The City of Toronto is offering a one-time subsidy of up to $3400 to eligible property owners of single family, duplex and triplex homes. This subsidy is based on a first-come, first-serve basis and is specific to the installation in high-risk flood zone of Flood Prevention Devices; limited to: backwater valves; sump pumps; and severance capping services.
For ‘complete details on the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program visit the City of Toronto’s website www.toronto.ca/water
New Flood Prevention Devices
As part of Toronto’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy homeowners can retrofit their homes with new flood prevention devices to mitigate the risk of basement flooding. Due to chronic basement flooding in your area, the City of Toronto by-law 681 requires residents to disconnect all downspouts. Downspout disconnections are a crucial part of reducing basement flooding. Up to 20% less water may be diverted from the sewer systems if everyone complied with the by-law.
Neighborhoods built prior to 1986 may be on a combined sewer system, whereby, runoffs from snow melts, downspouts, and weeping tiles may be connected to the sanitary sewer systems. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the subsidy funding while it’s still available to get a backwater valve, which prevents raw sewage from backup into the basement. As more and more homeowners install these Flood Prevention Devices, those without, face an increased risk of a devastating sewer backup in the basement.
Flood Prevention Assessment
Homeowners can now schedule a FREE Flood Prevention Assessment by calling the Toronto Basement Flooding Hotline @ 1 800 208-2730. During the survey, an experienced Flood Prevention Specialist will assess the unique characteristics of your home. Additionally, each homeowner will receive on the spot expert advice regarding the risk of basement flooding issue, a written estimate and information to schedule a City of Toronto Licence Drainage Contractor. Scheduling is done on an area by area basis.
Over the last 10 years, the weather has become more and more extreme. Toronto residents have reported major basement flooding in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013 and each flood event was more severe than the last. This trend will continue. Don’t be an insurance statistic. Just ask yourself one question, why is the City offering the subsidy?
Types of Basement Flooding that may occur:
Infiltration Flooding
This type of flooding occurs when the water table rises higher than the cement basement floor. Groundwater can then enter the home through cracks in the basement floor and/or foundation walls, sometimes referred to as hydrostatic pressure. Internal and/or external waterproofing systems may be the solution for these.
Overland Flooding
This occurs when excess surface water caused by snow melt or a rain storm cannot be absorbed quickly enough ·and water enters the home through window wells, reverse grade driveways, and from other low points around your home. In many cases, simple lot grading measures may address this type of flooding.
Sewer Backups
All basement flooding is tragic but a sewer backup is a different level of contamination. Homes are connected to the City Sewer System by underground pipes (Building Drain) which convey wastewater from your home to the city sewer. When it rains and/or during a snow melt, the sewer systems become pressurized causing raw sewage to back up in your basement. To prevent this, homeowners must isolate their homes from the city sewer with a backwater valve.
About Subsidy Program – Eligible Devices
New Backwater Valves installations are eligible for up to $1250.00 in subsidy funding
New and Existing Sump Pumps installations are eligible for up to $1750.00 in subsidies
Severance Capping Services is eligible for up $400 in subsidy funding
Prevention Assessment TODAY: Call your insurance company for details on the benefits of installing a backwater valve and sump pump
This awareness material has been produced to assist homeowner’s safeguard against basement flooding in the City of Toronto.
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