Municipal Drains

Physically, a municipal drain is simply a drainage system. Most municipal drainage systems were constructed to improve the drainage of agricultural land. However, they also remove excess water collected by any other properties in rural areas. Municipal drains are created under the authority of the Drainage Act.

New Drain

Landowners in an area requiring drainage can sign a Petition for Drainage, which will set in motion a project to create a new municipal drain. This falls under Section 4 of the Drainage Act.

Repair & Improvement

If an existing drain requires significant repair and as a result the repair includes changing the original drain's infrastructure in a way that is different from the original engineered plans, an application should be filed under Section 78 - Repair & Improvement. Examples of this include widening, lengthening, deepening a drain, etc.

Maintenance & Repair

The most common application is one that falls under Section 74 of the Drainage Act, which is your basic Maintenance & Repair work. This usually includes work such as clean outs, removal of beavers/dams, repairing/replacing tile and generally repairing the existing drain in a way that does not detract from the drain's original construction.

You Should:

• If you know there is a municipal drain on your property, find out how the municipal drain affects your property. How much is your property assessed?
• If you notice any problems with the municipal drain, immediately notify the Clerk's Department
• Before purchasing a property, investigate how municipal drains may affect it.

You should not:

• Obstruct access. Along every municipal drain is an unregistered work space that the municipality has the right to use to maintain or repair the drain. Please keep this work space accessible.
• Store materials (ie brush or other floatable material) near the drain. During storm events and spring runoff this material may block the drain.
• Perform the work yourself. Notify the Clerk's Department to arrange for maintenance on a municipal drain.
• Direct septic system waste, milkhouse waste, barnyards and manure storage runoff or other pollutants directly to these drains.

Drainage Legislation / Factsheet

View OMAFRA Drainage Factsheet 

Drainage

View Drainage Information 

Municipal Drains

View Municipal Drains Information