High Water and Flooding Awareness

Lakeshore is committed to helping residents prepare for and prevent potential flooding from storms. 

We are working to upgrade and enhance our infrastructure to adapt to the climate change and record level high water in Lake St. Clair and surrounding tributaries. We are also offering subsidies to help our residents prepare and protect their properties.  Subsidy details are below.

Effect of High Lake Levels and Storm Sewers

Storm sewers collect rainwater on roads and ditches and transfer it to the lake.  The high water level in Lake St. Clair has an effect on the speed to which water drains on roads, in ditches and out to the lake.  Storm sewers are generally drained by gravity.  Due to the relative flatness of this area, Lakeshore has installed automated pumps in strategic locations to help drain the water.

As you can see in this image, the storm sewer drains under the level of the lake due to the high water level.  The high water level is also reflected in the catch basins and manholes causing them to drain more slowly when there are storms.

Water Storage on Road

Lakeshore roads are designed to store water for times when heavy storms drop more water than the storm sewers can hold.  This permits water to drain from nearby house properties onto the roadway (when home property is graded to run towards the road) reducing the likelihood of ponding and water entering the home.  The water storage on the road creates a measured and controlled release of water into storm sewers and drainage ditches.  Uncontrolled water runoff can potentially disrupt and damage drainage systems. 

Lakeshore asks residents to avoid areas where water is on or over the road and if you must travel down a road with water on it, go slow to avoid pushing the water onto neighbouring properties.

Typical Pump Station Gate Operation

The image below displays the operation of a typical pump station based on weather conditions and water levels.

The first section of the image shows an everyday situation where the gates are closed when the lake level is higher than the upstream water. If the gates are closed, the pumps are on.

The middle image displays a high water level in Lakeshore’s storm system due to extreme rainfall amounts.  The gates are closed and pumps are on to move the water into the lake.

The right-most image shows that the gates are opened by a representative from the Municipality of Lakeshore in circumstances where gravity benefits the movement of water from Lakeshore’s storm system to the lake.  Gravity can move water faster than pumps can when there is a significant amount of water to move.  Once equilibrium is reached, the gates are closed and the pumps are turned back on.

Drainage pumps are on an automated system and turn on automatically when required to move the water from the municipal side to the lake.  Drainage pumps are not capable of running constantly so they will cycle in order to prevent the pump from burning out. 

House Infrastructure and High Water

There are a number of steps homeowners can take to protect their home from flooding.  Lakeshore provides subsidy funding to assist with the cost of several preventative measures.  We are working together to manage the effects of high lake levels.

The following image provides information regarding a typical home's infrastructure.

The image shows both the property owner and municipal responsibilities. 

Steps Property Owners can undertake to protect their home:

• Grading the property around the home so that it slopes away from the home.
• Ensure downspouts are extended 1.6m or 6 feet away from the home.
• Clay/Bentonite plug. Sanitary and storm service pipes are installed in a trench with clear stone to protect the pipes from ground freeze/thaw.  A 1m clay/bentonite plug is placed surrounding the pipe within the trench to prevent water from backing up through the trench and moving towards the house.
• Sump pump.  The homeowner should ensure their sump pump is in good working order and set properly so that it will pump water when there are storms.  Homeowners can install backup power for a sump pump (generally battery powered) for when the hydro is out.  Water powered sump pumps are available as well however they can use 1 gallon of water to pump 2 gallons of water resulting in high water usage.
• Storm and Sanitary cleanouts.  Ensure the cap for these cleanouts is on properly and not cracked or damaged.  If it is, replace.  Cracked and damaged caps allow additional storm water and debris to enter into both the sanitary and storm sewers. 
• Lakeshore asks homeowners who live in front of catch basins on the road to help ensure they are kept clean from debris, leaves, etc. so the water on roads can drain efficiently.

Lakeshore provides subsidies for a number of items that can help the homeowner.  Visit the Subsidy page for details on each subsidy and how to apply.

• Backflow preventer - this device prevents sanitary fluids from backing up into the home when the sanitary sewer is surcharged (full). 
• Sump pump overflow - The sump pump takes water from the weeping tile and pumps it out to prevent flooding. Installing this overflow pipe provides an alternate route for water from the sump pump if the storm sewer is surcharged (full).  The sump pump will pump the water onto your lawn.  The water can be absorbed by the lawn or drain to the road if the property is graded to drain towards the road. 
• Downspout Disconnection / extension - Many homes have their downspout connected to the storm sewer.  Disconnecting the downspout directs the water onto the homeowner's lawn, reducing the amount of water collected by the storm sewer, giving more opportunity to drain rainwater from the roadways.  As mention above, high lake levels slow the process of draining water from roads and ditches to the lake.
• Mini-camera inspection.  A mini camera is placed into a homes drain pipes from the property line all the way around a home (where possible).    If there are cracks in the weeping tile (pipes) around a home, or the foundation, that water can cause basement leakage and flooding since the sump pump is not able to pump it away. 

More information

• Province of Ontario on Flooding and Safety Tips
• How to fill sandbags and build a sandbag wall
• A Guide for Residents: Flood Preparedness 
• Where to place sandbags around your home