Basement Flooding

Protective Plumbing Program

Contact Us

For more information
Call 905-546-2489 or
Email [email protected]

For a water or wastewater emergency
Call 905-546-2489

The City offers both a loan and grant program to assist with eligible costs of protective plumbing improvements. Review this information to ensure you and the project qualify.

Review the Loan and Grant

Program Details

The City of Hamilton offers property owners of single-family residential homes a grant (subsidy) of up to $2000 for the installation of a backwater valve and other eligible works that help to reduce the risk of basement flooding.

Eligible work includes:

Installation of a backwater valve (including assessment)
Disconnection of downspouts
Installation of a sump pump in conjunction with the installation of a backwater valve

For property owners to be eligible for the maximum grant amount, they will be required to select a contractor from the list of the City’s pre-qualified contractors. Property owners who choose a contractor outside of the list will only be eligible for a maximum of $500 for the installation of a backwater valve. To participate in the Program all of the below statements need to be true:

You own a single family residential home.
Your home has a basement.
Your home is connected to the City of Hamilton sewer system.
Your property taxes are up to date.
Your home was built before January 1, 2012.
If you have received a grant for a backwater valve in the past and any of the $2,000 grant money remains for this property, it can still be used toward disconnecting your downspouts.
You are not currently in the process of adding a secondary dwelling unit.

Call 905-546-2489 (CITY) or email [email protected] to determine if you are eligible for the Protective Plumbing Program.
Download the Protective Plumbing Program assessment form(PDF, 302.28 KB) or request a copy of the form to be mailed to you from a Customer Service Representative at 905-546-2489.
Choose your contractor from the pre-qualified contractor list as shown below.
Schedule a time to have your contractor perform the assessment and review their recommendations with you.
If you’re comfortable with the contractor and their recommendations, you can advise them to begin the work. If you’re not comfortable with the contractor or their recommendations, you are not obligated to proceed with them.
The contractor will submit the information required to Building Services to obtain the necessary permit before beginning the work.
Contractor completes the work.
The Building Inspector inspects the contractors work.

Once completed please submit the completed information package to:
Protective Plumbing Program
City of Hamilton
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, ON L8L 5W2

If your total eligible works exceed the total grant amount of $2000, please note that the City offers a Residential Protective Plumbing Loan Program up to a maximum of $2000 to assist with eligible costs. Note, the grant is paid to the property owner who is responsible for paying the contractor for the completed work.

Pre-qualified contractors

In order to ensure that the program work is being delivered by contractors who are qualified and offer value for service, the City has compiled a list of 5 contractors that have been pre-qualified.

Backwater valve installations require building permit
Adapt-a-valve requires City pre-approval

Pre-Qualified Contractor Installation & Work Fees

CONTRACTOR	ASSESSMENT & MAINLINE BWV	ASSESSMENT & ADAPT-A-VALVE BWV*	BUILDING PERMIT	DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION**
Stokoe Plumbing Inc.	$1266+HST	$1266+HST	$291	$75+HST
Hamilton Sewer & Water Services Inc.	$1415+HST	$1415+HST	$291	$75+HST
Orella Group Inc.	$1493+HST	$1916+HST	$291	$75+HST
Rooter Guys Inc.	$1523+HST	$1523+HST	$291	$75+HST
The Plugged Piper Drain Service Inc.	$1531+HST	$2456+HST	$291	$75+HST

*Adapt-a-valve requires City pre-approval
**Price per downspout

NOTE: There is no contract between a contractor and the City of Hamilton for the work under the Protective Plumbing Program. Any agreements made between contractor and property owner for work under the Program are made under a private contract. Concern or disputes shall be immediately brought to the attention of the contractor for resolution.

Property owners who choose a contractor outside of the list will only be eligible for a maximum of $500 for the installation of a backwater valve. If you already have a contractor or wish to do the work yourself, download the Protective Plumbing Program Assessment Form(PDF, 302.28 KB) or contact our Customer Service Representatives at 905-546-2489 for more information.

The City has a loan program for a maximum of $2,000 to assist with eligible costs of protective plumbing improvements in addition to the Protective Plumbing Grant Program.

The Protective Plumbing Loan Program can be used for these improvements:

Installation of a backwater valve
New sump pump and pit installation in conjunction with installation of a backwater valve
Disconnection of downspouts

Loan Details

Loans may be available to cover all applicable estimated costs of undertaking protective plumbing improvements. Loans will not be available to cover any other associated costs. (eg., repaving an entire driveway, restoring landscaped yards, other work deemed unnecessary for the installation of protective plumbing measures).

The loan, if approved, will only be paid to the property owner when:

the City receives invoices for completed work
the City inspection of the completed work under the water service replacement permit is done (link to building permits)

The loan interest rate is 4.2% for the full term.

Loan approvals are subject to the availability of funding at any given time, as determined by Council. Loan applications are processed in chronological order based on the date we receive the application.

Loan repayment

You must repay the loan plus interest through taxes, as set out in the agreement you sign. Full repayment, including interest, can be made at any time without penalty.

Security

The loan is added to the property owners tax roll. Loans are noted on the next tax roll.

To apply for a Protective Plumbing loan, you must complete the following steps:

Complete the Protective Plumbing Program Loan Application(PDF, 226.44 KB). Every person registered on title as the owner of the property must sign the application form. Mail or submit your application form in person to:
City of Hamilton
Protective Plumbing Program
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, Ontario L8L 5W2
Wait for an approval letter to come in the mail, indicating the amount of your loan. You will also receive a Commitment Letter.
Complete the Commitment Letter and send the original copy to:
City of Hamilton
Finance and Administration
Environment and Sustainable Infrastructure
77 James Street North, Suite 400
Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2K3
You or the contractor must apply for and obtain any necessary permits before you begin the work. If you do not have the required permits before you start the improvements, your loan will be cancelled.
Have your contractor complete the improvements. A licensed plumber or sewer drain contractor licensed to work in the city of Hamilton must complete the work.
Schedule an inspection with city staff at 905-546-3950 if you had a backwater valve or sump pump installed. If you do not have an inspection, your loan will be cancelled.
Submit the final invoice from the contractor within 12 months of receiving the loan approval. The invoice must show the amount due for the work, materials and equipment related to the improvements.
If you submit the invoice more than 12 months after your loan approval, you will not receive the loan. We will not give a loan in excess of the approximate loan amount up to a maximum of $2,000, even if the final invoice is greater than the approximate loan amount.
The City will pay either the invoice amount submitted by the contractor or the amount of the approximate loan up to a maximum of $2,000.

Date modified

May 05, 2025