Improper sewer connections are dumping condoms, tampons and human feces into creeks across Hamilton. But city councillors are balking at the idea of spending nearly $1 million every year to expand the program to fix the problem.

They're reaching the point, pardon the pun, of being tapped out. - Tom Jackson, Ward 6 councillor

The city has hundreds of improper sewer cross connections. That means there are older homes where at least one bathroom or fixture flushes into storm sewers, and then into creeks such as Chedoke and Davis.

That contributes to E.coli levels that Environment Hamilton data shows is 280 times the provincial limit in some areas of Red Hill creek.

This diagram shows how improper sewer connections in older houses lead to waste going into local creeks. (City of Hamilton)

It'll cost about $900,000 every year for at least eight years to identify and gradually fix the cross connections, said Nick Winters, the city's manager of water distribution and wastewater collection. And it'll take longer than that to fix them all.

There are two main sewer systems — sanitary sewers, which deal with sewage, and storm sewers, which handle storm water. With the improper connections, waste meant for sanitary sewers goes into storm sewers instead.

I think the average person would look at the intent of the program — removing sewage waste from our watercourse — and would say it's the right thing to do. - Nick Winters, manager of water distribution and wastewater collection

The improper connections are so common, Winters said, that they occur at a rate of about two per kilometer of sewer line. The city has found them in eight of Hamilton's 15 wards, but they are probably everywhere.

But city council's public works committee was queasy about spending that much money on Monday.

Winters recommended making two temporary positions for the program permanent. It was deferred to the city's budget deliberations, which wrap up in the spring. Some warned taxpayers can't afford it.

Waste that appears to have been flushed down toilets is appearing the creek. (Mark Chambers/CBC)

"They're reaching the point, pardon the pun, of being tapped out," said Tom Jackson, Ward 6 councillor.

Other cities have had to cut staff to balance the budget, said Chad Collins, Ward 5 councillor. Hamilton might have to do the same this year.

This map shows where the city has done inspections for improper connections, and where it's headed next. (City of Hamilton)

Dan McKinnon, general manager of public works, acknowledged that the program is "probably discretionary" right now. But the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is watching.

"If we were to decelerate at this point in time, I expect some feedback from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change," Winters said.

The city has made progress over the years. Since 2009, it has identified 232 improper connections and fixed 229, Monday's report says. The city has still only inspected 10 per cent of the storm system, Winters said.

In 2012, Environment Hamilton found through its citizen-driven Pipewatch program that E.coli levels in Red Hill creek were 280 times the provincial recreational limit around the creek's storm and sewer outfall pipes.

So far, the program hasn't decreased those E.coli levels, Winters said. There are other factors in the levels, and the city still isn't sure how much the connections are a factor.

It's still worthwhile, he said.

"I think the average person would look at the intent of the program — removing sewage waste from our watercourse — and would say it's the right thing to do."

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC