Service Line Repair/Maintenance

The Town's Utilities Bylaw sets the terms of responsibility for the repair, maintenance and renewal of water or sewer service lines.  There are differences when it comes to either water or sewer service lines that property owners should be aware of.

Water Service Lines  (Section 4.1)

The property owner is fully responsible for keeping the service line between the premises and the curbstop in operational condition.  The Town is responsible for the condition of the service line between the curbstop and the main.

Possible exceptions:

(A) In the event of a leak or burst that is the interests of general municipal water conservation to address, consideration to some discretionary cost sharing may be given on a service line between the premises and the curbstop.  It is important that suspected leaks before the meter are reported.

(B) If Council has initiated or approved a Local Improvement project pursuant to the Local Improvement Policy (2022) for the purpose of constructing, repairing, improving and maintaining streets, curbs, sidewalks, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer in a neighbourhood or section of street.

It is important to note that the Town will not pay for or cost share on discretionary upgrades or replacements to the service line between the curbstop and the main for reasons other than repair to the existing service.  Please inquire at the Town Office if there is a strong economic development case (reserves policy section 8.7) around a desired service renewal or enhancement (e.g. increasing the diameter of service for an industrial or commercial purpose that leads to to increased local employment, assessment, multiplier effects, etc.).

Sewer Service Lines (Section 9.1)

The property owner is fully responsible for keeping the service line in operational condition (at all times) between the premises and the main.  This means that the Town will not (generally) cost share on sewer service line maintenance or repair.

Possible exceptions:  

(A) if damage or blockage can be proven to have been caused by a public tree in a boulevard.  Link to the Public Trees page for more information with respect to that CAO approval process.

(B) If Council has initiated or approved a Local Improvement project pursuant to the Local Improvement Policy (2022) for the purpose of constructing, repairing, improving and maintaining streets, curbs, sidewalks, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer in a neighbourhood or section of street.

(C) Sewer backup situations caused accidentally by sewer main maintenance (e.g. flushing)  will be evaluated on a case by case basis, but it is important to stress that the Town is not responsible for the consequences of a poorly maintained or degraded private sewer line or lack of adequate venting/ backflow prevention.  Backflow avoidance is addressed here.

It is important to be able to accurately describe the line issue or problem that you have in detail so that Utilities can best advise how the town might be able to assist.  Plumber's camera footage is very helpful to all concerned.