Consolidated Linear Infrastructure - Environmental Compliance Approval (CLI-ECA) Applications for Municipal Sewage Collection Systems and Municipal Stormwater Management Systems
When is a CLI-ECA approval required?
A CLI-ECA approval is required if the project includes changes to the City of Windsor’s sewage collection system and/or stormwater management system, such as the following:
- Additions, modifications, replacements and/or extensions of new sanitary and storm sewers, including extensions into new residential developments
- Adding new sewage pump stations or modifying existing sewage pumping stations
- Adding new stormwater management (SWM) facilities or modifying existing facilities (e.g., wet pond, dry ponds, infiltration basins, low impact development [LID] facilities, etc.) and/or manufactured treatment devices (e.g., oil-grit separator unit) that will service a new subdivision development
- Adding new or modifying existing equipment with emissions to air (e.g., emergency power generators or venting for odour control)
For changes that do not meet the conditions of the CLI-ECA Agreements, applicants will require a separate direct application to the ministry for changes such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Municipally, or privately owned stormwater works on industrial, commercial, or institutional land (storm sewers or stormwater management facilities)
- Stormwater alterations serving a single parcel of land, unless the stormwater management facility is located on a municipally owned park or community centre
- A storm sewer with a nominal diameter greater than 2,400 millimeters, or equivalent sizing
- A sanitary sewer with a nominal diameter greater than 750 millimeters
- A forcemain with a nominal diameter greater than 350 millimeters
- A combined sewer or partially separated sewer
- A sanitary sewer that creates a new discharge point to the natural environment
If the work qualifies for direct submission to the MECP, refer to the Ministry’s Guide to applying for an environmental compliance approval.
Certain routine and lower-risk activities require applicants to register online in the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR). In these cases, an ECA is not required. To find out when to apply for an ECA or when to self-register for an EASR, check the ministry’s website or contact them directly:
- Phone: (416) 314-8001 (Toll-free: 1-800-461-6290); or
- Email: enviropermissions@ontario.ca
Before you apply for an approval
All development applications must first go through the City’s Development Review regardless of the applicable ECA/EASR process.
Design Standards and Guidelines
All designs must meet the City’s standards and guidelines found here Builders and Developers in addition to the list below:
Overall Design
- City of Windsor CLI-ECA Agreement for Municipal Sewage Collection Systems (ECA No. 318-W601)
- City of Windsor CLI-ECA Agreement for Municipal Stormwater Management Systems(ECA No. 318-S701)
- MECP Design Criteria for Sanitary Sewers, Storm Sewers and Forcemains for Alterations Authorized under Environmental Compliance Approval (MECP, v.2.0, May 31, 2023)
- Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Stormwater Management Planning and Design Guidance Manual (2003)
- MECP Draft Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Guidance Manual (January 2022)
Erosion and Sediment Control
- Canadian Standards Association-W202-18: Erosion and Sediment Control Inspection and Monitoring Standard (CSA Group, 2018, as amended)
- Canadian Standards Association-W208:20 Erosion and Sediment Control Installation and Maintenance (CSA Group, 2020, as amended)
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Erosion and Sediment Control Guideline for Urban Construction (TRCA, 2019, as amended)
Designs must reflect the most conservative of the standards and guidelines listed above. Use of standards and guidelines other than those listed must be justified in the design report/brief (with sources cited) and may require a Direct ECA Submission to the Ministry.
Approval Application
Approval Checklist
In addition to stamped design documents (report/brief, drawings, design sheets), supporting documentation is required for a complete application as outlined in the CLI-ECA Application Checklist. This checklist must be completed and submitted with all applications.
Application Fee
For fees related to the CLI-ECA application, please see Application Fee Schedule.
Approval Application Forms
In addition to stamped design documents (report/brief, drawings, design sheets) and the documentation outlined in the CLI-ECA Application Checklist, the design engineer is required to complete the appropriate permit application forms from the list below:
Municipal sewage collection system:
- A1 - Discharge of Contaminant of Concern to Atmosphere
- CS1 - Combined Sewers, Partially Separated, Combined Sewage Storage Tanks
- SS1 - Separate Sewers, Nominally Separate, Forcemains
- SS2 - Components of System
Municipal stormwater management system:
- SW1 - Storm Sewers, Ditches, and Culverts - excludes pumping stations and forcemains.
- SW2 - Stormwater Management Facilities - e.g., stormwater management ponds, low-impact development features, manufactured treatment devices, etc.
- SW3 - Third Pipe Collection Systems - e.g., sewage works designed to collect and transmit foundation drainage and/or groundwater to a receiving surface water or dry well.
Technical Review Process
A detailed technical review is required to assess the following:
- Completeness and adequacy of the submitted detailed design and other supporting information
- Compliance of the application with design standards and guidelines, terms, and conditions of the City’s CLI-ECA agreements
- Conformance with the principles of sound engineering to evaluate the impacts of the proposed works on the municipal sewage collection and/or stormwater management system
In the process of the detailed review, it may be determined that more information is necessary for proper assessment of the application. The reviewer will request more information from the applicant and/or the applicant’s agent.
After the detailed technical review is complete, when all outstanding issues have been addressed and CLI-ECA sewage collection and/or stormwater management system permit application forms (parts 1, 2 and 3) have been completed and signed by the design engineer (see section above), the reviewer will forward the application to the City’s signing authority. Once approved by the signing authority, an electronic copy of the permit form is forwarded to the applicant, the design engineer, and the City development approvals manager.
The issuing of this approval does not negate the requirements of other regulatory agencies, which may include the following:
- Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry,
- Essex Region Conservation,
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
- Transport Canada, and
- Other agencies as required.
Application Submission
- The CLI-ECA application must be submitted by email to:
Corporation of the City of Windsor
Engineering - Design
Subject: CLI-ECA Application – [Insert project name and/or address]
Email: CLIapplication@citywindsor.ca
Carbon copy (Cc): fmikhael@citywindsor.ca - Questions regarding the CLI-ECA application can be directed to:
Adam Mourad, P. Eng.
Engineer III – Design Standards Lead
Engineering - Design
(519) 255-6100, Ext. 6114
amourad@citywindsor.ca