Many houses in older areas have the downspouts connected to the storm sewer system inside the house. Basement flooding may occur during heavy rainstorms when the storm sewer system is flowing at peak capacity, causing the sewer back-up.
Disconnecting the downspouts from the storm system allows the roof drainage to flow onto the ground before reaching the catch-basin in the street. EPCOR and the City of Edmonton supports this disconnection if surface drainage does not impact adjacent property or environmentally sensitive locations. In many cases, improvement of the existing surface grading is required to ensure the compliance with the
Drainage Bylaw which is enforced by the City of Edmonton.
Examine your own grading and be prepared to make changes to ensure that your foundation grading will direct surface drainage away from your house. Evaluate the existing drainage pattern and discharge locations with your neighbor to determine the best point of discharge for the downspouts. Discharge points must be at least 15 centimetres away from the property line.
A
swale is a shallow, sloped channel that conveys water from the buildings towards the street or lane. Lot grading between the houses has to be maintained for a positive and consistent slope along drainage swale. A shared swale on the common property line is the ideal case. However, a separate swale within the lot is sometimes required to solve a drainage problem.
All property owners are responsible to grade their lots properly to allow surface drainage away from buildings and towards the public right-of-way. To launch a Drainage Bylaw investigation, please contact the City of Edmonton at 311 to register your complaint. For more information please refer to the City of Edmonton website.