Important Notice - Beware of Phone Scams for the Plumbing Protection Rebate Program (March 21, 2024)

It has come to our attention that homeowners have been contacted by individuals posing as City employees asking to inspect or install flood protection devices such as sump pumps and backwater valves.

The City of Markham does not contact homeowners directly for such requests.

If you receive any of these scam phone calls, please contact Markham Waterworks at 905.477.5530 or customerservice@markham.ca

Private Plumbing Protection Rebate Program

As the City of Markham continues to invest in and upgrade the wastewater and stormwater systems, heavy rain and melting snow can overload sewers, especially in older neighbourhoods. It is important that homeowners take steps to help protect their home from basement flooding. Markham’s Private Plumbing Protection Rebate Program offers financial support for qualified property owners who install eligible flood protection devices.

Three private plumbing protection measures can be implemented to help protect your property.
1. Backwater Valve Installation.

• A backwater valve is a device that acts as a ‘check valve’ that allows sewage or stormwater to flow out of the home’s plumbing system during normal conditions, and prevents back flow of sewage or stormwater into your home during storms.
  (Backwater valve before installation)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Backwater valve installed in basement floor)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of Square One Insurance Services

2. Weeping Tile Disconnection and Sump Pump Installation.

Weeping tiles (also called foundation drains) collect groundwater or infiltrated rainwater from around the outside of homes and may directly connect to municipal sewer systems. Disconnecting weeping tiles from municipal sewers and installing a sump pump can help prevent infiltration flooding through foundation walls or the floor when municipal sewers surcharge during large storm event

3. Sanitary and Storm Lateral Relining and Repair.

• Sanitary and storm laterals are underground pipes that carry wastewater or drainage away from your property to the City sewer systems. Blocked or collapsed laterals can cause a sewer backup in your basement.

Who will receive a rebate?

Property owners who install protection measures are eligible to receive City rebates subject to certain conditions and submission of a rebate application form.

Retroactive Rebate– Property owners who completed installations between May 1, 2017 and May 1, 2018 are eligible for a retroactive rebate subject to City inspections.

New Installation Rebate – Property owners who plan to implement any of the measures are subject to obtaining necessary pre-approval, building permits and inspections from the City.

• Property owners are eligible for rebates subject to the following:
• The property must be located in known flood prone areas, or demonstrate existence of flood risk in the area
• The property is not subject to any contraventions, work orders or outstanding municipal requirements
• No outstanding municipal fines, tax payments, or fees
• The property owner has obtained approval of the work from the Environmental Services Department prior to installation
• Downspouts have been disconnected from the City’s sewer system
• The property owner provides the necessary documentation required in the application forms, and complies with program requirements
• The property owner has obtained building permits for the new installation
• The new installation adheres to the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23 and the Ontario Building Code O. Reg. 332/12, as amended or any successor thereof;
• The property owner signs a release form in favour of the City
• The work is not required as part of other works in meeting Ontario Building Code requirements
• The deadline to obtain the building permit is April 30, 2027 and submit applications for rebate is July 31, 2027.
• More details provided in the By-Law 2020-45 (PDF).
• What Rebates Are Available?

More details provided in the By-Law 2020-45 (PDF).

What Rebates Are Available?

Private Plumbing Protection Measure	Maximum Rebate
Backwater Valve (Indoor) – Installed on Sanitary Lateral	$1,750
Backwater Valve (Indoor) – Installed on Storm Lateral	$1,750
Backwater Valve (Outdoor) – Installed on Sanitary Lateral	$2,000
Backwater Valve (Outdoor) – Installed on Storm Lateral	$2,000
Weeping Tile — Disconnection from Sanitary Lateral and Redirect to Storm Lateral by gravity connection	$3,000
Weeping Tile — Disconnection from Sanitary Lateral and Sump Pump Installation	$5,000
Lateral Reline/Repair – Storm	$2,500
Lateral Reline/Repair — Sanitary	$2,500

How to Apply?

The Private Plumbing Protection Rebate Program has been extended to the end of April 2027 as approved by City Council. Program eligibility requirements and application process are updated too.

Application process:

New Installation

1. Property owners determine required work in consultation with qualified contractor and confirm eligible work
2. Property owners fill out the Technical Review Application Form and submit to City for review/approval to the program mailbox plumbingrebate@markham.ca
3. After receiving the initial approval from the City, property owners hire a licensed plumber to conduct CCTV inspection of laterals and submit inspection record to the City for review
4. City issue the Technical Review Approval form to property owners to proceed or change the work plan
5. Property owners submit building permit application and upload the Technical Review Application Form and Technical Review Approval Form to the City's building permit online application portal 
6. Building Department issues the permit
7. Property owners hire qualified contractor to complete the installation
8. Building Department inspects completed works
9. Property owners submit Rebate Application Form including invoices to Environmental Services Department
10. City issues rebate cheque to property owners

Download New Installation Application Package (PDF).

Retroactive Installation (measures implemented between May 1, 2017 and May 1, 2018)

• Step 1: Property owners confirm eligible rebate amount for completed work
• Step 2: Property owners submit rebate application
• Step 3: City’s consultant inspects completed works and recommends any additional measures
• Step 4: City issues rebate to Property owners
• Step 5: Property owners follow process for new installation for additional measures

Download Retroactive Installation Application Package (PDF).

Additional Resources

• Private Plumbing Protection Rebate Program Update April 4, 2022
• By-law 2020-45 Pilot Private Plumbing Protection Rebate (PDF)

Selecting a Contractor

The City of Markham is not affiliated with any contractors involved in plumbing protection work under the rebate program.

Property owners are encouraged to learn the steps in hiring a contractor and to ask questions to find the best candidate for any home or property project.

Tips can be found from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Important note:

• Markham does not contact residents by phone to request the installation of flood protection devices as there is no mandatory compliance requirement related to this rebate program.
• Any legitimate City contractor or employee must be able to provide a contact person from the City of Markham that can verify proof of employment.  Residents are encouraged to ask for this information.

Misleading Sales and Phone Scams

The City of Markham does not conduct door-to-door sales or phone call requests of any kind. Markham does not sell, partner with, or endorse any products or services, this includes:

• Companies offering testing of Markham’s drinking water quality
• Companies that claim to be working on behalf of the City of Markham
• Notices for mandatory equipment sales or services
• Residents are advised to use caution when approached for any services or asked for personal information with people unknown to them.

In 2018, Ontario banned unsolicited, door-to-door sales of certain products and services, including companies selling water treatment devices, purifiers, filters, or softeners. Learn more about the ban from Consumer Protection Ontario

Disconnecting your downspout can help prevent flooding in your home.

Downspout Disconnection Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 6, 2022, the Citywide Multi-Phase Sanitary System Downspout Disconnection Program has been successfully completed by investigating and disconnecting identified downspouts that connected to the sanitary sewer system within the high risk of basement flooding area in Thornhill, Unionville and Markham Village. As part of the City’s ongoing effort to reduce the risk of basement flooding and sewer backup, the City staff will continue to monitor sewer conditions through the annual inspection and monitoring program, review flood reports from large weather event and collect feedback from residents and community to help identify and develop remediate measures for areas with high risk of basement flooding potential.

This multi-phase program was implemented to reduce the risk of basement flooding, and to limit environmental concerns caused by directly connecting downspouts to the sanitary sewer system. These connections increase the flow of rainwater into the sanitary sewer system during heavy or long rain events. This can cause:

• The sanitary sewer system to overflow
• Sanitary sewer backups
• Basement flooding

This program also enforces the existing City of Markham Sewer By-Law # 2014-71 (PDF) [Clauses 3.1D & 19.11]. It also enforces the Region of York’s Sewage and Land Drainage By-Law # S-0064-2005-009, which prohibits the discharge of roof drainage water into the sanitary sewer system.

This program was done in six phases.

Phase 1 Program Area: The first phase of the program began in May, 2013 within the Thornhill area. The investigations and testing work within the Phase 1 Area (PDF) was finished in April 2014. The downspout disconnection work has been finished. Flow monitoring within the area started in Spring/Summer 2016.

Phase 2 Program Area: The second phase of the program began in May, 2014 within the Thornhill Area. The investigation and testing work with Phase 2 Area (PDF) was finished in April 2015. The notice of disconnection was mailed out to affected homeowners in June, 2015. The downspout disconnection work has been finished. Flow monitoring within the area commenced in Spring 2017.

Phase 3 Program Area: The third phase of the program began in May, 2015. It covered areas within Thornhill, Milliken, and Unionville. The investigation and testing work within the Phase 3 Area (PDF) ended in April, 2016. The downspout disconnection work has been finished.

Phase 4 Program Area: The fourth phase of the program began in May, 2016 within the Markham Area. The investigations and testing work within the Phase 4 Area (PDF) ended in February 2017. The notice of disconnection was mailed out to affected homeowners in September 2017.

Phase 5 Program Area: The fifth phase of the program began in May 2017, which covers area within Thornhill and Unionville. The investigation and testing work within the Phase 5 Area (PDF) was completed in November 2017. The notice of disconnection was mailed out to the affected homeowners in Fall 2018 and the disconnection period ended in Fall 2019. Post condition flow monitoring within the area commenced in Spring/Summer 2020.

Phase 5 Expansion Program Area: The fifth phase expansion of the program began in September 2017, which covers area within Thornhill and Markham Village. The investigation and testing work within the Phase 5 Expansion Area (PDF) started in November 2017.

Phase 6 Program Area: The sixth phase of the program began in September 2017, which covers areas within Unionville and Markham Village. The investigation and testing work within the Phase 6 Area (PDF) commenced in June 2018.

Steps taken by City to identify downspout discharge locations

Before any downspouts are disconnected, the City needs to confirm whether the downspouts that go into the ground are actually connected to the municipal sanitary sewer system. To do this, the City takes following steps:

1. Preliminary property investigation
   We do general surveys of residential lots to see whether downspouts are discharging above the ground or into the ground.
2. Sanitary & storm sewer smoke testing
   We do smoke testing within the sanitary and storm sewer systems. This involves blowing a non-toxic, highly visible smoke through the systems and observing the exit points of the smoke. This test finds whether downspouts that go into the ground are connected into the sanitary sewer system or the storm sewer system. The smoke test also identifies other devices/equipment that are connected to the underground sewer system.

Identified downspouts that discharge into the municipal sanitary sewer system

After the investigations and testing were finished, the City sent a Notice of Disconnection to homes with downspouts connected to the sanitary sewer system. The notice showed which downspouts need to be disconnected. More information was provided about how to disconnect a downspout and use rain barrels when the downspout disconnection stage started.

How to disconnect a downspout

• Ensure there is a suitable area for the water to discharge from the downspout
• Ensure downspouts are disconnected and drained properly away from the foundation walls and directly to a storage device (e.g. a rain barrel), your lawn, or garden.
• When disconnecting downspouts, remember not to drain directly onto neighbouring properties, lanes, or sidewalks.
• Extend your downspout to discharge water at least 1 metre from any structure's foundation (including your neighbour’s) or public sidewalk, and 2.5 metres from retaining walls.
• Ensure the ground slopes away from the house for a minimum of 1 metre.
• Use a splash pad to help direct the flow of water and protect against erosion.
• Ensure eavestroughs are clean and drain properly.
• Obtain professional advice and service from a knowledgeable and licensed roofer, eavestrough contractor, or civil engineer.

Read this Step-by-step procedure to disconnect your downspouts (PDF)

Using Rain Barrels

Rain barrels collect water from downspouts and rooftops and decrease the amount of storm water runoff that leaves your property. Using a rain barrel can help you lower your water bill and improve your lawn and garden.

Learn more about rain barrels.

Helpful Links

• Downspout Disconnection Brochure (PDF)
• Council Minutes 2018
• Council Minutes September 2017
• Council Minutes 2017
• Council Minutes 2016
• Council Minutes 2015
• Council Minutes 2014
• Council Minutes 2013
• Every Downspout Counts Newsletter (PDF)
• Multi-Phase Program Map is available upon request.

Questions?

Contact us at 905.477.5530 or customerservice@markham.ca

Basement flooding may be the result of rainwater or a sanitary sewer or drain blockage. It should be reported to the Waterworks Division. Staff will investigate and advise property owners how to proceed. Only City staff is authorized to inspect and fix blockages on City property. If the blockage is located on private property then the cost of inspection and repairs is the responsibility of the property owner. To help prevent drain blockages never pour grease down the drain, or use a food waste disposal unit (garburator). Learn more ways to protect your home and your pipes.

Flood Info Brochure (PDF)