The Basement Flooding Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to property owners who experience basement flooding in their home. The program helps mitigate and prevent basement flooding incidents by offering funding for eligible flood protection measures such as weeping tile disconnection with redirection to a new sump pump and backwater valves.
Eligibility
The applicant(s) must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for grant funding (at the discretion of the City Engineer):
- Must be the homeowner(s) of the residential home.
- Have not commenced any construction of works related to the grant application.
- Have experienced basement flooding or reside in an area prone to such issues due to the city sanitary main.
- Have experienced basement flooding due to weeping tiles gravity connected to the storm sewer system.
- Have significant sump pump surface discharge issues including but not limited to surface erosion and icing on City sidewalks and/or streets. Grant eligibility for installing a storm lateral to address sump pump discharging issues is determined by a demonstrated need for such work at the discretion of the City Engineer. Residential homes located in subdivisions registered after 1996, homes constructed as part of an infill development, or with additions to existing homes that result in sump pump discharge issues are considered ineligible. Homeowner-initiated landscaping and grading modifications (including pool installations) leading to sump pump discharge issues, also disqualify the property from eligibility for grant funding.
- The homeowner(s) must meet all conditions of this by-law.
Properties that are not eligible for this Program are condominiums (other than vacant land condominiums), and non-residential properties including but not limited to institutional, industrial and commercial properties.
For further questions about the Basement Flooding Grant By-law, or to find out if you qualify for the grant program, please contact Sewer Engineering at sewers@london.ca or call 519-661-2489 ext. 5489.
Eligible work (Residential)
| Eligible Work – Residential homes | Grant = 90% of total cost to a maximum of: |
| Backwater valve1, 2 | $1,800 |
| Sewage ejector and holding tank (including interior plumbing modifications)3 | $6,000 |
| Sump pit and pump: with existing weeping tile disconnection4 | $4,000 |
| Additional weeping tile disconnection | $2,400 |
| Storm private drain connection (storm lateral from the City sewer main to the property line) | $7,000 |
| Storm building sewer (storm lateral on private property from an existing storm private drain connection stub at property line to the dwelling unit) | $3,000 |
| Sump pump battery back-up when installed in conjunction with a new sump pump5 | $1,400 |
| Sump pit and pump for a reverse grade driveway (to replace private catchbasins or drains which collect runoff that are currently directed to a City sanitary sewer) | $4,000 |
1 If weeping tiles are not present, eligibility for backwater valve is assessed by the City on risk of sanitary sewer surcharging.
2 For duplexes, the backwater valve can only serve one dwelling unit.
3 Instead of backwater valve.
4For semi-detached dwellings, both sides of the building are required to disconnect their weeping tiles, in order to receive any grant funding. For dwelling units with independent weeping tiles, written confirmation from a licensed plumber is required.
5 These works are not eligible for existing sump pits and pumps.
The grant program does not cover maintenance, repair, or replacement of existing sump pits and pumps. Only new installations are eligible for consideration under the program.
**The Basement Flooding Grant Program does not provide funding for the installation of new weeping tiles (interior or exterior), repairs of floor or wall cracks, or any waterproofing services.
How to apply
- Contact licensed plumbers/drainage contractors to assess the appropriate remedial measures for your property and obtain itemized cost estimates or quotes. Contact the City's Sewer Engineering Division to review these remedial measures.
- Obtain an information package and application by contacting the Sewer Engineering Division at sewers@london.ca or call 519-661-CITY (2489) ext. 5489.
- Fill out the application (page 1) and include your cost estimates/quotes obtained from licensed plumbers/drainage contractors and return completed application to the City of London for review.
- Allow up to four weeks for the City to review your application and approve the amount of your grant in writing. The grant amount will depend on the assessment of the eligible works proposed.
- When approved, hire a licensed plumber/ drainage contractor to complete the work and obtain the appropriate permit(s) from the City.
- Contact the Building Division to inspect the work and sign off on the installation as per the permit requirements. Email building@london.ca or call 519-661-4555.
When the work is complete, fill out the application (page 2) and submit it, with the paid invoice detailing all the work that was completed, to sewers@london.ca, or by mail to:
Sewer Engineering Division
9th Floor, 300 Dufferin Avenue
P.O. Box 5035
London, Ontario N6A 4L9
Attention: Basement Flooding Grant Program
Subject to approval of the submission, the City will issue a cheque for the grant within 2-6 weeks.
Basement flooding prevention
There are many different sources of basement flooding. Cracks in the foundation, plugged toilets and blocked sewer drains are the most common reasons homes flood.
Properly taking care of your home and yard can help prevent flooding.
- Throughout the year take a look around your property to make sure the ground is sloping away from your house and downspouts are extended two meters (six feet) away from the house.
- Inspect your basement walls and floor for cracks and repair as necessary.
- If you have a backwater valve or sump pump, check they are in good working order.
- Keep your drains unobstructed. Do not pour grease down the drain or flush objects down the toilet.
- Ensure that window well lips are at least a few centimetres above the ground surface.