Sewage Water Alleviation Program (SWAP)

Funding of up to $7,500 is available to assist homeowners with plumbing improvements that safeguard their properties against flooding risks.

• Homeowners can receive compensation of up to $1,500 for installation of a backwater valve to prevent against sewer backflows.
• An additional $6,000 is available to fund improvements that disconnect storm drainage from the sanitary sewer system, including installation of sump pump systems to redirect the disconnected storm flows.

Please note that existing foundation drains/weeping tiles and sewer laterals that are plugged or blocked may contribute to basement flooding. Such blockages are unrelated to sewage backups and associated repairs are not eligible for grant coverage.

If plugged drains/tiles or sewer laterals are discovered on a property, the homeowner will decide if repairs or new pipes are necessary and will be responsible for paying the full cost of the related work.

Eligible improvements are summarized below.

Note that any item marked “REQUIRED” must be included in the scope of work unless the homeowner can prove that the work has already been completed or is not applicable at the subject property. The City reserves the right to inspect the property to confirm which works have been completed.

Backwater Valve Installation

Homeowners can apply for reimbursement of up to $1,500 to cover the cost of:

1. REQUIRED: Installation of a suitably sized, normally open, backwater valve (with clear cover, if available) inside the residence to prevent sewage flows from backing up into the basement. Any installed backwater valve must comply with Article 7.4.6.4 of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and be approved for installation in a mainline sewer or building drain.

Disconnection of Stormwater Sources

Homeowners can apply for reimbursement of up to $6,000 to offset costs of the following improvements:

1. REQUIRED: Disconnection of pipe connections from the property’s foundation drain/weeping tiles to the sanitary drainage system.
2. REQUIRED: Disconnection of downspouts that discharge directly or indirectly to the sanitary sewer.
3. REQUIRED: Installation of a sump pit complete with sump pump and discharge piping.
   • Installation must be completed per Article 7.4.6.3 of the Ontario Building Code.
   • The discharge pipe from every pumped storm sewage sump pit must be installed in accordance with Article 9.14.5.2 and equipped with:
     1. A union and a check valve installed in that sequence in the direction of discharge and pumped to above grade level, OR
     2. A union, a check valve, and a shut-off valve installed in that sequence in the direction of discharge.
   • Electrical connections and backup power must be installed as necessary to operate the sump system (including electrical permit and inspections where applicable).
     1. All materials must be CSA approved.
     2. A battery charger is not required under this program. If a homeowner chooses to install one, the homeowner is fully responsible for ensuring correct installation and suitability for interior use.
   • The sump pit must be fitted with a cover that is:
     1. Designed to resist removal by children, and
     2. Sealed in accordance with Sentence 9.25.3.3 (16) to maintain the continuity of the air barrier system.
   • Where gravity drainage is not practical, a covered sump basin with an automatic pump will be installed to discharge the water into a storm sewer, drainage ditch, or dry well.
4. Replacement of a vitrified clay lateral from the property line to the building face.
5. Installation of a clean-out, if not already present in the property’s plumbing.
6. Associated excavation, saw cutting, backfilling, and basement concrete floor reinstatement as necessary to install the above program elements. The program may also include other reasonable associated restoration costs such as interior finishes (drywall, paint, and finish flooring) and exterior repairs (landscaping, flowerbeds, seeding, sodding, trees, porches, decks, driveways, sidewalks, concrete, or asphalt reinstatement).

Homeowners can apply for and access funding via the following process:

1. Contact the City of Welland Building Division to discuss your property with the SWAP Project Coordinator. The Coordinator will review and advise if your property may qualify for a SWAP grant.
2. Complete and submit a SWAP Application Form. The SWAP Project Coordinator will arrange a time to view your property for a pre-work site inspection. The pre-work site inspection is required for grant eligibility.
3. At the pre-work site inspection, City representatives will trace the sewer lateral/weeping tile connection to confirm that your system is connected to the sanitary sewer. They will also examine your existing plumbing to identify whether any SWAP-eligible improvements are already in place. All of this is documented on the SWAP Application Form. A summary of the meeting will be provided to you so that you can provide it to a contractor for quotation purposes.
4. Obtain written quotations from at least two different contractors for the required works. Submit the quotes to the SWAP Project Coordinator for review.
   • Contracts are signed between the homeowner and the contractor. The City is not a party to these contracts. It is your responsibility to find suitable contractors and each quotation received must reflect a complete price for the required works. If you choose to complete any of the work yourself, this must be indicated in the quote and associated pricing must be provided.
   • Only works identified on the SWAP Application Form should be included in the quotations.
   • The City provides SWAP funding based on the lowest quotation submitted up to the per-household limit. If you hire the contractor with the higher quotation and/or your costs exceed the per-household limit, you are responsible to pay the difference.
5. If your SWAP application is approved, you will need to apply for and obtain a building permit (“Application to Construct or Demolish”) from the City before any work can proceed. Once your permit is approved, you will receive a permit issuance letter that itemizes all required inspections.
6. During construction, you assume full responsibility for overseeing and managing your contractor and for contacting the SWAP Project Coordinator to arrange required inspections as noted on your Permit Issuance Letter.
7. When the work is nearing completion, you will need to contact the SWAP Project Coordinator one more time to arrange an inspection. The Inspector will confirm that all work listed on the SWAP Application Form has been satisfactorily completed in accordance with the Ontario Building Code. This inspection must take place before any excavations are backfilled and covered.
8. Once all of the program work is finished and you are confident that your contractor has completed everything to your satisfaction, submit the completed SWAP Application Form along with all other relevant documentation (i.e., original quotations, bills, and itemized invoices) to the SWAP Project Coordinator.
9. The SWAP Project Coordinator reviews your submittal to ensure that all claimed costs are eligible for grant funding. If the submittal is approved, the City provides you with a cheque for all eligible costs to a maximum of $7,500 per home, depending on the scope of improvements.
10. You are responsible to pay your contractor directly. If the cost of your work exceeds your allocated funding, you are responsible to pay the additional costs.

Grant values will not exceed $7,500 per home. Funding is only awarded for the amount outlined on the application form and must correlate with quotations, bills, and invoices for labour and materials.

Two contractor quotations form the basis of cost evaluation even if the work is carried out by the homeowner.

Foundation drains must be disconnected from the sanitary system, downspouts must also be disconnected from below-ground discharge, and a sump system and backwater valve must be installed before the grant is released.

The work provides a degree of protection to the homeowner and mitigate the risk of basement flooding; however, the risk is never completely eliminated.

Homeowners should refrain from using water and plumbing fixtures during severe rainstorms since these flows may not be able to enter the sanitary sewer and may back up in the basement through floor drains, showers, and other low-elevation openings. Select backwater valves are available with a clear cover through which sewer drain performance may be inspected.

Homeowners are responsible to maintain all installed equipment, including regular inspections of the backwater valve and sump pump. Please refer to manufacturers' recommendations.

NOTE: The list below includes contractors interested in the program. The City of Welland does not recommend any one contractor over another, nor does the City guarantee the work of any contractor listed. Homeowners may use the contractor of their choice.

• Bernier Excavating and Haulage (Reg)
• Address: 108 Commercial Street, Welland, ON, L3B 5Z3
• Phone: 905-735-1205

• City Wide Group Inc. (Casey)
• Address: 51 Barron Street, Welland, ON, L3C 2K4
• Phone: 905-735-7738

• Flow-State Plumbing and Drains Inc (Richard)
• Address: St. Catharines, ON
• Phone: 289-402-8926

• Foundation Waterproofing by Moe
• Address: 566 Webber Road, Welland, ON, L3B 5N8
• Phone: 905-892-2953

• Fralick Construction (Chuck)
• Address: 364 Chantler Road, R. R. #5, Welland, ON, L3B 5N8
• Phone: 905-734-4697

• Go Green Plumbing (Jordan)
• Address: 13 Queenston Street, St. Catharines, ON, L2R 2Y8
• Phone: 289-244-9843

• Ideal Plumbing & Heating (Mark)
• Address: 8 Clairmont Street, Unit 8, Thorold, ON, L2V 1R1
• Phone: 905-680-1851

• Marlee Niagara Contractors (Andrew)
• Address: 14 Springhead Gardens, Welland, ON, L3C 5A8
• Phone: 905-734-6955

• Metro Plumbing & Heating
• Address: 5836 Dunn Street, Niagara Falls, ON, L2G 2N7
• Phone: 905-354-9032

• Niagara Foundations and Sewers
• Address: 125 Pinehurst Drive, Welland, ON
• Phone: 905-246-6840

• Pro-Seal Waterproofing (Trevor)
• Address: 2601 Hwy 20, Unit #4, Fonthill, ON, L0S 1E6
• Phone: 905-380-7122

• RAM Construction (Paul)
• Address: 454 East Main Street, Welland, ON, L3B 3X6
• Phone: 905-658-3201

• RL Xcavators (Rick)
• Address: 50882 O’Reilly’s Road, South, Wainfleet, ON
• Phone: 905-321-5513

• Thos. R. Birnie & Sons Ltd. (James)
• Address: 390 Lake Avenue North, Unit #1, Hamilton, ON, L8E 3A2
• Phone: 905-578-4659

• Wet and Humid No More (Eric)
• Address: 4600 Montrose Road, Unit #2, Niagara Falls, ON, L2H 1K3
• Phone: 905-329-8766