Basement Flooding

If you have questions or concerns, call the Operations Division at (905) 871-1600 x2466

Basement Flooding:

Basement Flooding and Responsibilities:

Pipes/components of your plumbing system that are under your property are your responsibility. This type of system is called private infrastructure or domestic sewer.
The Town of Fort Erie manages public sanitary and stormwater sewers.
The Town of Fort Erie EXCLUDES Storm sewers on regional roads.
Sanitary and storm sewer systems are designed/constructed to meet peak development demands. System capacities can be exceeded during extreme wet weather events.
Sanitary sewer systems are designed to handle wastewater only. All storm/rainwater should be directed to the storm sewer system.
Ongoing infrastructure rehabilitation and renewal programs work to help sanitary and stormwater management issues throughout the Town.
Stormwater is usually clean; one can see the basement floor through it. If the water is grayish, you might have a problem with sanitary sewer water. If this occurs, please call the Town of Fort Erie immediately.
Flooding may result from some maintenance issues, such as a sump pump failure or root blockages in the pipe. Below are some tips to reduce flooding in your home or building.

Tips on Preventing Basement Flooding:

Most often, basement flooding occurs after heavy rainfall or snowmelt. Some of the reasons you might get water inside your home and some possible solutions:

Poor lot drainage

Improve your lot grading by ensuring the ground slopes away from the exterior walls of your home. Ensure it slopes for a minimum of two metres (six feet).

Overflowing eavestroughs

Ensure eavestroughs and downspouts are clear of leaves and other debris.

Leaking, plugged or missing downspouts

Ensure that your downspouts are draining and directed at least two metres (six feet) from your foundation walls.

A leak in your home's foundation, basement walls, or basement windows or doors

Inspect walls, floors, windows and foundations and repair cracks which may leak.

Failure of a sump pump used to pump weeping tile water.

In the event of a power outage, monitor your sump pump.

Ensure that your sump pump discharges to the ditch/storm sewer, not into the sanitary sewer system. Install extensions to your sump pump discharge line if they are short.

Blockages due to tree roots in-home service pipe (sanitary service)

Contact a plumbing/sewer contractor.

A backup of wastewater in the sewer system could be a combination of wastewater and rainwater from the sanitary system and weeping tiles.

Ensure that your weeping tile drainage gets to the storm sewer system or to the ditch. It must not go into the sanitary sewer system.

Install backwater prevention devices on basement plumbing fixtures to reduce the risk of sewage entering the basement through the fixtures.

Have a plumber inspect your building's flood-proofing devices, such as backwater valves, sump pumps, floor drains or caps. To ensure they are working. Consider installing these devices if you do not have them.

Although the flood-proofing tips listed above do a great job in helping to prevent basement flooding, unfortunately, sometimes a basement will still flood.

If you experience basement flooding and suspect it is sanitary water, call the Town of Fort Erie, Operations Division (905) 871-1600 x2466

Town staff will:

inspect the problem
assess the flooding
attempt to determine the source
advise what actions you may take.

Important Info:

Call your insurance company as soon as possible and report any damage caused by the flooding. They will advise you on how to proceed.

Do not flush the toilet or turn on any taps.
If you are a tenant, notify your landlord.
Turn off the electricity before stepping into the water.
Photograph and record video of the extent of the flooding.

For further information on floods and flood clean-up, please check

Government of Canada Flood Information

Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction

or call 905-871-1600 x2466 to obtain more information.