Sewer Backup in Collingwood: What to Do and Who Is Responsible for the Lateral?

Sewage coming up through a basement floor drain, toilet or other plumbing fixture is stressful and needs prompt attention. Stop sending water down the drains, keep people and pets away from the affected area, and contact the Town and a plumbing professional to help find the source.

For homes connected to Collingwood’s municipal sewer, the Town says property owners own and maintain the sewer lateral from inside the building to the connection with the Town sewer. The homeowner also remains financially responsible for a failed lateral on both private and Town property, although Public Works must complete repairs on the section on Town property in the roadway. That distinction can be surprising, so it is useful to know before work begins.

A sewer backup can bring wastewater into a basement through a floor drain, toilet, shower or other low plumbing fixture. Basement water after rain or snowmelt can also come from surface water, a foundation leak or a sump-pump problem. The source is not always obvious from a quick look, and unknown water should be treated carefully.

If you are unsure whether the water is sewage, avoid touching it and get advice from a plumber or the municipality. Do not walk through standing water to inspect a drain or operate electrical equipment.

Do not flush toilets or use sinks, tubs and showers while the source of the backup is being investigated. Avoid running the dishwasher, washing machine or other water-using appliances as well. Collingwood specifically advises residents to stop flushing and using sinks, tubs and showers until the source has been corrected.

This helps avoid adding more wastewater to a line that may already be blocked. Keep the affected fixtures out of use until a professional or the Town tells you it is safe to resume normal use.

Sewage-contaminated water and materials can pose health risks. Keep children and pets away. Health Canada advises that children, pregnant people and people with respiratory problems should not handle sewage-contaminated water or belongings. If sewage has entered the home, contact your insurer and a qualified restoration professional about cleanup. The local public health unit can also provide health guidance when sewage contamination is suspected.

Water and electricity can cause severe shock. The Electrical Safety Authority says to stay out of a basement if water is above electrical outlets, baseboard heaters or the furnace, or is near the electrical panel. Do not cross standing water to reach a breaker or pump. Contact your electric utility for help disconnecting power if there is an electrical risk.

For a sewer blockage in Collingwood, the Town says homeowners can contact a private service provider, such as a plumber, to identify and remove a blockage. Residents can also call Collingwood Public Works at 705-445-1030 for assistance; service fees may apply under the Town’s current fee by-law.

If the backup is active, contact the Town and a plumbing professional so the municipal system and the private lateral can be assessed. A blockage can be in the home’s plumbing, the lateral or the municipal sewer. A professional inspection is needed to identify its location.

Collingwood asks residents to locate the sewer cleanout and make sure it is accessible for specialized equipment. Clear a path to the cleanout if you can do so safely, but leave an active backup and any opening or removal of a cleanout cap to the professional handling the call.

Once the area is safe to enter, take photos, write down when the backup began, and keep receipts for emergency work and cleanup. Contact your home insurer promptly and ask what your policy requires. The Insurance Bureau of Canada notes that sewer-backup coverage is often optional and that coverage varies by policy.

A sewer lateral is the pipe carrying wastewater from a home’s sanitary plumbing to the municipal sewer. Collingwood’s wastewater guidance says that the property owner owns and is responsible for maintaining the lateral from inside the building to its connection with the Town sewer.

The location of a failed section affects who completes the repair:

• From the building to the property line: The homeowner can arrange repair or replacement on private property. Collingwood says to contact Building Services about permit requirements.
• From the property line to the sewer main in the roadway: The repair must be completed by Collingwood Public Works. The homeowner remains financially responsible under the Town’s current process and fee rules. Public Works prepares a work order, arranges utility locates and invoices the owner after the work.

If the Town-side section needs repair, ask Public Works to explain the current fee and work-order process before authorizing the work. If a repair is needed on both sides of the property line, Collingwood says the private-side work happens first, followed by the Town’s work on the roadway section.

Before any work outside the building begins, Collingwood instructs homeowners to contact Ontario One Call for a sewer safety inspection. The Town says this inspection is provided at no cost to the homeowner and helps check for a potential gas-line conflict. Call Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 or request the inspection through Ontario One Call.

Collingwood lists tree roots, grease buildup, wipes and other improperly disposed items, and breaks or collapses in deteriorated sewer lines among the causes of blockages. A drain that repeatedly slows or backs up should be investigated rather than treated as a one-time clog.

Flush human waste and toilet paper only. Put wipes, paper towels, rags and other products in the garbage, even if packaging calls them “flushable.” Keep cooking fats, oils and grease out of sinks; let them solidify and dispose of them as directed by the municipality. These steps help protect both household drains and the public wastewater system.

If a backup has happened before, ask a licensed plumbing professional to inspect the drain and lateral and explain what the inspection shows. Depending on the cause and the layout of the home, a plumber may also assess whether a backwater valve is suitable. A backwater valve is designed to let wastewater leave the home while closing if wastewater tries to flow backward, but the right device and location depend on the plumbing system. Government of Canada guidance recommends professional installation and checking local permit requirements.

A backwater valve is one possible protection measure; it does not repair a damaged lateral or remove the need to keep drains clear. Ask how the valve should be inspected and maintained if your home already has one.

Collingwood’s lateral and repair process applies within the Town of Collingwood. Municipal procedures can differ elsewhere. For a property connected to The Blue Mountains’ wastewater system, the Town lists 705-446-5041 as its wastewater emergency number and says an owner may be billed when an emergency service call identifies an issue on private property. If the home uses a private septic system, contact a septic professional; municipal sewer-lateral guidance does not apply.

If your property is in Wasaga Beach or another nearby municipality, contact that municipality’s wastewater service before arranging excavation or assuming who will complete or pay for a repair.

Stop using plumbing fixtures and call a plumber or drain professional. Collingwood residents can also call Public Works at 705-445-1030 for help locating a sewer blockage; service fees may apply. Contacting both helps determine whether the issue is in the private lateral or municipal system.

The property owner is responsible for maintaining the lateral and remains financially responsible for a failed lateral on both private and Town property. When the failure is in the roadway section between the property line and the sewer main, Collingwood Public Works must complete the repair. Confirm the current process and fees with Public Works before authorizing work.

No. A sump pump removes water collected in a sump pit. A sewer backup involves wastewater returning through plumbing drains or fixtures and needs a separate diagnosis. See our sump pump checklist for heavy rain and spring thaw.

It depends on the policy. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says sewer-backup damage is typically not covered by a standard policy and that optional coverage is offered by many insurers. Check your own policy and contact your insurer after a loss.

It may be appropriate for some homes, especially those with a history of sewer backup, but a professional should inspect the plumbing and confirm whether a valve is suitable. Check local permit requirements before installation.

If a drain keeps backing up, several fixtures are affected or you are unsure whether the problem is in the home or the sewer lateral, arrange an inspection before the next use makes the problem worse.

For drain cleaning and plumbing help in the Collingwood area, contact Collingwood Home Plumbing or learn more about our drain cleaning service.

• Town of Collingwood: Wastewater Services and Sewer Blockages
• Town of Collingwood: Roads & Sidewalks, Sewer Blockage
• Town of Collingwood: Plumbing & Water/Sewer Permits
• Town of The Blue Mountains: Sewer Services
• Health Canada: Flood cleanup and sewage contamination
• Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit: Cleaning After a Flood
• Electrical Safety Authority: Flood Safety
• Insurance Bureau of Canada: Water Damage and Flood Protection
• Government of Canada: Backwater valves

Related reading: Sump pump checklist for heavy rain and spring thaw · How to prepare seasonal home plumbing for winter