Nothing spells out stress like a sewer drain back up; talk about dirty business taking over very quickly – YUCK.
Beyond the panicked calls we get to come and see to this emergency situation ASAP, we are also asked for our opinion on who is responsible to pay for the damages.
In case you were unaware, your own personal sewer system exists on your property. Your wastewater is collected and funnelled away from your home to the main sewer line by something called a sanitary lateral. From that point on it continues to flow out to the City of Hamilton’s wastewater treatment facility
Another item you have that you may or may not be aware of is your foundation drain. Its job is different that the lateral’s job as it collects any and all groundwater that pools all around your house from the rain or spring thaw and is never mixed with the wastewater. This groundwater does move onto the City as well and is stored in their storm water management ponds.
The City of Hamilton of course has their own responsibilities and they support their accountability through routine maintenance, repairs and cleanings. Officials work to uphold checks and balances in place to ensure clean and dirty water is flowing to where it should be.
Unfortunately nothing is perfect and this situation can get out of control on occasion – no one tells Mother Nature what to do! Higher than normal increases in water levels due to heavy storms or major thaws after the winter create what is called “surcharging”.
Blockages from waste and debris, structural defects and construction sites pulling on the water supply can also cause surcharging to occur.
HOMEOWNER: The sanitary and storm sewer lateral that run from your home all the way to your property line is on you.
THE CITY: The sanitary and storm sewer laterals that from your property line out to the roads and sewers is on the city.
If you still have further questions on this subject or have any other plumbing concerns, give us a call today at John THE Plumber Hamilton; we are here to help and always happy to do so!
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Hamilton, ON L9C 6H4
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Ottawa Plumber
1541 Riverside Dr, Ottawa, ON K1G 4E2
613-227-7465
Barrhaven Plumber
18 Montana Way Barrhaven, ON K2J 4M5
613-454-5585
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77 Sunnybrooke Dr Kanata, ON K2M 2P2
613-509-1320
Nepean Plumber
15 Grenfell Crescent Nepean, ON K2G 0G3
613-518-6114
Orleans Plumber
348 Omer Lacasse Ave. Orleans, On K1E 2X8
613-458-5006
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2688 Conn St, Ottawa, ON K2B 7C7
613-686-1971
Stittsville Plumber
190 Tapadero Avenue, Stittsville, ON K2V 0N9
613-686-1917
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131 King St E, Brockville, ON K6V 1B7
613-499-1577
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3344 Mainway Rd, Burlington ON L7M 1A7
289-348-2366
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5 Bates Dr. Carleton Place, ON K7C 4J8
613-366-4737
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38 Gledhill Cres, Hamilton, ON L9C 6H4
905-645-0467
Hamilton Crown Point East
129 Melrose Ave South, Unit #1
905-237-5153
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25 Mabelle Ave #1402 Etobicoke, ON M9A 4Y1
647-812-6108
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308 Wellington Street Unit #4, Kingston, ON K7K 7A8
343-477-1970
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739-B Arlington Park Pl Kingston, ON K7M 8M8
613-817-8143
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32 Hatter St Kingston, ON K7M 2L5
613-817-8142
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439 Waterloo St. London, ON N6B 2P1
519-804-8856
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1164 Shamir Cres, Mississauga, ON L5C 1L1
289-430-5562
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6176 Murray St. Niagara Falls, ON L2G 2K6
289-932-9642
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2020 Winston Park Dr Suite 104 Oakville, ON L6H 6X7
289-644-3856
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189 Onyx Crescent Rockland, ON K4K 1P6
613-454-1816
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387 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3N1
289-434-0481
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285 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2M1
647-689-6878
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984 Caledonia Rd, Toronto, ON M6B 3Y8
416-304-6851
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