Downspout disconnection

Disconnecting your downspouts is an easy, affordable project that can help protect your home and neighbourhood from flooding, and helps reduce sewer overflows into local waterbodies.

On this page

What is a downspout?
Benefits of disconnecting your downspout
Rebate eligibility and amount
Requirements
Examples of rebate calculations
Resources
Application and claim forms

What is a downspout?

Downspouts are pipes that transport water down from your roof. Downspouts are either connected to or disconnected from EPCOR’s drainage system.

Downspout disconnection involves detaching the downspout from the standpipe that directs stormwater to EPCOR’s drainage system. Once disconnected, the old connection pipe is capped and stormwater is redirected through a downspout extension onto a permeable surface such as a lawn or garden, or into a rain garden, rain barrel, soakaway pit, etc.

A long white downspout running horizontally along the side of a blue‑sided house before turning downward toward the ground. The downspout leads runoff away from the building’s foundation, with shrubs, trees, and lawn visible around the structure.

Benefits of disconnecting your downspout

Allows you to collect stormwater in a rain barrel/storage tank for watering your plants and garden, washing your car, and taking care of your lawn, which saves money on your water bill.
Helps prevent sewer backups and flooding during heavy rain by slowing down and reducing the amount of stormwater entering the drainage system.
Reduces sewer overflows into surrounding streams, creeks, and the North Saskatchewan River.

Rebate eligibility and amount

Eligibility

Single-family residential
Multi-family residential
Industrial, commercial, and institutional

Amount

Up to $100 for eligible expenses per disconnected downspout

Note: The RainWise rebate program is not retroactive. Projects completed before the application is approved are not eligible for the rebates.

At this time, only properties located within Edmonton's combined sewer network area are eligible to apply for a rebate for downspout disconnection.

Alberta Avenue
Allendale
Bellevue
Bonnie Doon
Boyle Street
Calder
Calgary Trail North
Central McDougall
Cloverdale
CPR Irvine
Cromdale
Delton
Downtown
Eastwood
Edmonton Northlands
Elmwood Park
Forest Heights
Garneau
Glenora
Grovenor
Highlands
Holyrood
Idylwylde
Industrial Heights
Kenilworth
Lauderdale
McCauley
Montrose
Newton
Ottewell
Parkdale
Pleasantview
Prince Rupert
Queen Alexandra
Queen Mary Park
Ritchie
River Valley Riverside
River Valley Walterdale
Riverdale
Rossdale
Spruce Avenue
Strathcona
Strathcona Junction
Stathearn
Terrace Heights
Virginia Park
Westmount
Westwood
Wîhkwêntôwin (Oliver)
Yellowhead Corridor East
Yellowhead Corridor West

Requirements

Reminder: Before disconnecting your downspout, ensure your property is properly graded to direct water away from your building’s foundation.

To receive a downspout disconnection rebate, the following conditions must be met:

EPCOR approval is required prior to downspout disconnection to be eligible for a rebate.
The property must be in the downspout disconnection eligibility area.
Re-routed downspouts must have been connected to a storm or sanitary service prior to disconnection.
Re-routed downspouts must drain to an area that is permeable (e.g. lawn or garden) or into stormwater storage (e.g. rain barrel/storage tank).
Re-routed downspouts must not contradict the City of Edmonton Drainage Bylaw. Here is some relevant information from the bylaw related to the release of water:

Roof and foundation drainage from a property is not permitted to be discharged:
- onto a pervious ground surface within one (1) meter of the building;
- within 150 mm of an adjacent lot;
- within 150 mm of a City of Edmonton right-of-way (ROW);
- to a location where the water has the potential to adversely impact slope stability, unstable ground, a ravine; or
- to a location or in a manner that causes or could cause nuisance, hazard or damage.

House drainage downspout disconnection with standpipe system diagram

Illustration of a downspout disconnected from the standpipe.

Residential downspout disconnection with extension diagram

Illustration of a downspout that is disconnected and directing stormwater to a rain garden.

Note: these figures are provided for illustrative purposes/reference only and may not represent a suitable configuration for your specific property. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their project is designed and installed considering the unique conditions of their property.

Eligible material expenses:

Downspout redirection materials (extenders, elbows, and hardware)
Erosion prevention materials for end of a downspout (splash pad, rocks)
Standpipe capping materials
Expenses related to hiring a contractor to disconnect the downspout

Ineligible material expenses:

New eaves
Purely decorative materials

Make sure that you have all of the necessary photos and documents so that we can efficiently process your application and claim.

View guidelines for filling out your application.

Application form requirements

Before photos
Project design sketch

Claim form requirements

Photos of completed work
Receipts

Keep all project related receipts. EPCOR reserves the right to request project-related receipts for all RainWise projects to verify project completion and ensure program compliance.

Examples of rebate calculations

Example project: disconnect two downspouts

A property located within the downspout disconnection eligibility area is planning to disconnect two (2) downspouts from their standpipes and redirect the stormwater flows to the surface. In this case, the applicant would receive a maximum amount of $200 (maximum of $100 per disconnected downspout).

Example project: disconnect one downspout and create a rain garden

A property located within the downspout disconnection eligibility area is planning to disconnect one (1) downspout from its standpipe and redirect the flows from that downspout into a rain garden located in the front lawn.

The total roof area is 270 m², but only half of this area (135 m²) is directed to the downspout being disconnected.
The planned rain garden area is 15 m².
The total DCIA for the project is only 135 m² because in this example the rain garden area is excluded from the DCIA since the area being replaced with the rain garden was previously pervious (grass).

In this case, the applicant would receive a maximum rebate of up to $1,585 (up to $100 for the one (1) disconnected downspout + $11 per m² of 135 m²).

Resources

Application and claim forms

The rebate process has two steps. First, apply for approval before starting your project. Then, once approved and project is finished, submit your claim to receive your rebate.

Front view of a blue single‑storey home with a simple lawn and minimal landscaping before the RainWise yard transformation.

Application formFill out this form before you start your project. We need to approve your project first so it qualifies for the rebate.

Front yard of a blue single‑storey home transformed with lush plants, ornamental grasses, and sustainable landscaping features.

Claim formFill out this form after your project has been approved and fully completed.

Questions?

Your questions and feedback are important to us.

Contact EPCOR

Email: rainwise@epcor.com