Staff Report. Strategic Initiative: Analysis: Recommendations: Background:

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1 Staff Report d where yovwant to live Report To: Operations Advisory Committee Report From: Dana Goetz, C.E.T., Engineering Technologist Meeting Date: 15 April 2015 Report Code: OP SubJECt: BASEMENT ISOLATION AND WEEPING TILE SUMP PUMP SUBSIDY Recommendations: That in consideration of Staff Report OP respecting Basement Isolation and Subsidy, the Operations Advisory Committee recommends that City Council implement the subsidy program according to the procedure detailed in this report. Strategic Initiative: Providing effective services, infrastructure and policies to promote "Where you want to live" Background: The City has had numerous complaínts regarding stormwater inflows and infiltration and sanitary sewer backups into buildings on private property during intense rainfall events. In 2005, the City implemented a program to reimburse homeowners in problem areas to encourage disconnection of weeping tiles from the storm sewer collection system. This program was not widely adopted by the affected homeowners and it was discontinued. Analysis: The City is aware of problem areas within the City that have experienced basement flooding from either sanitary or storm sewer backups during intense storm events. These areas include the Brooke Area, 15th Street'B' East and some other residential neighbourhoods. Page L of 7

2 The sanitary sewer backups mainly occur in areas where the storm and sanitary sewers are combined or where the sanitary sewer is subject to inflows of stormwater. The intense rainfall events that occurred 5 and 21 September 20t4, resulted in thirty (30) basement flooding incidents mostly caused by either surcharging of weeping tile systems or surcharging of storm sewers. The locations of these incidents are shown on Schedule 1 to this report. The majority of the incidents were clustered in the 800 block of 25th Street 'A'East (9 incidents), the 1 block of 15th Street'B'East (7 incidents) and the 500 block of 4th Street'A' West (6 incidents). These locations are most likely storm water surcharges as these are newer subdivisions with weeping tile connections to the storm sewers. These property owners will be approached by City staff to inform them of the subsidy program prior to a City-wide release. If all of the property owners with known incidents take advantage of the program, the allocated funds will be largely exhausted. The program wíll be administered by the Engineering Services Division, assisted by the Building Division. The proposed application form and application instructions are attached as Schedule 2 to this report. The Stormwater Separation Program (SWSP) will also be continued under this initiative but it will be based on receiving an application from the property owner as the focus will be on alleviating private property flooding in the three target areas due to the limited funds available. The 2015 operating budget has allocated $58,000 from the wastewater revenue stream for the Stormwater Separation Program to prevent stormwater from entering sanitary sewers and to subsidize the installation of backflow prevention valves in sanitary sewer laterals. An additional $75,000 has been allocated from tax revenue to fund a stormwater backflow prevention program to eliminate stormwater from entering buildings from surcharging storm sewers and to remove stormwater directly entering the stormwater collection system from residential properties (weeping tile basement isolation by use of sump pumps). Table 1 lists the amount of subsidy adopted by some other municipalities in Southern OntarÍo. The table shows that the average amounts provided in the subsidy programs are $725 for backflow prevention valves and $2,610 for weeping tile disconnection & sump pump installation. Page 2 of 7

3 Based on actual costs of previous sump pump installations in the 15th Street 'B'East area, Engineering Services is suggesting the following subsidy amounts: Weeping tile sump pump: % of eligible costs to a maximum $ Sanitary sewer backflow prevention valve: o/o of eligible costs to a maximum $ These amounts would cover approximately two-thirds (2/3) of the estimated cost of the installation of the devices. The Plumbing Permit fee would also be an eligible cost under the program. Table 7: Program Costs in Example Municipalities Municipality Stratford London Welland Halton Region Niagara Falls Type Of Work Disconnection of Downspouts Maximum Subsidy $ 500 $ 2,600 $ 825 $ 2,650 $ 3,000 (for either or both) $ 6zs $ 1,800 $ 250 $ e00 $ 3,000 Yo Ol Actual Gost Eligible For Subsidy Fina ncial I Budget Im plications: The program subsidy cost would be borne by the City up to the maximum combined budget amount of $133, Communication Strategy: Report presented at the regularly scheduled Operations Advisory Committee and Community Planning and Heritage Advisory Committee meetings. Property owners with known issues would be informed of the program through direct contact by City staff and other property owners would apply directly to the Building or Engineering Services Divisions. Any property owners with a history of backwater and basement flooding would also be eligible for the program. Page 3 of 7

4 If uptake by the property owners is greater than the budget allows, staff will bring forward an additional report in 2015 or a funding request in the 20t6 capital budget. There are a number of properties that have sump pumps discharging directly to either sanitary or storm sewers. The Committee may also consider addressing these in the future as funds become available. Consultation Local Plumbing Contractors, Operations Department and Building Division staff Attachments: Schedule 1: Schedule 2: Areas with known history of backwater and basement flooding Subsidy application procedure and form Prepared By: Reviewed By: Reviewed By: Submitted By: Dana Goetz Chris Webb Ken Becking A. Ruth Coursey t4l Page 4 of 7

5 SCHEDULE 1 AREA I 7 INCIDENTS u { I.\a q s a :( s Al È. äo u AREA 2 9 INCIDENTS st F. aþ l á sf ja\iv 4ttl AREA 3 6 INCIDENTS 4tr ST N ou,en somd OPENAflONS DEPARIHENT ENGIN4ING SRV GS DIVI ION owe{sound onfârro OPERATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT OP-l5.036 fr cü G æìc sr0006 D awl 8 No. SCHl Page 5 of 7

6 SCHEDULE 2 APPLICATION GUIDE FOR BASEMENT ISOLATION AND WEEPING TILE SUMP PUMP SUBSIDY PROGRAM REOU T REM E NTS FO R ELIG IB T LITY Basement Isolation Assistance is available to owners of properties that have experienced flooding due to the sanitary sewer or storm sewer surcharging. Weeping Tile Disconnection Assistance is available to owners of properties that have experienced flooding due to the sanitary sewer or storm sewer surcharging if:. the weeping tiles of your house are directly connected to the sanitary sewer or,. the weeping tiles of your house are directly connected to a storm sewer. STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED BY HOMEOWNER 1. In consultation with a licensed plumber determine appropriate course of action to be taken. 2. Obtain approval from the Engineering Services Division that you meet the eligibility requirements to enter into this subsidy program. 3. Ensure that the licensed plumber has all the necessary permits. (Note: Permít fees will be reimbursed for work approved to proceed under this program to the limit of the subsidy.) 4. Have the licensed plumber do the work that was approved. 5. When the work is completed, ensure that it is inspected and approved by the City Building Division before backfilling and after completion of the work, DO NOT pay the contractor before the site is restored. 6. After the City Inspector has agreed that the installation is approved, the applicant must arrange to have the application form signed by the City Inspector, 7. Submit the licensed plumber's invoice marked *PAID', sign the application, and return it to the Engineering Services Divlsron, B. When the Plumbing Permit has been closed by the Building Division, confirming that the work was completed in accordance with the applicable codes and By-laws, the request for reimbursement will be processed (if ít is not processed, you will be notified), 9, The City will issue a cheque for o/o of the cost of the work up to the maximum amount allowed under the program. Q: \FO RMS\BASEMENT ISO LAflON APPLICAfiON.doc Revised August 2O1O Page 6 of 7

7 \r'h0r{l yolr ty frf to li\:r Operations Department Engineering Services Division rh Street East Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N3 Schedule'A' to By-law 2015-_ Application for Basement Isolation and Subsidy Program Applicant: Address: City: Prov Home Phone: Cell Phone (Optional) PostalCode Plumbing Permit No.: Applicdion No. Bls Has basement flooded in the past? YES NO COST VERIFICATION AND RELEASE TOTALCOSTOFWORK: $ (ATTACH INVOICE AND PROOF OF PAYI\4ENT) Plumbing Contractor: I hereby release The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound from any and all future claims, damages or losses to myself or to my property, including but not limited to sewer surcharging or flooding, arising from or attributable to the installation, operation or maintenance of any component of the installation including sump pumps, backlow prevention valves and related assemblies subsidized by the City. owner's Signature: I have read and underslood the above paragraph DATE: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY SUBSIDY APPROVAL Date: FINAL INSPECTION Date: Signature Enq ineeri nq Services Division Signafure: APPROVED SUBSIDY AMOUNT Buildinq Division WEEPING TILE SUMP PUMP $ MAXIMUM $3OOO SANITARY SEWER BACKFLOW PREVENTION VALVE $ Account No.: O MAXTMUM $750 Q \FO R ÌV S\BASEIM ENT I SO LAT I O N APPLICATIO N doc PageT of7