There are a number of simple, cost-effective things you can do to help keep unwanted water out of your home and to minimize water damage in case of flooding.
Ensure downspouts are directing water away from your home |
IMPORTANT: If your home was built before 1969, your downspout may be connected directly to the sanitary sewer system. In the event of a heavy rainfall, storm water from your downspout has the potential to overwhelm the sanitary sewer system and cause sewer water to either enter your home or cause sewer backup into a neighbouring home through the basement. Halton Region's Voluntary Downspout Disconnection program covers the cost of downspout disconnections for residents living in specific areas of Burlington. To learn more about the downspout disconnection program, visit www.halton.ca or dial 311. |
Check your lot grading |
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Conduct regular home maintenance |
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Additional ideas |
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Sump pumps |
If your home was built before 1970, consider disconnecting the foundation drains (weepers) from the sanitary sewer and install a sump pump.
Sump pumps are designed to remove water from around the foundation of a home and safely pump it to the surface, away from the building.
How it works |
Backwater valves |
A backwater valve can help prevent sewage from a sanitary sewer line from backing up into your basement. The backwater valve is placed directly into the sewer pipe that comes into the basement of the home. If sewage begins backing up from the main sanitary sewer, the valve automatically closes. |
Flood proof your basement |
Read more about basement flooding. |
The Home Flood Protection Program has been developed by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo to help homeowners reduce their risk of basement flooding and minimize damage if flooding occurs. The Program offers homeowners free online self-help resources and a custom, fee-for-service flood-risk evaluation, known as the 'Home Flood Protection Assessment.' Program funding is generously provided by the Province of Ontario and the City of Burlington to support ongoing flood prevention education efforts at the municipal level.
Download the Homeowner Flood Reduction Resource List [PDF] compiled by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaption for additional resource information.
For more information on the Home Flood Protection Program, please visit: http://www.homefloodprotect.ca/
Halton Region sanitary sewer flooding support program
If you have experienced flooding from a sanitary sewer backup, you may qualify for financial assistance from Halton Region. The Region currently provides two programs to help support residents who have experienced flooding due to sanitary sewer back up, including the Sewer Backup Flooding Grant (i.e., Ex-Gratia Grant Program) and the Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy Program. For more information about these programs, visit www.halton.ca or call 311.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has developed an interactive online tool for consumers to learn about the various ways water damage can occur in a home and to test their knowledge of the types of insurance coverage. Visit Water Damage: Covered....or not? to learn more.