A dye test is pouring water mixed with tracer dye into an inlet to visually confirm its connectivity in the sewer. A possible inlet could be the roof drain, downspout or a rear lot catch basin. Civica Infrastructure field staff will be required to come onto your property to conduct the test from outside the building.
Dye Testing of Drainage Features in Port Dover
Norfolk County is partnering with Civica Infrastructure on a County Wide Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Reduction Program. The program’s objectives are to identify sources of rainwater entering the sanitary sewers and develop a plan to reduce these flows.
The sanitary sewer system is an underground pipe network that collects wastewater produced by houses, businesses, and industries. The purpose of the pipe network is to direct the wastewater to a treatment plant where the water is treated before being discharged into Lake Ontario. Wastewater is the water that has been used by the community and disposed of. This includes any water that enters the sanitary sewers from toilets, sinks, showers, and other appliances
Inflow & Infiltration occurs when water enters the sanitary sewers through cracks in the pipe network or through other undesired connections such as catch basins or roof downspouts. Rainwater and groundwater fill the pipes and reduce the capacity of the sanitary pipe network and the treatment plant. This increases the risk of overloading the pipe network which can potentially lead to basement flooding.
To identify sources of inflow & infiltration, Civica Infrastructure, with support from the County, will be conducting dye testing in your neighbourhood during the week of October 14 – October 17, 2025, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dye testing is a safe and easy way to locate any sources of inflow & infiltration in the system.
Residents in the testing zones (Figure 1) will receive advance notice in the form of hand-delivered notices, and daily updates will be provided throughout the project to keep the community informed.
What is the purpose of dye testing the sanitary sewer system?
The purpose of the testing is to make sure the sanitary sewer is working at its best. Dye testing is a simple and efficient method of locating where rainwater or groundwater is entering the sanitary system.
Will staff need to enter my property to conduct the dye test?
Staff will not need to enter inside the property unless they are required to use internal access for the roof top (to test roof drains). Staff will only be testing drainage features on the outside of your property such as roof drains, downspouts, driveway drains, or a rear lot catch basin.
What should I do to prepare for dye testing?
If you have roof drains (i.e. a flat roof), please ensure staff will have access to the rooftop.
The water-mixed tracer dye is usually fluorescent green, blue, or red in colour.
Is the dye harmful? Should I be concerned?
The dye is non-toxic, biodegradable, and poses no harmful effects to humans, wildlife, or the environment. If you observe any dyed water on your property or in the neighbourhood, there is no need for concern. Excess dyed water can be washed away, left to evaporate, or absorb into the ground.
Project Contact Information
Contractor
Civica Infrastructure Inc.
Nirujaan Kanagendran, Project Analyst
(905) 417-9792 x 2303
nirujaan.kanagendran@civi.ca
Norfolk County Project Manager
Jordan Lynch
(519) 426-5870, extension 1158
jordan.lynch@norfolkcounty.ca
If you did not receive a notice or have any questions or concerns about the work being completed, please contact the appropriate individual shown above.
Contact Us
ServiceNorfolk
50 Colborne Street South
Simcoe, Ontario
N3Y 4H3
Phone: 519-426-5870 or 226-NORFOLK, extension 0
