Planning Policies & Guidelines

Municipal Systems Alterations

Any proposed alterations to Municipal Drinking Water Systems, Municipal Sanitary infrastructure and/or Municipal Stormwater infrastructure must be approved by the City of Hamilton or the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).

Drinking Water Works Permits

Ontario Drinking Water Works Permit: The Ontario Drinking Water Works Permit (DWWP) system was introduced by the MECP as a part of Ontario’s Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program in 2007 and are issued under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This system was introduced to replace the Certificate of Approval (C of A) program, which required a separate, Ministry approval for each alteration to the Municipal Drinking Water System. The DWWP preauthorization program allows for a streamlined process for municipalities to approve routine alterations or projects that meet specific design criteria and conditions specified in the permit. For more information, visit Municipal Drinking Water Works Permits.
The City of Hamilton’s Drinking Water Works Permits: For more details on the City's five Drinking Water Systems, visit Drinking Water System.

Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approval

The Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approvals (CLI ECA) process was introduced by the MECP in 2020 and are issued under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA). CLI ECAs are issued to municipalities to replace the numerous pipe-by-pipe Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs) that were previously issued for components of the Municipal Sewage Collection and Municipal Stormwater Management Systems. The CLI ECA process is intended to make the approval process more efficient by allowing municipalities to approve low-risk projects that meet pre-authorized conditions. For more information, visit Municipal Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approvals.
The City of Hamilton’s CLI ECAs: Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approvals for Municipal Sewage Collection Systems and Municipal Stormwater Management Systems for the City of Hamilton have not been issued. The City of Hamilton and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks continue to work towards the finalized CLI ECAs.

For more details on our wastewater systems, visit Wastewater Collection & Treatment

For more details on our stormwater management systems, visit Stormwater Management

Applicable MECP Forms

Resources & Guidelines

Municipal Drinking Water System:

Form 1 - Record of Watermains Authorized as a Future Alteration

Municipal Sewage Collection System:

Form SS1 - Record of Future Alteration Authorized for Separate Sewers/Nominally Separate Sewers/Forcemains
Form SS2 - Record of Future Alteration Authorized for Components of the Municipal Sewage Collection System
Form CS1 - Record of Future Alteration Authorized for Combined Sewers/Partially Separated Sewers/Combined Sewage Storage Tanks and Storage Structures
Form A1 - Record of Future Alteration Authorized for Equipment Discharging a Contaminant of Concern to the Atmosphere from a Municipal Sewage Collection System

Municipal Stormwater Collection System:

Form SW1 - Record of Future Alteration Authorized for Storm Sewers/Ditches/Culverts
Form SW2 - Record of Future Alteration Authorized for Stormwater Management Facilities

General:

Comprehensive Development Guidelines and Financial Policies Manual

Drinking Water:

Wastewater and Stormwater:

Contact us

If you have questions, you can reach out to our Development Engineering Team:

Date modified

April 09, 2025