Shared responsibility for Water and Sewer Service Lines

The Town and homeowners share ownership of and responsibility for the repair and maintenance of water and sewer service lines that connect a homeowner’s property to the Town’s water and wastewater systems.

The Town maintains the water and wastewater service lines from the watermain up until the homeowner’s property line.

Homeowners are responsible for repairs to the portion of the water and sewer service lines located on their property. If a leak, break or operational failure occurs in the private portion of these lines, the homeowner is responsible for hiring a plumber or contractor and paying any of the associated repair costs. A breakdown to these lines could happen without warning resulting in an unexpected and costly emergency repair. The lifespan of a service line depends on many factors including construction material, soil conditions and use and the location. Sewer lines can also be affected by the number and species of nearby trees.

While not typically covered by basic homeowners’ insurance, residents are encouraged to check with their current provider to find out what their coverage is in this area, and to arm themselves with information such as deductible amounts and exclusions or confirm if coverage is offered as an add on.

The Town has also entered into an agreement with a third-party provider, Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC), to offer residents optional repair plans they can choose to sign up for.

To learn more about the repair plans, click here