ATTENTION TORONTO HOME OWNERS
In an effort to ease the burden on Toronto’s aging sewage system, the City of Toronto has approved a by-law making it mandatory for property owners, city wide, to disconnect their downspouts from the sewer system. The by-law will take effect in three phases in different areas of Toronto, starting later this year (2011).
When rainwater runs off a roof, it may flow through your eaves troughs into downspouts and directly into the sewer system. However, during heavy rainfall, the system often becomes overloaded and untreated sewage can flow directly into our waterways, polluting them and local beaches. This is the biggest reason Toronto beaches get shut down in the summer time!!
At one time, the City would come and disconnect downspouts and replace old eaves at the City’s expense. Back in the year 2000, I lived in a bungalow in East York. The house had not been well maintained by the previous owner and the eaves were barely attached to the house. I applied to the City for the downspout disconnect program and they came and installed all new eaves and disconnected the downspouts for free…………..no wonder the City is always raising taxes.
Well finally the City of Toronto figured out that they could not sustain this kind of subsidy to property owners and you must pay for the expense on your own. There are some exceptions of course.
If disconnecting the downspouts is not technically feasible or would create a hazard, property owners can apply for an exemption.
The City may also provide financial assistance to low-income property owners.
For more information, you can call the City of Toronto at 311 or visit toronto.ca/water
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