REMINDER - Heavy rains and protection of buildings

In brief Roads and maintenance

August 9, 2024

The exceptional rainstorms currently affecting the Montreal region are sending huge quantities of water into the sewer systems in a very short time, overloading the network and potentially causing backups. The media reports that this situation is repeated not only in Town of Mount Royal, but also in various Montreal neighborhoods and other communities.

The help of a professional plumber experienced in this field and a member of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ) is necessary to protect your home properly.

Here's a reminder of the best practices already relayed to homeowners in August 2023:

For homeowners, in addition to having your foundation inspected regularly for cracks, we'd like to make you aware of some individual preventive measures you should take to avoid water damage in the basement:

Check valves: Make sure that all secondary plumbing connections on your property are equipped with functional check valves as stated in the Plumbing Code in force in Quebec. These mandatory devices will help protect your property from backflow into the basement in the event of heavy rainfall.
Gutters not connected to the footing drain (French drain): IMPORTANT: Your gutters must not be connected to the footing drain, as this is prohibited under bylaw no. 2008-47 of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM). Water collected by gutters must be discharged onto your property, at least 1.5 m from the foundation. Regardless of whether or not your home has suffered water damage, it's crucial not to overload the home network first, and then the municipal system during heavy rainfall. This preventive measure is beneficial for avoiding potential water damage to you and your neighbors, since everyone shares the same infrastructure.
A properly landscaped lot: Go for intelligent landscaping, with a slightly sloping lot to allow efficient drainage of surface water away from your home, while creating multiple green spaces and plantings that can absorb this water, in accordance with the provisions of bylaw no. 1441. The Town also authorizes the installation of a dry well on your property under certain conditions, an additional solution for keeping water away from the basement. However, it is essential to call on experts in this field to carry out this installation successfully.
Sump pump and footing drain (French drain): The footing drain surrounding your home is normally directed to a storm water holding pit and pumped to the sewer. However, if necessary, in the event of heavy rainfall, this pump can be connected to a hose to discharge the water outside, on your property, instead of directing it to the sewer, thus helping to reduce the load on the network.