Basement Flooding

The Region of Durham is responsible for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system that carries wastewater from buildings to either pumping stations or the water pollution control plant. 

Plumbing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, tubs and showers, appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, as well as the floor drain in your basement are connected to the sanitary sewer.

Water and sanitary service infrastructure – know your responsibilities as a property owner
The Region of Durham is responsible for water and sanitary sewer infrastructure within the public right of way up to the individual property line of a private residence. However, individual homeowners are responsible for repairs to any sewer and water service connections that are located on their private property.  The Region has recently approved Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC), a private company, to offer eligible homeowners with an optional warranty program that covers water or sewer line emergency repairs on their property.  View the FAQs on the Region of Durham website: durham.ca/BasementFlooding.

Questions?  Please contact the Region of Durham at 905.668.7711 or SLWC directly at 1.844.616.844.

The City of Pickering is responsible for stormwater management. Stormwater is collected through ditches, culverts, catch basins, storm sewers and stormwater ponds that eventually discharge to receiving water bodies such as local creeks and/or Lake Ontario.

Please see our Basement Flooding brochure for:

• tips on how to prevent basement flooding
• information on how the sewer system works
• causes of basement flooding

Please see the following resources for more information on basement flooding:

Region of Durham
Blocked Sewer Connections

Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
www.iclr.org

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Government of Canada
www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/flds-wtd/index-en.aspx