Basement Flooding Preparedness

For more informationCall 905-546-2489 orEmail [email protected]

For a water or wastewater emergencyCall 905-546-2489

The City of Hamilton offers property owners of single-family residential homes a grant and or loan of up to $2000 each for eligible works that help to reduce the risk of basement flooding.

Rain storms are becoming more frequent and more intense. Basement flooding can cause serious damage, as well as personal and financial hardships. Where the water comes from will help identify the type of flooding, and how to address it.

A basement floor drains or basement fixtures? This is a sewer back-up.When major weather events overwhelm the City’s sewer system it can result in flooding. When this happens the water level in the system rises above the normal design levels, this is referred to as a sewer surcharge. Sewer back-ups can also occur when the homes sewer lateral (pipe running from your home to the sewer main) becomes blocked or damaged and the homes wastewater can no longer make it to the City’s sewer mains.

Through a basement window? This is overland flooding.When water flows overland, it may enter basements through windows, doors, vents and other openings. This could be due to improper grading, exposed window wells, an extreme wet weather condition that exceeds the capacity of overland routes or underground pipes.

Through a basement wall? This is infiltration flooding.When soil around your home becomes saturated or when the ground water level rises higher than your basement, water will get into your basement through cracks in the foundation walls and floor.

Please call the City of Hamilton 905-546-2489 to report if you are experiencing water or sewage coming up a floor drain or other basement fixtures in your home. You may be asked a few simple questions to help determine the nature of the problem and will be given information if there are programs (listed below) for you to take advantage of.

Over the past five years Hamilton has experienced a lot of rain. The rain storms last longer, are more intense and occur more frequency than in previous years. The City of Hamilton is committed to assessing, analyzing and implementing storm water management improvements to deal with heavy rain.

For more information and useful tips to adapt to urban run-off, please visit Greenventure Hamilton Naturhoods program.

During heavy rainfall, the water from the roof eavestroughs that are connected to the weeping tile through the downspouts may cause weeping tiles to become overwhelmed. If your weeping tiles are connected to the sanitary pipes, this may cause rainwater or sewage to back up in your home.

Solution: Disconnect weeping tiles and downspouts from the sanitary sewer system.

Have a qualified plumber investigate disconnecting your weeping tiles and downspouts from the sanitary sewer system.

If your home has a sump pump, it may have malfunctioned. This could cause your basement to flood.

Solution: Replace your sump pump

Make sure you maintain your sump pump properly. If your sump pump stopped working in the past, contact a qualified plumber to replace it. It is common for homes to lose power during severe storms, which can affect sump pump operation. Install a battery backup on your sump pump to avoid this.

Basement flooding can occur when the ground is saturated around the foundation walls or when weeping tiles are not working properly.

Solution: Smart landscaping

Sewage can back up into the basement if the City’s sanitary sewer pipe is full due to large amounts of water.

Solution: Flood proofing devices

Homes prone to flooding may benefit from plumbing improvements. These include:

Consult a professional before doing any work. Check to see if you are eligible for the City’s Protective Plumbing Grant Program or Loan Program.

In the City of Hamilton, the entire sewer lateral from house/building to main sewer connection is a private asset, owned by the property owner. Sewer back-ups/flooding in the basement can occur due to issues with the private sewer pipe from:

Solution: Homes that experience a sewer lateral (pipe) back up should consider having their entire sewer lateral investigated using a private plumber or City contractor. Learn more about the City of Hamilton's Sewer Lateral Management Program.

Here are things you can do throughout the year to prevent or minimize flooding and associated damage.

Here are things you can do in the spring and summer to prevent or minimize flooding and associated damage.

Here are things you can do in the fall to prevent or minimize flooding and associated damage.

Here are things you can do in the winter to prevent or minimize flooding and associated damage.

Many homes in Hamilton have a sump pump installed. The sump pump plays an important role in flood prevention and keeping water out of your basement. A sump pump is typically a small pump used to help keep the area under your home dry and to prevent it from flooding by removing excess water that has accumulated. The sump basin which should be in the lowest part of your basement or crawlspace is where the unwanted or excess water collects.

When the water level gets too high the sump pump is activated and begins pumping water out of the basin. The water is pumped outside and away from your home, so the basement stays dry. It is important to maintain and test your sump pump on a regular basis to ensure that it will work properly when needed.

TestingTo ensure the pump is working properly perform this three-step test:

MaintenanceSump pumps have a lifespan of approximately 10 years, which can vary based on how often it is working, the quality of the water (dirt and grit) and the quality of the pump itself. Different manufacturers have different recommendations for testing and maintaining your sump pump. Please follow the recommendations provided by the manufacturer. There are some steps that you can do to help your sump pump run effectively. If your pump is operating during freezing weather, it is best to disconnect outside hoses prior to winter. This will help blockages from forming in the hose which could damage the sump pump. Always make sure that the water discharges away from your home. If water from your sump hose discharges too close to your foundation, the water may end up back in your system.

*Maintenance should be done by a qualified technician.

The Protective Plumbing Program is part of the City’s strategy to help residential property owners mitigate basement flooding. There are programs to help reduce the risk of basement flooding with the installation of backwater valves, sump pumps and downspout disconnections.

The City of Hamilton offers property owners of single-family residential homes a grant (subsidy) of up to $2000 for the installation of a backwater valve and other eligible works that help to reduce the risk of basement flooding.

Learn more about the Protective Plumbing Grant Program

In addition to the grant program the City offers a loan program to assist with eligible work costs that help reduce the risk of basement flooding.

Learn more about the Protective Plumbing Loan Program

Your wastewater is carried to the City’s main sewer by a privately-owned pipe, called a sewer lateral. You own this pipe all the way to where it connects with the City’s Main sewer in the street.

The City of Hamilton offers a Sewer Lateral Management Program to provide technical and financial assistance to property owners. Where eligible this includes:

24-hour clearing and inspection of the sewer lateral

rehabilitation or replacement of the public portion of the sewer lateral (located in the public right-of-way, from the property line to the main sewer)

Financial assistance (Grant) for rehabilitation or replacement of the private portion of the sewer lateral (located on private property from the building to the property line).

Learn more about the Sewer Lateral Management Program