Halifax Water’s Customer Care Centre phone line can become overwhelmed during significant weather events.
To help our customers, we’ve created an online form to easily submit information when their stormwater, wastewater, or water services are impacted and they need us to respond. This includes basement flooding, sewer backups, culvert washouts, manholes in the street that have been displaced by flood waters, loss of water service, and more.
Please fill out the following form, and Halifax Water crews will respond to issues during severe weather events on a priority basis.
Page Contents
- Storm-Related Issue Form
- Keeping water away from your property
- Preventing basement flooding
- What to do if your basement floods
Year-round maintenance tips: help keep water away from your home
Stopping water from entering your home is the first step in protecting your basement from flooding. Before a storm comes, make sure you:
- Talk to a certified plumber about installing a backwater valve, if there is not one already.
- A backwater valve is a device that is placed on the wastewater service lateral in your home to prevent sewage from flowing back through the pipes from the mainline and flooding your basement. It does this by automatically closing its flap.
- If you have a backwater valve installed, clean debris from it to prevent sewage from flowing back into your basement.
- A backwater valve is an important tool for protecting your home, but it does require maintenance to ensure it remains effective.
- Clean and repair your rain gutters/eavestroughs.
- Maintain your window wells and check if they’ve been properly installed.
- Clean and check sump pumps and weeping tiles.
- Use rain barrels to reduce the amount of water flowing on your property.
- Prevent water from pooling by ensuring your property slopes correctly away from your home.
How to protect your basement from flooding before or during a storm
If a storm is on its way or has begun, there are a few simple things you can do to help protect your basement from flooding during heavy rain.
- Make sure your downspout extensions are down to direct water away from your home. (Without directing stormwater to other private properties.)
- Ensure your sump pump and / or back up sump pump is working.
- Avoid using water during a storm. Activities like showering or washing clothes can cause a backup in your basement if the neighbourhood sewer system is at or near capacity.
What to do if your basement floods
If your basement floods, here are some tips on what you should do to help minimize the damage and actions you can take to get back to normal as soon as possible.
- If you have a sewer backup in your home, proceed with caution. Call 902-420-9287 or fill out the form on this page to report flooding in your basement.
- Call your insurance company as soon as possible. They will advise you on clean-up and claims procedures.
- When it is safe to do so, retrieve your belongings as soon as possible to prevent rotting, mildew and warping.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect all rooms and contents reached by flood waters.
- Dry out the flooded area as soon as possible to avoid mould. Increase airflow by opening doors and windows and use air blowers. This process may take several days.
