Dufferin County Climate Ready: Home Flood Protection

Climate Ready: Home Flood Protection

Prepare Now, Save Later Before a Flood Step 1: Maintain What You've Got at Least Twice Per Year Step 2: Complete Simple Upgrades Step 3: Complete More Complex Upgrades Flood Prevention Resources Prepare for a Flood Get Notified About Flooding
A couch, fake tree, and side table float in a house flood

A changing climate means your risk of home flooding is rising. 

Prepare Now, Save Later

The climate is changing and Dufferin County is getting warmer, wetter, and wilder. This means heavier rainfall events will happen more often, increasing the risk of flooding in your home.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in Canada and floods can happen anywhere, at any time of year, and to anyone. Rain, melting snow, and water released from homes and businesses are known as stormwater. Stormwater flows downhill through major and minor water collection systems.  

Stormwater collection systems help prevent flooding when lots of stormwater is generated during storms, spring snowmelt events, or when large amounts of water are released by people (like when lots of people drain their pools). Stormwater collection systems can be as small as an eavestrough and complex as our municipal stormwater systems. 

Different types of flooding can occur in your home. The main types of residential flooding are:

Overland Flooding

Water coming in through windows and cracks above ground.

Groundwater Seepage/ Infiltration

Water moving from the ground through the foundation.

Sewer Back-Up

Sanitary sewage coming up through floor drains, toilets etc. and storm drainage coming up through the sump pit.

Plumbing and Fixtures

Water escape from pipes and plumbing fixtures.
heavy rain drops falling on city asphalt during downpour

DON’T WAIT FOR THE WATER

The average basement flood costs $43,000 to repair, but you can take basic flood prevention measures for only $250. 

Before a Flood

Home flood protection is easier than you think. 

By maintaining and improving the stormwater collection systems inside and outside your home, you can reduce the risk that you and your community will experience flooding in your home and neighbourhood.

*Note: Not all actions will be applicable to each home. Completing these steps does not guarantee the prevention of basement flooding.

Step 1: Maintain What You've Got at Least Twice Per Year

Do-It-Yourself for $0

An eavestrough blocked with leaves

Remove Debris, Inside and Out

Remove debris from your nearest storm drain or ditch and culvert and clean out eaves troughs. Remove obstructions to the basement floor drain and ensure they aren't blocked.
A bucket of water is poured into a sump pump

Test Your Sump Pump

A sump pump moves excess water from your basement, crawlspaces, and around your foundation away from your home.
A gloved hand unscrews the top of a backwater valve

Maintain Your Backwater Valve

A backwater valve is a device that prevents wastewater in an overloaded sewer from backing up into your basement.
A rural home surrounded by flood water

Ask Your Insurance Provider About Water Damage Coverage

Review your insurance policies carefully and talk to your broker, flood damages are not covered in many cases.
A stack of documents

Move Valuables and Hazardous Materials

Keep valuables and hazardous materials in watertight containers and secure fuel tanks or keep them at a higher level, protected from flood damage.
Two children sit at a table reviewing evacuation plan

Make a Plan

Make a family emergency plan, so that everyone knows what to do, and where to go in case of an emergency.
A mother and two children pack an emergency kit with various first aid and survival supplies

Get an Emergency Kit

Get an emergency kit, so that you and your family can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours during a flood.

Step 2: Complete Simple Upgrades

Do-It-Yourself for under $250

Two men install a window well cover on the side of a red brick house

Install Window Well Covers

Window well covers should be installed around all windows that are close to or below the lot's surface where fire escape requirements permit.
A man in an orange hard hat installs a downspout extender

Disconnect and Extend Downspouts

Disconnect downspouts from municipal drainage systems and extend downspouts and sump discharge pipes at least 2m from foundation or to the nearest drainage swale
Flood sensor lays on wood floor

Install Flood Alarm

Install and maintain flood alarms on plumbing fixtures/appliances to alert you to water leaks
A rain barrel with an extension spout and cover lid next to the side of a home.

Install a Rain Barrel

Install a rain barrel to collect rain and snowmelt to decrease the amount of water absorbed by the ground around your home.

Step 3: Complete More Complex Upgrades

Work with a Contractor for Over $250

Window well in process of installation

Install Window Wells

Install window wells that sit 10-15 cm above ground and upgrade to water resistant windows
A man shovels dirt

Correct Grading

Correct grading to direct water to least 2m away from foundation
A man and woman chat with a backwater valve on the table in front of them

Install Backwater Valve

Check with your plumber to determine if a backwater valve is right for your home
A bucket of water is poured into sump pump

Install Backup Sump Pump Power Source

Install a backup battery or generator and test it each season to protect your home during power failures.
A rain garden with black-eyed susans and native grasses

Rainscape

Use your lawn, yard, or garden to enhance your property's ability to absorb, filter, and redirect stormwater away from your home.
A bent umbrella in the rain

Home Flood Protection is just a click away

Complete the Home Flood Protection Check-Up for an easy-to-use risk assessment tool and receive a confidential report that will help you reduce your flood risk.

Start Your Checkup

Flood Prevention Resources

Explore these resources from the Home Flood Protection Program

Seasonal Flood Protection Checklist

Record flood protection actions completed each season.

Checklist for Landlords and Tenants

Discover the actions for both landlords and tenants can take to reduce flood risk

Estimated Costs for Residential Flood Protection Projects

This list has been developed to give homeowners an idea of what it might cost to complete a do-it-yourself (DIY) flood protection project or to pay a qualified professional to complete a project for you.

Prepare for a Flood

Even with these flood prevention measures in place, you should be ready and able to respond quickly during a flood event.

During a Flood

Visit Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health for your guide to staying safe during a flood event

After a Flood

Visit Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health for your guide to staying safe precautions and clean-up after a flood
Flood Protection Sandbags with flooded homes in the background

Visit Dufferin’s Emergency Preparedness Page

Get Emergency Ready!

Get Notified About Flooding

​​Dufferin County

Local Conservation Authorities

Click here to find your Conservation Authority

Grand River Conservation Authority  

Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority  

Credit Valley Conservation Authority  

Saugeen Conservation  

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority  

Government of Canada Weather Information

Sign up for weather alerts, get the latest forecast and hazardous weather conditions.

A flooded bridge

Flooding over 5th Line Bridge in Mono

 

Dufferin is rising to the challenge

Explore the Dufferin Climate Action Plan and join the along the road to net-zero by 2050.

Climate Action in Dufferin