Conservation

DOWNSPOUT INSPECTION PROGRAM:

 

Background Information:

In the summer of 2006, the Downspout Inspection Program began as a component of the City of Welland’s Water Conservation Program. City representatives conducted inspections of building roof downspouts and associated lot drainage on residential and commercial properties in selected areas of the city with a history of basement flooding, specifically the Broadway and Clare Avenue areas.  Information obtained these inspections was incorporated into inflow and infiltration studies.

Inspections took place with the aim of identifying downspouts that discharge rain water from roof surfaces to the sanitary sewer via direct connections or indirectly through building foundation weeping tiles. The program’s objective was to eliminate these direct and indirect connections to the sanitary sewer, in accordance to By-Law #3913 by informing the public of the importance of disconnection as a flood-proofing preventative measure.

Program Objectives:

• To reduce the potential of a sanitary sewer overload, associated sewer back-ups and/or basement flooding events.
• To identify downspouts that discharge rain water from roof surfaces to the sanitary sewer via direct connections or indirectly to building foundation weeping tiles.
• To eliminate indirect and direct connections to the sanitary sewer, in accordance with By-Law #3913.
• To inform the public of food-prevention measures to assist property owners in resolving flooding and back-up issues.
• To obtain information for incorporation into existing inflow and infiltration studies.
• To obtain an inventory of storm water inflows and infiltration sources into the sanitary sewer system.
• To obtain an inventory of surficial lot drainage characteristics.
• To assess the need for new by-laws and design standards to regulate storm water runoff.
• To reduce the costs incurred by the City of Welland for unnecessary treatment of storm water.
  • 2006 report

2007 and 2008 Downspout Inspection Programs:

Due to the successful commencement of the Downspout Disconnection Program in 2006, the program continued throughout the 2007 and 2008 summer seasons. The City of Welland continuously worked to prevent residents from experiencing unnecessary basement flooring. We also work to decrease combined sewer overflows which pollute our creeks, rivers and lakes. The areas which have been inspected throughout the previous 3 seasons include;

• Lincoln, Riverside Area
• Trelawn Parkway Area
• South Pelham Rd – Woodlawn Road Area
• South Pelham Rd – Fitch St. Area
• Broadway Avenue Area
• Clare Avenue Area

This year, student inspectors will be covering Hagar – Scholfield Area including but not limited to all surrounding streets and commercial sites.

If your neighbourhood is not a part of the Downspout Inspection Program for 2009 but you’re interested in evaluating your drainage, consider undertaking an inspection of the downspouts around your home and identify opportunities to minimize future drainage and basement flooding problems.

Importance of Proper Drainage

During intense rainfall events, hydraulic overloading of the municipal sanitary sewer system may result in flooding of basements.  Reducing the inflow of rainfall into your home’s sanitary drain is an important flood-proofing preventive measure that you should be aware of.

Reducing the inflow of rainfall into your sanitary drain is achieved through proper lot grading around your home’s foundation, removal of downspouts and yard storm drains directly connected to your sanitary drain, proper extension of downspouts away from your home’s foundation, and proper use of a sump pump.

Rain falling onto the roof of your home is collected in eavestroughs and channeled into downspouts and extension pipes that are intended to direct rainfall runoff away from the foundation of your home.

When the ground slopes toward your home and/or when downspout extension pipes are of insufficient length, surface runoff from rainfall events saturates the backfill soil zone surrounding your home’s foundation and collects into the foundation weeping tile and sanitary drain.

Downspouts and yard storm drains that directly connect to your sanitary drain result in rapid inflow of rainfall into the sanitary drain during storm events.

The municipal sanitary sewer system is not designed to convey these excess rainfall inflows and as a result, basement flooding and sewage spills to the environment are possible during intense rainfall events.

Saturation of the backfill soil zone surrounding your home may also result in a damp, clammy basement and cause damage to the basement foundation over time.

Rainfall that inflows to sanitary drains is also conveyed to the Welland Sewage Treatment Plant for costly and unnecessary treatment.

Benefits of Proper Drainage:

• Reduces the risk of flooding of basements
• Reduces untreated sewage overflows to the natural environment during extreme rainfall events
• Lowers sewage treatment costs and improves the efficiency of sewage treatment processes

Additional Drainage and Flood Proofing Measures:

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels will hold roof water runoff that may otherwise accumulate around the building foundation, in the weeping tile and sanitary drain.  Rain barrels need to be drained after rainfall events so that they are ready for use during the next rainfall. 

Nearly half the volume of residential water used during the summer is used for watering gardens and lawns.  Rain barrels can collect and store rain water for these uses to conserve potable water.

Sump Pump and Backflow Prevention

Rainfall-induced ground water which infiltrates into the foundation weeping tile is collected in a sump pit and discharged via a pump to an exterior surface sloped away from the backfill soil zone.  The ground water does not collect into the sanitary drain.

A backflow prevention valve, installed in the sanitary drain where the drain exits the building, prevents basement flooding when the municipal sanitary sewer system becomes overloaded during intense rainfall events.

Drainage Inspection

Consider undertaking an inspection of the downspouts around your home to identify opportunities to minimize future drainage and basement flooding problems.

• Drainage Inspection Checklist.