Grinder Pumps

Update April 13, 2026

At their March 30, 2026, regular meeting, Council received a report titled “Proposed Historical Grinder Pump Service Policy and Procedure”, which included updated proposed bylaw amendments, a new service policy, and new procedures. At the meeting, Council modified the proposed procedure and bylaw amendments, then supported these as amended and gave first, second, and third reading.

March 30 Council meeting agenda and minutes

Council approved the following policy and procedure at a special meeting on April 1, 2026:

Relevant bylaw amendments were subsequently approved at a regular meeting on April 13, 2026.

To apply for municipal servicing of a historical grinder pump, find more information and application instructions below.

What is a grinder pump?

Most properties in West Vancouver can connect to the municipal sewer system using gravity. In some cases, gravity doesn’t do the trick and a pump is necessary to move wastewater from private properties to municipal sewer lines.

A grinder pump grinds wastewater from your home (i.e. toilet, shower, washing machine) and pumps it into the public sanitary sewer system. A grinder pump is typically located in a tank that is buried in a convenient outdoor location on your property.

How does a sewer grinder pump work

1. How do I maintain my grinder pump?
  The most important thing you can do to maintain your grinder pump is to make sure you don’t flush or wash unflushables down the drain.
2. Will the District help maintain grinder pumps on private property?
  Most private property owners are fully responsible for sewer systems on their property, including the maintenance of grinder pumps.
  
  Some properties have grinder pumps that were historically installed by the District. These properties may be eligible for municipal maintenance service for historical grinder pumps, in accordance with Historic Grinder Pump Policy 0225 and Historic Grinder Pump Procedure 0226, approved by Council on April 1, 2026.
3. How will I know if my grinder pump needs to be serviced?
  Every grinder pump has an alarm that will sound, and a red light will flash when it needs to be serviced. For service, please contact a qualified service provider as needed.
4. Can the District recommend a contractor who can service my grinder pump?
  The District cannot provide a list of recommended contractors, and does not sell parts.
  
  If your private contractor has specific questions about a District-installed pump, they can call Engineering Dispatch at 604-925-7100 and ask to speak to a District sewer technician.
1. What does it mean to opt in to District service? Do I have to opt in to District service?
  
  Some properties have grinder pumps that were historically installed by the District, and these properties may be eligible for municipal maintenance service.
  
  Eligible properties can complete an application to opt in to this service. District charges will apply and property owners will be invoiced for services provided.
  
  More information and eligibility requirements can be found in Historic Grinder Pump Policy 0225 and Historic Grinder Pump Procedure 0226, which were approved by Council on April 1, 2026.
  
  Eligible properties may opt in for District service but are not required to do so. If you choose not to apply for municipal service or do not meet eligibility requirements, you assume private responsibility for the grinder pump on your property and should contact a qualified service provider as needed for maintenance and repairs.
2. How much are District charges for grinder pump services?
  Property owners can expect to pay actual costs the District incurs to provide service to the historical grinder pump on your property. Refer to the documents below for more detail about the service and applicable charges:
  
  Historic Grinder Pump Policy 0225
  
  Historic Grinder Pump Procedure 0226
  
  Sewerage and Drainage Regulation Bylaw No. 5263, 2023
  
  Property owners that receive District service will be invoiced for services provided.
3. How do I apply for District grinder pump service?
  
  If your property is eligible and you’d like to receive District service, complete an application and prepare supporting documents:
  
  Historic Grinder Pump Service Application
  
  Submission details:
  
  COMPLETE the application including District Historic Grinder Pump Servicing Agreement.
  
  OBTAIN a photo establishing that the grinder pump is owned by the District.
  
  SUBMIT signed documents and photo.
  
  EMAIL
  [email protected]
  
  MAIL OR DELIVER
  ADDRESS ENVELOPE TO:
  Grinder Pump Service Application
  c/o Engineering Services,
  Municipal Hall, 750 17th Street,
  West Vancouver BC V7V 3T3
  
  Mail or place in a drop box located outside the north and west entrances to Municipal Hall.
4. Will the District reimburse me for grinder pump servicing costs incurred while District servicing was not available?
  
  Property owners who paid private contractors for work on their historic grinder pump systems while District service was not available have the opportunity to submit a request for reimbursement if they opt in to resume municipal service.
  
  Before submitting for reimbursement, property owners will be asked to complete an application to reinstate municipal servicing.
  
  When an application is approved, service will be reinstated and property owners can submit reimbursement requests including receipts.
  
  These will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The District will consider reimbursement if costs are within the scope of grinder pump services that the municipality would provide and are in accordance with Historic Grinder Pump Policy 0225 and Historic Grinder Pump Procedure 0226.
  
  To submit a request:
  
  EMAIL
  [email protected]
  
  MAIL OR DELIVER
  ADDRESS ENVELOPE TO:
  Grinder Pump Service Reimbursement
  c/o Engineering Services
  Municipal Hall, 750 17th Street,
  West Vancouver BC V7V 3T3
  
  Mail or place in a drop box located outside the north and west entrances to Municipal Hall.
5. Does the District have a service record for the grinder pump on my property?
  The District may have service records for District-installed grinder pumps on private properties. If your property previously received maintenance support from the District and you are seeking records, please call Engineering Dispatch for more information: 604-925-7100.
6. Does the District have specifications or other grinder pump documents?
  The District may have electric and hydromatic specifications for District-installed grinder pumps on private properties. If your property previously received maintenance support from the District and you are seeking specifications, please call Engineering Dispatch for more information: 604-925-7100.
Background

In October 2023, Council adopted Sewerage and Drainage Regulation Bylaw No. 5263, 2023, and with it a new policy that the District will no longer install or provide maintenance for private sanitary systems as part of municipal sanitary utility operations. The policy change formalised a consistent ownership model where private property owners are fully responsible for sewer systems on their property.

This change affected fewer than 150 property owners. It was made to improve equity and to allow the District to direct ratepayer funding and staff resources toward maintaining sanitary system infrastructure that benefits a greater portion of the community rather than a small number of individual property owners.

In January 2025, in response to feedback from some affected property owners, Council directed staff to investigate and report back on an alternate approach where the District might reinstate maintenance for municipally installed private grinder pumps with service costs charged back to the benefiting property owner.

On October 20, 2025, Council received a report titled “Cost recovery model for servicing historical grinder pumps on private property”. View the staff report.

At the meeting, Council directed staff to continue work on:
- developing a cost recovery approach that provides for reinstating District servicing based on a fee-for-service model;
- preparing policy and procedures that define the scope of service, eligibility criteria, and process by which eligible beneficiaries access the proposed services;
- preparing bylaw amendments to the Sewerage and Drainage Regulation Bylaw No. 5263, 2023 that support the above; and
- reporting back to Council in early 2026 with an update.
At their March 30, 2026, regular meeting, Council received a report titled “Proposed Historical Grinder Pump Service Policy and Procedure”, which included updated proposed bylaw amendments, a new service policy, and new procedures. At the meeting, Council modified the proposed procedure and bylaw amendments, then supported these as amended and gave first, second, and third reading.
- March 30 Council meeting agenda and minutes
Council approved the following policy and procedure at a special meeting on April 1, 2026:
- Historic Grinder Pump Policy 0225
- Historic Grinder Pump Procedure 0226
Relevant bylaw amendments were subsequently approved at a regular meeting on April 13, 2026.
- Sewerage and Drainage Regulation Bylaw No. 5263, 2023
Eligible properties may opt in for District service but are not required to do so. Property owners with a historical grinder pump who choose not to apply for municipal service or do not meet eligibility requirements assume private responsibility for the grinder pump on your property and should contact a qualified service provider as needed for maintenance and repairs.