Servicing Design
Engineering servicing design involves creating water distribution and sanitary sewer systems to bring safe, drinkable water to buildings and carry used water to treatment plants. This work ensures every home, school, or business has access to clean water while safely managed wastewater.
Servicing design is governed by local regions or municipalities. For example, places like Halton, Peel, and Waterloo have their own rules, as do cities like Toronto or Hamilton. These authorities provide the water and handle sewage treatment, so engineers must follow their specific standards.
What Does Servicing Design Involve?
Engineers design water and sewer systems from just outside a building (about 1 meter away) to the main sewer line under the street. This area is called the right-of-way (ROW). Servicing design applies to all types of buildings, such as single detached homes, multi-unit residential complexes, schools, commercial properties, and industrial facilities.
Single Detached Homes
For single detached homes, the design includes:
Water Line: This pipe brings drinking water into the home. The smallest size allowed is usually 25mm (1 inch). The water line will include a shut-off valve at your property line, and a meter inside the home to track the water usage.
· Sanitary Sewer: This pipe carries wastewater out of the home to the main sewer line. The smallest size allowed is typically 150mm (6 inches) in diameter. A cleanout is required at every bend in the pipe. This allows for easy access if the pipe gets clogged or needs maintenance.
Storm Sewer: This pipe handles water from the sump pump. It keeps basements dry by moving groundwater away from the house.
Multi-Unit, Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Projects
Larger buildings need more complex systems, including:
Water and Fire Lines: A larger water pipe, usually at least 100mm (4 inches), supplies water to the building. A separate line may provide water for fire sprinklers.
Sanitary Sewer with Maintenance Holes: Wastewater is carried away using pipes at least 150mm to 200mm (6 to 8 inches) in diameter. Maintenance holes are placed where the pipe changes direction, size, or slope, and a cleanout maintenance hole is required at the property line.
Storm Sewer: A separate system manages rainwater runoff.
Why Do Watermains and Sewers Need to Be Designed?
Designing these systems before construction is crucial to avoid costly and time-consuming problems. Here’s how engineers ensure everything works properly:
Site Surveys and Existing Drawings: Engineers review the site survey and local as-built drawings to locate watermains and sewer lines. This helps determine their size, depth, and slope.
Water Service Design: They calculate the size of the water pipe needed, check the pressure in the main water line, and plan the route to the building. This process avoids obstacles like buried gas or electric lines and ensures proper spacing between services.
Sewer Design: Engineers confirm that wastewater pipes can carry water away from the building’s basement at the correct slope. They also plan around any underground obstacles.
Material Selection: The right materials and sizes for pipes are chosen, along with valves, cleanouts, and maintenance holes.
Following Local Rules
Every municipality has specific rules for connecting to their water and sewer systems. These standards are usually available online. For example, you can search for “Halton Region engineering standards” to find the requirements for that area.
Standards describe important details such as:
Minimum pipe sizes and slopes
How fast water should flow through pipes
Types of valves and meters required
By following these rules, engineers ensure the systems are safe, efficient, and meet the municipality’s expectations.
Everwest Engineering’s Expertise
At Everwest Engineering, we specialize in servicing design for infill developments. These are projects built on unused or underused land within existing neighborhoods. Our team has worked on:
Schools
Commercial warehouses
Multi-unit apartment buildings
Townhouse complexes
Single detached homes and garden suites
We’re experts at navigating regional standards and have developed a custom process to complete servicing designs quickly and affordably. This ensures that our clients receive high-quality designs that meet all local requirements.
Our Custom Process
At Everwest, we have a proven method to get servicing design right the first time. Our engineers:
Carefully review all existing site details and standards
Use a custom built tool to create and accurately detail our designs
Work closely with local authorities to ensure approval
This streamlined approach helps us deliver reliable designs on time and within budget.
Conclusion
Engineering servicing design is essential for ensuring buildings have access to clean water and safe wastewater systems. By planning these systems carefully and following local rules, engineers help create safe and functional communities. At Everwest Engineering, we take pride in providing expert servicing designs that meet the needs of any development project.
