This spring, Utilities Kingston is reminding residents that every neighbourhood is at risk of basement flooding, even if it’s never happened before.

Excess water (otherwise clean storm runoff or groundwater) is a main contributor to basement flooding and reduces pipe capacity in the sewer system. There are steps home owners can take to reduce excess water and help protect both their property and their neighbours’ properties.

We're doing our part by making improvements to the municipal wastewater system. Initiatives like monitoring and inspection programs, identifying and addressing leaky joints, cracks and other defects, separating combined sewers, and relining or replacing end-of-life sewers all help reduce excess water in the system. 

Home owners can do their part by conducting sewer lateral maintenance, controlling ground water around their home, and severing illegal connections into the sanitary sewer system (as per the City of Kingston Sewer Use Bylaw).

Utilities Kingston is available to help home owners with these efforts by providing workshops and educational materials, and offering up to $3,000 in preventative plumbing financial assistance to remove illegal connections and install appropriately connected sump pump systems

Protect your neighbourhood from flooding:

• Know your ‘Flood Facts’ and contact us for assistance by calling 613-546-0000 or emailing preventativeplumbing@utilitieskingston.com
• Learn ways to reduce excess water in your neighbourhood, and otherwise protect your property from basement flooding
• Find out about the ways Utilities Kingston is reducing flows in the sanitary sewer system