Water Damage Burlington
Water damage Burlington residents face has a history: on August 4, 2014, a storm dropped roughly 190 mm of rain in a few hours and thousands of basements took on water.
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What 2014 taught Burlington
Burlington's August 2014 flood is the event people there still talk about. Reports put the rainfall at about 191 mm in roughly six hours in some parts of the city, and the number of homes reporting basement flooding ran to the thousands. The City and the Province later ran a pilot program to help homeowners reduce their flood risk. A storm like that overloads sewers, creeks and backyards at once.
Every neighbourhood has its own risk. Aldershot sits near the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Grindstone Creek valley. Roseland and Tyandaga are older, with mature trees. Appleby and Orchard have 1980s and 1990s subdivisions. Millcroft and Alton have newer, larger homes with finished basements.
Halton Region's subsidy
Halton Region runs a Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy for eligible work such as backwater valves, sump pumps and weeping tile disconnection, and the work has to be done by a contractor on the Region's authorized list. Its terms and amounts are updated, so read the current application first. A subsidy helps you prevent the next loss. We deal with the one in front of you.
When we attend, we find the water, remove what cannot be saved and dry the building, and we record everything for your insurance adjuster.
Burlington loss types
- Sewer backup and surcharge in heavy rain
- Creek-side groundwater in valley streets
- Sump pump failures
- Pipe and fitting failures in older homes
- Appliance and water heater leaks
- Lakefront and roof leaks
What happens when you call
- We answerAny hour, with a short set of questions.
- We attendA crew comes with gear for the property.
- Free assessmentMoisture is mapped and a written scope and price is provided.
- DryingReadings are taken at each return. Drying usually takes 3 to 5 days.
- RecordsYour adjuster gets photos, readings and lists.
After the storm: the first day
If your Burlington home has taken on water, start with safety. Stay out of the basement if water is near the panel. Turn off the gas and electrical systems only if you can do it from a dry spot. Photograph everything. Move dry items up. Then call us. A fast start limits how far water travels through drywall by wicking, and that cuts the size of the job and the chance of mould.
Escarpment and lake
Burlington runs from the lake up to the Niagara Escarpment, and that change in height matters. Water runs downhill, so lower-lying streets collect it, while homes under the Escarpment can see seepage after long wet spells. Lakeshore streets have their own concern: groundwater tied to lake levels. We ask what part of the city you are in and look at the grading as part of the assessment.
Burlington's permit fee grant and flood assessments
The City of Burlington waives the permit fee for installing a backwater valve or a sump pump through its Plumbing Permit Fee Grant Program, though both still need a building permit. Its Home Flood Protection Program pays up to fifty per cent of an assessment: an in-person assessment at two hundred eighty-five dollars plus HST instead of the regular five hundred seventy dollars plus HST, or a virtual one at two hundred forty dollars plus HST, with twenty assessments offered each year. The City also notes a Conservation Halton fund of up to seven thousand five hundred dollars in Aldershot, Brant Hills, Tyandaga and part of North Burlington (checked November 2026). Halton Region's separate subsidy program applies in Burlington as well.
Burlington has been here before
On August 4, 2014 Burlington received about two months of rain, roughly 20 cm, in under eight hours, with more than ninety million dollars in insured damage; Halton took about 6,000 calls, about 3,500 of them for basement flooding. In the July 15 and 16, 2024 storm, Halton recorded 1,897 basement flooding incidents region-wide, 1,620 of them in Burlington, with 65 mm in three hours on July 15. For basement flooding, Halton Region says to call 311 or 905-825-6000, and its staff do not make in-home visits during extreme weather events.
Burlington FAQ
Should I report a flood to the Region?
Basement flooding is reported through Halton's 311 line. Then call us for the cleanup.
Is sewage water different?
Yes. It carries contaminants and needs protective gear and disinfection.
Do you serve Waterdown and Aldershot?
Yes, the whole of Burlington.
Does Burlington waive permit fees for a backwater valve?
Yes. The City says it waives the permit fee for installing a backwater valve and for a sump pump under its Plumbing Permit Fee Grant Program. A building permit is still required. Confirm the current terms with the City.
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