Water damage from flooding has become the largest and most costly insurance risk in Canada, surpassing fire damage. There are three main types of urban flooding - overland, infiltration, and sewer backup. Losses are rising due to aging infrastructure, climate change, and development in at-risk areas. To reduce flood risk, homeowners can take measures like installing backwater valves, maintaining sump pumps, disconnecting downspouts, improving lot grading and drainage, and being aware of proper insurance coverage. Educational programs aim to encourage more homeowners to undertake flood risk reduction actions on their own properties.
8. Types of urban flooding
Overland
Function of lot grading, overland flow routes
Currently not insurable
Infiltration
Groundwater, cracks in basement floor/walls
Rarely insured
Sewer backup
Function of I/I, homeowner behaviour
Insured through endorsement
12. Types of urban flooding
Overland
Function of lot grading, overland flow routes
Currently not insurable
Infiltration
Groundwater, cracks in basement floor/walls
Rarely insured
Sewer backup
Function of I/I, homeowner behaviour
Insured through endorsement
13. Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, 2013: >$850 million
Thunder Bay, Montréal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Steinbach, 2012: >$350 million
Hamilton, 2009: $100-150 million
Southern Ontario, 2005: >$500 million
Peterborough, 2004: $87 million
Edmonton, 2004: $166 million
MANY OTHERS!
Recent large loss events
IBC, 2012: $1.7 billion average insured water damages per year in Canada
14. Why are losses rising?
Aging infrastructure
The climate is changing
More people and property at risk
Aging infrastructure
The climate is changing
Changing lifestyles
However…
15. Why are losses rising?
Aging infrastructure
The climate is changing
Changing lifestyles
20. Keeping water at bay
Three major ways that water can enter a home’s foundation drains (aka weeping tiles, weepers, footing or perimeter drains)
Via downspouts (aka roof leaders) that are connected to the weeping tiles
An easy fix – disconnection (where possible)
Via water seepage down through the backfill zone
Via the water table
Many people live in areas where the water table is high
For many, the answer involves installation of a sump pit and pump
21. Weeping tiles and sump pumps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB6Yb9WptTk
22. How do sumps work?
Water enters weeping tiles, flows into the home’s floor drains and, eventually, into the sump (i.e. the pit)
Once the water rises to a certain height (raising the float on the pump or triggering the diaphragm) the pump will turn on, bringing the water up through the drain pipe and out of the house to the lot surface
A check valve should be installed so water cannot go back down into the sump pit
Water should be ejected away from the foundation/backfill zone and away from neighbouring properties
23. How do sumps most often fail?
Float failure
Obstruction/not moving freely
Hole in float
Pump failure
Broken seal
Blown motor
Debris in pump
Power failure
Shared circuit
24. How should sumps be tested?
Methods vary depending on type of pump and manufacturer
Follow manufacturer’s instructions
Some recommend testing every 2 to 3 months, others recommend yearly, often before the rainy season
Testing usually involves a simple 3 step process
Ensure power is running to pump
Pour enough water into the sump pit to trigger the diaphragm or ball float (bucket or hose)
Check the pump discharge to ensure that water is flowing from the pump to the discharge line outside your home.
25. What if the sump isn’t working?
Check for debris blocking the pump intake (eg gravel)
Listen for strange noises coming from the motor
Check for oil in the sump pit. Discovery of oil could indicate a failed pump seal
If the activation switch for the pump works on a ball float, check if the float is moving freely and is not restricted
Ensure the float isn’t full of water (indicating that a leak exists)
26. Pump replacement tips
Minimum 1/3 horsepower recommended
Size pump properly according to needs (amount of water to be pumped and distance it needs to travel to, aka ‘head’)
Head should be minimum 10 feet
Pump should be able to pass large stones (minimum 10mm)
Discharge lines should be minimum 1¼ inch pipe and should have a check valve to prevent water from flowing back down into the sump pit
Check to see if pump meets standards such as the CAN/CSA 22.2 No 108 ‘Liquid pumps’
27. Other considerations
Screwed down top
Keeps debris out of pit
Keeps children/pets out of pit
Helps prevent overflow
Helps keep radon out of home
More attractive
Quieter
Back-up pump
Back-up power
Battery
Potable water
Sump-pump alarm
Audible
Smart phone
31. Backwater valves
Aka, sewage backflow valve, sewage backflow prevention device, or sewage backflow preventer
Not to be confused with a backflow preventer or backflow prevention device
Not the same as a check valve or gate valve
Must distinguish between mainline (normally open) and inline (normally closed)
Goes on the sanitary sewer lateral (and sometimes on the storm lateral) in the floor at the foot of the basement wall closest to where the lateral exits the house to connect to the municipal system
32. Backwater valves
Allows wastewater to easily exit the house
However if the municipal sewer system surcharges – or backs up – the gate prevents waste water from re-entering the home and coming up through the floor drain, washing machine and/or basement plumbing fixtures such as sinks, toilets or showers
Very effective, but not the be-all-and-end-all
34. Video on how backwater valves work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJN9YKvnIYk
35. Backwater valves: Important considerations
Need to know with certainty how a home’s drain system is set up or you risk causing a basement flood rather than preventing one
Combined sewer system?
Floor drains to sanitary?
Floor drains to storm?
If combined or floor drains to sanitary, then floor drains would have to be disconnected and directed to a sump or else the home could be subject to ‘self flooding’
This is why it is dangerous for insurers to require insureds to install a backwater valve without first understanding how a home’s system is set up
43. Other considerations Eavestrough maintenance
Water can pour over poorly maintained eavestrough
Enter backfill zone, foundation drainage
Contributes to sewer backup, infiltration flood risk
44. Other considerations Cracks in foundation walls, floors
•Infiltration flood issues
•Sealing cracks
•Foundation drainage
•Lot grading
49. Summary of behavioural measures
Report events to your municipality
As your municipality for advice
Talk to your broker about your insurance coverage
Clarity on “flood” and sewer backup coverage
Don’t pour FOGs down your drains
Clear sewer grates of leaves, debris, snow
Maintain eavestroughs
Avoid finished basements
Follow all municipal requirements for installations
50. Many do not report events to municipality
•More likely to report only to insurer
•Those with uninsur. losses may report to no one
Confusion about insurance coverage for water damage
•21* - 70% think they’re insured for flood
•Many do not know if the have SB coverage (45% in Sherwood Forest)
Limited awareness and uptake of municipal subsidy programs
•Frequently under 10%
•Insurance incentives
Limited awareness of risk reduction measures in the home
•1/3 of Sherwood Forest residents could not identify if they had a BWV
Residents blame municipality and are unlikely to undertake risk reduction actions on their own
ICLR findings – brief summary
*J.D. Power Study - 2014
54. 20 measures
1: Talk to your municipal government about basement flooding 2: Inform your municipal government about basement flooding that you’ve experienced 3: Hire a licensed plumber to conduct a detailed plumbing investigation on your home 4: Check your insurance policy, or talk to your insurance broker or insurance provider about basement flood coverage 5: Avoid pouring fats, oils and grease down household drains 6: Keep storm sewer grates clear 7: Seal cracks in foundation walls and basement floor 8: Considerations for overland flood entry-points 9: Reduce home water use during heavy rainfall events 10: Maintain eavestroughs and downspouts 11: Avoid storing items directly on the basement floor 12: Downspout disconnection, extension and splash pads 13: Lot grading, backfilling and swales 14: Weeping tiles, sump-pits and sump-pumps 15: Mainline, normally open backwater valve 16: Maintain sewer laterals 17: Severance of storm sewer lateral 18: Considerations for reverse sloped driveways 19: Window wells and window well covers 20: Avoid remodelling or finishing basements
58. Subsidy programs
Toronto
Brantford
Edmonton
London
Ottawa
Halton Region
St. Catharines
Welland
Niagara Falls
Hamilton
Saskatoon
Vaughan
Durham (loan)
Peel/Mississauga
Sudbury
Winnipeg
Brandon
Max grant generally ~$3,000
Range for backwater valve: $500
in Niagara Falls to $1,250 in
Toronto
80% up to $2,800 for BW valve
and sump-pump in Toronto
60% up to $3,000 for BWV/Sump
in Winnipeg
$2,000 for sump, BW valve, lateral
repair, DS disconnection –
additional $1,500 for repair of
lateral if affected by City trees in
Hamilton
Mainline Backwater Valves
60. Showcase Homes program
•Work with municipalities to find candidate homes
•Generate media attention for lot-level risk reduction
•Education for key stakeholders
Toronto 2009
Hamilton 2011
Moncton 2012
Burlington 2014
70. Overland flood
insurance
Homeowner coverage not technically
available vast majority of Canadian
homeowners
Primary reasons:
Mutuality
Adverse selection
Lack of randomness
Size of the insured community
Inadequate, inconsistent assessment of
hazard (e.g., return periods, floodway
definitions, SW hazards, etc.)
AB flood
Many reports of policy holder confusion
due to inconsistent coverage
Image: Global News, 2013
