Prevent Localized Flooding: Prepare Your Home for Rain and Snowmelt

To report flooding in your area, call the Township’s Engineering Division at 604-532-7300. For urgent after hours or weekend support, call 604-543-6722.

With autumn and winter comes rain and sometimes snow. Take the following preventative maintenance measures to help mitigate flooding around your home and in your neighbourhood.

Prevent localized flooding during rainstorms

• Clean your gutters and ensure water from downspouts drain away from your residence.
• Clear nearby curbs and catch basins of leaves and debris.
• Don’t rake leaves onto the street or into open ditches – compost them or place them in your Green Cart for pickup. (Hint: If you have a large amount of leaf litter or green waste, you can put out additional 80L cans marked with a GreenCan decal or use Kraft paper bags for pickup. Learn more at: tol.ca/greencart)

After heavy snowfall

After periods of heavy snowfall, these are some additional steps residents should take to protect their properties from flooding:

• If you are aware of a catch basin located on your street adjacent to your property, remove any snow from its surface. Snow-covered storm drains prevent the melting snow from properly draining into the Township’s storm sewer system. This may result in water ponding and potentially impacting properties within proximity to the storm drains.
• Clear any drains you may have on your own property to help drain water away from your house.
• Take extra precautions when driving. Puddles on streets may be deeper than what they appear and may cause loss of vehicle control.

Visit tol.ca/floodresponse for more tips to keep in mind while preparing your home for potential storms, and for information on the Township’s Flood Response program.