By Staff
July 28th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Well – there is at least one member of Council communicating with her residents on flooding problems and what is avaialable in the way of support.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna sent the following to her constituents:
Over the past two days, we have entered into Emergency Management Stage 1 – Routine Monitoring. We understand that residents are still dealing with the aftermath and the challenges it brings. We want to let you know that recent information on city relief has been released to support you during this time.
City of Burlington Flood Relief Grant ($1,000)
You may qualify for financial assistance from The City of Burlington to help with residential flooding-related costs if the following criteria are met:
• A flooding event in your residential dwelling occurred in connection to the
July 15 or July 16, 2024 weather event and was reported by you to 311;
• You are the owner or tenant of the residence;
• A representative of the Regional Municipality of Halton investigated the complaint and determined that:
▪ water damage occurred within a residential home due to the July 15 or July 16, 2024 extreme weather event; and
▪ The water damage was not the result of:
a blockage on any part of the wastewater system; or wastewater backup as a result of a sewer surcharge; and,
*The application for the Region of Halton Ex-Gratia Grant for Public Sewer Backup was denied for the property; and,
no outstanding orders were issued by the City of Burlington to remedy any violations of the Grading and Drainage By-law No. 052-2018, as amended, the Drainage By-law No. 017-2018, as amended, or the Site Alteration By-law No. 062-2014, as amended.City of Burlington’s Flood Relief Grant ($1,000) can help residents to either offset the cost of an insurance deductible or help with flooding-related costs that are not otherwise covered under their home insurance policy.
Due to high volumes, payments under this program may take 4-6 weeks to be processed after applications have been received.
Four to six weeks is unconscionable; there are a reported less than 700 homes damaged.
Remember:To be eligible for the Flood Relief Grant, you must immediately report the flooding to Halton Region. Halton Region Public Works staff will contact you regarding next steps.
Factors that may make you ineligible for the City of Burlington Flood Grant:
• applicants who are not registered owners or tenants of the property; and
• properties other than residential dwellings; and
• damages that are not within the residential home (e.g. water damage to landscaping, pool, deck).
I would suggest an article to explain how storm water enters our sanitary sewer system and hence causing a back up of sewage in home owners basements in the first place. This should not happen with proper maintenance of both systems. Is storm water entering the system through sewage manhole covers – these should be sealed to prevent egress of storm water. Did storm water enter the system at the site of sewage pumping stations and hence overwhelm the pump station? Was the emergency/high level by-pass at the pump station functional or removed?
Storm water is managed by the City, sanitary sewers by the Region. What is the coordination between the two especially at sensitive locations.
I’m sure this is documented in the many reports written by the City, Region and their consultants, but it may require looking through 100’s of pages of technical detail.
This is just my thought it may not be correct. Torrents of water coming off properties, off paved roadways etc. enter the drainage system which goes into the sewage system. The drainage and sewage systems become overwhelmed and water and waste fill up wherever they can find space. Space is found in what otherwise would be empty sewage pipes from residences. Those pipes fill up and back up into the residence.
Get a sewage back up preventer installed in your sewage exit pipe!
It’d be interesting to see how many of these flooded basements are legal conforming with MPAC and the city knowing so the taxes being paid are appropriate.
Is it time to imagine houses without basements? Especially in areas prone to flooding, the first floor could be the basement with all the utilities.