil conditions, depth, and joint requirements.
Do you provide emergency repairs?
Delta Group offers 24/7 crews and rapid pipe-burst clamps for sanitary or storm failures.
11 | Why Delta Group is the premier partner for sewer connections
- Integrated self-performing crews—earthworks, utilities, traffic control
- Permitting expertise—accelerated ESA, TSSA, MECP approvals
- Turbo-schedule options—night shifts, parallel crews, prefab MHs
- Proven safety record—COR™ certified, zero LTIs last five years
- Data-driven handover—GIS-ready as-builts, CCTV, compaction logs, pressure tests
From concept to commissioning, we de-risk sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) for Ontario’s most demanding projects.
Build with confidence
High-performance sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) are critical to healthy, resilient communities. Delta Group combines decades of expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a culture of safety to deliver seamless tie-ins—on budget, on schedule, and fully compliant.
Whether you’re a civil engineer planning a complex industrial facility in Hamilton, a municipal planner upgrading trunk sewers in Toronto, or a developer fast-tracking a subdivision in Kitchener, Delta Group stands ready to execute your sewer connections (sanitary and storm sewer systems) with precision and professionalism.
Get connected—contact Delta Group today and experience the gold standard in site servicing across Ontario.
© 2025 Delta Group – advancing infrastructure excellence, one connection at a time.