Sanitary Master Plan

Share Sanitary Master Plan on Facebook Share Sanitary Master Plan on Twitter Share Sanitary Master Plan on Linkedin Email Sanitary Master Plan link
Aerial view of the City's wastewater treatment plant

Did you know that the City of Peterborough’s sanitary system has 362 kilometres of sewer, 5130 maintenance holes, 10 pumping stations and a treatment plant with a total replacement value of $1.863 billion?

In alignment with the City of Peterborough (City) Official Plan (OP) and under the legislative context of the Province of Ontario’s Place to Grow Plan, growth within the City should occur in a sustainable manner addressing economic, social, and environmental considerations. The City’s 2023 OP Update anticipates that the City will grow from 83,000 people in 2016 to a projected population of 125,000 people by 2051. It is also anticipated that the employment sector will grow from 45,000 jobs in 2016 to 63,000 by 2051.

The City has retained GM BluePlan Engineering Limited (GM BluePlan) to develop a comprehensive Sanitary Master Plan (SMP) which will provide a framework for servicing urban growth and intensification that is transparent, sustainable, reliable, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, flexible and maximizes the use of existing sanitary infrastructure. This project will build on existing studies and provide tools for strategic, comprehensive, integrated growth and infrastructure planning to 2051 and beyond, and to serve as a direct input to the Development Charges By-Law. GM BluePlan must consider innovative approaches that address the City’s need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt its infrastructure and operations under a changing climate and plan for infrastructure expansion that is cost-efficient and financially sustainable for the community.

The Sanitary Master Plan will achieve the following objectives:

  • Assess the capacity of the existing sanitary system, including collection, conveyance and treatment, and identify the requirements to service existing and future development areas
  • Provide recommendations for short- and long-term capital planning to forecast funding requirements and form the basis of a Development Charges Background Study
  • Create a framework for development within the identified Strategic Growth Areas
  • Provide recommendations within an Implementation Plan on how to proceed with the SMP, including a Capital Plan to 2051, monitoring and enforcement programs, and recommendations related to policy, guidance, and operation of the City’s CLI-ECA
  • Identify existing system redundancies, vulnerabilities, and risk, and develop mitigation approach
  • Engage the public, agencies and First Nations communities throughout the Master Plan process

This study will be undertaken in accordance with the Modified Approach #2 of the Master Planning process as set out in the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Class EA process and will include two Public Information Centres.


Did you know that the City of Peterborough’s sanitary system has 362 kilometres of sewer, 5130 maintenance holes, 10 pumping stations and a treatment plant with a total replacement value of $1.863 billion?

In alignment with the City of Peterborough (City) Official Plan (OP) and under the legislative context of the Province of Ontario’s Place to Grow Plan, growth within the City should occur in a sustainable manner addressing economic, social, and environmental considerations. The City’s 2023 OP Update anticipates that the City will grow from 83,000 people in 2016 to a projected population of 125,000 people by 2051. It is also anticipated that the employment sector will grow from 45,000 jobs in 2016 to 63,000 by 2051.

The City has retained GM BluePlan Engineering Limited (GM BluePlan) to develop a comprehensive Sanitary Master Plan (SMP) which will provide a framework for servicing urban growth and intensification that is transparent, sustainable, reliable, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, flexible and maximizes the use of existing sanitary infrastructure. This project will build on existing studies and provide tools for strategic, comprehensive, integrated growth and infrastructure planning to 2051 and beyond, and to serve as a direct input to the Development Charges By-Law. GM BluePlan must consider innovative approaches that address the City’s need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt its infrastructure and operations under a changing climate and plan for infrastructure expansion that is cost-efficient and financially sustainable for the community.

The Sanitary Master Plan will achieve the following objectives:

  • Assess the capacity of the existing sanitary system, including collection, conveyance and treatment, and identify the requirements to service existing and future development areas
  • Provide recommendations for short- and long-term capital planning to forecast funding requirements and form the basis of a Development Charges Background Study
  • Create a framework for development within the identified Strategic Growth Areas
  • Provide recommendations within an Implementation Plan on how to proceed with the SMP, including a Capital Plan to 2051, monitoring and enforcement programs, and recommendations related to policy, guidance, and operation of the City’s CLI-ECA
  • Identify existing system redundancies, vulnerabilities, and risk, and develop mitigation approach
  • Engage the public, agencies and First Nations communities throughout the Master Plan process

This study will be undertaken in accordance with the Modified Approach #2 of the Master Planning process as set out in the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Class EA process and will include two Public Information Centres.


  • Notice of Study Completion

    Share Notice of Study Completion on Facebook Share Notice of Study Completion on Twitter Share Notice of Study Completion on Linkedin Email Notice of Study Completion link
    supporting image

    Notice of Study Completion. The City of Peterborough has completed a Sanitary Master Plan (SMP) that establishes a comprehensive framework to guide the City of Peterborough's sanitary infrastructure development through 2051, aligning with projected population growth from 83,000 (2016) to 125,000 and beyond. The Master Plan Report will be available for a 30-day public review starting June 27, 2025 and ending on July 27, 2025. All comments or requests must be received within the 30-day public review period. To view the Master Plan Report, please see the "Documents" section of this page.


    Notice of Study Completion. The City of Peterborough has completed a Sanitary Master Plan (SMP) that establishes a comprehensive framework to guide the City of Peterborough's sanitary infrastructure development through 2051, aligning with projected population growth from 83,000 (2016) to 125,000 and beyond. The Master Plan Report will be available for a 30-day public review starting June 27, 2025 and ending on July 27, 2025. All comments or requests must be received within the 30-day public review period. To view the Master Plan Report, please see the "Documents" section of this page.


  • PIC #2 Presentation and Recording

    Share PIC #2 Presentation and Recording on Facebook Share PIC #2 Presentation and Recording on Twitter Share PIC #2 Presentation and Recording on Linkedin Email PIC #2 Presentation and Recording link
    supporting image

    The City would like your input on the Sanitary Master Plan. Please review the presentation slides or view a recording of the Public Information Centre #2 presentation (available after February 11th, 2025) and provide your comments and questions using the PIC #2 Feedback Survey. The commenting period for the second PIC will close on March 5, 2025. Comments and questions are however welcome anytime

    The City would like your input on the Sanitary Master Plan. Please review the presentation slides or view a recording of the Public Information Centre #2 presentation (available after February 11th, 2025) and provide your comments and questions using the PIC #2 Feedback Survey. The commenting period for the second PIC will close on March 5, 2025. Comments and questions are however welcome anytime

  • Notice of Public Information Centre #2

    Share Notice of Public Information Centre #2 on Facebook Share Notice of Public Information Centre #2 on Twitter Share Notice of Public Information Centre #2 on Linkedin Email Notice of Public Information Centre #2 link
    supporting image

    As part of the Class EA study, a live virtual public information centre (PIC) presentation will be hosted on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 6:30pm. Members of the public can join the live broadcast and can submit questions through the virtual chat feature during the presentation. To receive the broadcast information, please register by filling out the registration form using this link or the QR code: https://forms.office.com/r/XhrssE0rTs

    A recording of the presentation will be made available on the project website following the live broadcast. This presentation will allow interested members of the public to learn about the alternative servicing strategies considered and the preliminary results of the detailed evaluation, as well as the preliminary associated list of capital projects to support population growth in the City to 2051. Any further questions and comments you may have following the live broadcast can be submitted directly through the project website via the comments form.

    As part of the Class EA study, a live virtual public information centre (PIC) presentation will be hosted on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 6:30pm. Members of the public can join the live broadcast and can submit questions through the virtual chat feature during the presentation. To receive the broadcast information, please register by filling out the registration form using this link or the QR code: https://forms.office.com/r/XhrssE0rTs

    A recording of the presentation will be made available on the project website following the live broadcast. This presentation will allow interested members of the public to learn about the alternative servicing strategies considered and the preliminary results of the detailed evaluation, as well as the preliminary associated list of capital projects to support population growth in the City to 2051. Any further questions and comments you may have following the live broadcast can be submitted directly through the project website via the comments form.

  • PIC #1 Presentation and Recording

    Share PIC #1 Presentation and Recording on Facebook Share PIC #1 Presentation and Recording on Twitter Share PIC #1 Presentation and Recording on Linkedin Email PIC #1 Presentation and Recording link
    supporting image

    The City would like your input on the Sanitary Master Plan. Please review the presentation slides or view a recording of the Public Information Centre #1 presentation and provide your comments and questions using the PIC #1 Feedback Survey. The commenting period for the first PIC will close on June 21, 2024. Comments and questions are however welcome anytime, and future PIC's are being scheduled for late summer 2024.

    The City would like your input on the Sanitary Master Plan. Please review the presentation slides or view a recording of the Public Information Centre #1 presentation and provide your comments and questions using the PIC #1 Feedback Survey. The commenting period for the first PIC will close on June 21, 2024. Comments and questions are however welcome anytime, and future PIC's are being scheduled for late summer 2024.

  • Notice of Public Information Centre #1

    Share Notice of Public Information Centre #1 on Facebook Share Notice of Public Information Centre #1 on Twitter Share Notice of Public Information Centre #1 on Linkedin Email Notice of Public Information Centre #1 link
    supporting image

    As part of the Class EA study, a live virtual public information centre (PIC) presentation will be hosted on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 6:30pm. Members of the public can join the live broadcast and can submit questions through the virtual chat feature during the presentation. To receive the broadcast information, please register by filling out the registration form using this link or the QR code: https://forms.office.com/r/rf3dgxBdeM

    A recording of the presentation will be made available on the project website following the live broadcast. This presentation will allow interested members of the public to learn about the City’s existing wastewater system, future growth needs, the project schedule, and what steps are being taken to support the decision-making process. Any further questions and comment you may have following the live broadcast can be submitted directly through the project website via the comments form.

    As part of the Class EA study, a live virtual public information centre (PIC) presentation will be hosted on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 6:30pm. Members of the public can join the live broadcast and can submit questions through the virtual chat feature during the presentation. To receive the broadcast information, please register by filling out the registration form using this link or the QR code: https://forms.office.com/r/rf3dgxBdeM

    A recording of the presentation will be made available on the project website following the live broadcast. This presentation will allow interested members of the public to learn about the City’s existing wastewater system, future growth needs, the project schedule, and what steps are being taken to support the decision-making process. Any further questions and comment you may have following the live broadcast can be submitted directly through the project website via the comments form.

  • Notice of Study Commencement

    Share Notice of Study Commencement on Facebook Share Notice of Study Commencement on Twitter Share Notice of Study Commencement on Linkedin Email Notice of Study Commencement link
    supporting image

    The City of Peterborough has issued a Notice of Study Commencement for the Sanitary Master Plan. This notice was first issued on August 10, 2023. The Notice of Study Commencement is the first step in a multi-phase approach to Master Planning conducted in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process.

    The City of Peterborough has issued a Notice of Study Commencement for the Sanitary Master Plan. This notice was first issued on August 10, 2023. The Notice of Study Commencement is the first step in a multi-phase approach to Master Planning conducted in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process.

Page last updated: 30 Jun 2025, 06:53 AM