Bill Watters, Project Engineer, says, “Experience shows that no matter where you live in the city, every home can be at risk of basement flooding. Heavy rainstorms that fall over short periods of time can overwhelm any city sewer system. Overloaded sewers can back up through house sewer lines and into basements that aren’t protected.”

To protect your home from basement flooding, the City recommends homeowners take the following protective measures:

• Install a backwater valve and sump pit drainage system
• Check and maintain your backwater valve and sump pit drainage system regularly
• Improve drainage around your home

The brochure, also available on the City’s Web site at winnipeg.ca, provides more information on each of these protective measures.