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Managing Stormwater

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Who Manages Stormwater in Brampton?

Ever wondered where all the rain or snowmelt goes in Brampton? Open the frequently asked questions below to find out where it goes and your responsibilities as a resident.​​​

When the rain falls, it hits the roof tops, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and other hard surfaces within our community. These hard surfaces, unlike lawns, forests, and natural areas, do not absorb any of the water, and so all the rain becomes runoff. The more it rains, the more runoff is produced. The stormwater drainage system collects and carries this runoff to local creeks and rivers.

During the wintertime, snow can build up on the ground and remain in place until warmer weather arrives. When this happens, the snow melts and the melting water becomes runoff. The stormwater drainage system collects and carries the snowmelt to local creeks and rivers.

Stormwater management is a way of collecting, controlling, and carrying runoff to protect people, property, infrastructure, and the environment during rain or snowmelt events. Stormwater management is a shared responsibility between the City of Brampton, Region of Peel, residents, businesses, and developers. Homeowners are responsible for stormwater on their properties. The City of Brampton and Region of Peel operate and maintain the municipal stormwater drainage systems to collect, control, and carry stormwater from properties. 

Wastewater is water from toilets, sinks, showers, laundry, and floor drains. Wastewater is water that has been used inside the home, in a business or as part of an industrial process.  

Stormwater, also called runoff, is surface water​ that results from rain and snowmelt.  

Wastewater and stormwater from your home flow into two different systems: the sanitary or stormwater drainage systems.  

  1. The sanitary sewer system carries wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial buildings to Pee​l's wastewater treatment plants​, where the wastewater is treated before being released into Lake Ontario. Some homes in Brampton have their own system to control wastewater, referred to as septic tanks. 
  2. The stormwater drainage system collects rain and melted snow flowing from streets, parking lots and properties. The system then carries stormwater to either a stormwater pond or directly to a local river or creek, which flows to Lake Ontario. 
​The City of Brampton regulates discharges to the municipal storm sewer system. Certain temporary discharges, including water from construction dewatering activities or temporary groundwater drainage, may require City approval before being discharged to the storm sewer system.

For information about temporary discharges to the storm sewer system, visit the City’s Temporary Discharge Permits webpage.

The Region of Peel manages the sanitary sewer system. For information about discharges to the sanitary sewer system and applicable requirements, visit Peel Region’s Wastewater By-law webpage.​​

Ownership and care of infrastructure around your property are divided between the homeowner, the City, and the Region of Peel as follows:

  • Homeowners are responsible for all plumbing within their home, all pipes from their home to the property line, and for maintaining grading and drainage around their home.
  • The City of Brampton is responsible for the stormwater drainage system​ on City roads (outside of private property) and within City easements. 
  • The Region of Peel is responsible for the wastewater and drinking water systems. The Region of Peel is also responsible for the stormwater drainage system on Regional roads (outside of private property).
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Grey is owned by the homeowner:
  • As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining all pipes located on the private side of the property line and all plumbing within your home. 
  • The property line is a boundary line showing where your land ends and the neighbouring lands begin. 
  • Some homes have foundation drains which are pipes installed as part of the building foundation or basement floor. They direct underground water away from basements and foundation walls. Foundation drains connect to the City's storm sewer or a separate sewer system called a “foundation drain collector”. 
Blue is owned by the City of Brampton:
  • Storm sewers are underground pipes that collect and carry stormwater from small rain and snowmelt events. 
  • Stormwater from large rain and snowmelt events is typically carried above ground along roadways. 
  • A storm sewer connection links the private storm pipe to the City storm sewer. 
  • Catchbasins collect and convey stormwater from the surface into the underground storm sewer system.  Catchbasins are located along the sides of roads and in ditches or parks. Stormwater flows through a grated cover, into the underground chamber of the catchbasin, and then into the storm sewer.
Green is owned by the Region of Peel:
  • Watermains are underground pipes that deliver drinking water to residents and businesses from the drinking water treatment plant or a community well.  
  • The water service connection connects the watermain to the private water pipe that carries drinking water into the building. 
  • A shut off valve controls the flow of drinking water into the home. The valve must always be accessible, as it is used for emergency water shut-off if a pipe breaks. 
  • A maintenance hole provides access underground to a sewer or underground utilities for cleaning, inspection, connections, and repairs. 
  • The water meter monitors and measures the amount of water that comes into a house through a water service line. The Region of Peel installs, owns, and maintains the water meter. Property owners are responsible for the pipes that lead into the water meter. 
  • A sanitary sewer collects wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers, and more and directs it to a wastewater treatment plant for treatment before being discharged into Lake Ontario. 
  • Wastewater pipes carry wastewater from the house (e.g., toilet, sink, shower, washing machine, floor drain) into the sanitary sewer system.
Yellow is other utilities: 
                                                          • Utility providers such as cable, hydro, and phone install utility boxes on the street for maintenance and repair of services within your area.

                                                          Residents with homes serviced by ditches are responsible for mowing the ditches adjacent to the property and keeping the ditch clear of debris (e.g. leaves, yard waste) in accordance with the City’s Boulevard Maintenance and Highway Obstruction By-law 163-2013.

                                                          Residents cannot alter ditches or dr​iveway culverts without the applicable approvals and permits from the City of Brampton, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation. Altering includes straightening, changing, diverting, or interfering in any way with the existing ditch.

                                                          ​ With funds from the stormwater charge, the City of Brampton is prioritizing inspection and maintenance activities for the ditches that are part of the City’s stormwater drainage system

                                                          To report a problem with a ditch on a local/major road contact City of Brampton at 311.

                                                          To report a problem with a ditch on a regional road cont                                                          act the Region of Peel at 211.​​

                                                          Contact Environment and Development Engineering

                                                          Planning, Building and Growth Management
                                                          2 Wellington St W, Brampton​
                                                          905.874.2000

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