Learn how to protect your home from water damage, especially in your basement.

On this page:

Sanitary sewers vs. storm sewers – what’s the difference?

Understanding the two types of sewer systems in your community is essential:

  • Sanitary Sewers carry wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers, and laundry to a treatment plant.
  • Storm Sewers collect rainwater and melted snow from streets and properties and discharge it directly into natural waterways like creeks or ditches—not to a treatment facility.

Why it matters: Stormwater should never enter the sanitary sewer system. Doing so can overwhelm the system and cause sewage backups in homes and added costs to all ratepayers.

How sump pumps work

A sump pump is a device installed in your basement that helps prevent flooding by collecting groundwater from around your foundation and pumping it away from your home.

It activates when the water level in a sump pit rises, automatically pumping the water out to help keep your basement dry.

Proper discharge of sump pumps

The Township of West Lincoln requires that sump pumps be discharged to the surface, ideally:

  • Through a pipe exiting the foundation wall.
  • And directed a few feet away from the house to allow water to drain safely across your lawn.

DO NOT (It’s against Regional & Township By-Laws):

  • Discharge sump pumps into sanitary sewer laterals.
  • Or into roadside ditches, neighbouring properties, public parks, or roadways.

Why improper connections cause problems

Connecting your sump pump to the sanitary sewer system causes major issues:

  • It reduces available capacity in the sanitary pipes, especially during heavy rains.
  • It can cause sewage backups into homes.
  • It leads to unnecessary inflow and infiltration, increasing the volume of water that must be treated—at a cost to all residents through higher water and wastewater rates.

Also, burying sump pump or roof/ease-trough downspout outlets may cause:

  • Pump failures due to backpressure or freezing,
  • Increased groundwater buildup near your foundation.

Simple steps to protect your property

You can take practical steps to reduce your risk of flooding:

1. Check your sump pump regularly to ensure it's working.

2. Install a backup system, such as:

  • A battery-powered sump pump
  • A water-powered backup pump (jet pump)
  • A backup generator

3. Use sandbags to protect basement windows and doors in flood-prone areas.

4. Grade your yard properly so water flows away from your home’s foundation.

Let's work together

Flooding can be stressful and costly. By taking the steps outlined above, you’re not only protecting your home—you’re helping keep our community safe, resilient, and efficient.

If you have any questions or need clarification about your sump pump, discharges, or property grading, please contact the Chief Building Official.