Municipal Drainage Division
Background
The Corporation of the City of Sarnia is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and improvement of all municipal drain infrastructures within the City limits. There are approximately 110 Municipal Drains in the City of Sarnia. The Drainage Act provides a procedure or mechanism for landowners to overcome the obstacles of “Common Law” and to obtain solutions to their drainage problems. The Act set outs the procedures to be followed for maintenance, repair, and improvement of all current municipal drain under By-Laws passed by Council or new drains constructed under the Act.
Drain Maintenance
Section 74 of the Drainage Act requires a municipality to maintain any drain constructed under the Drainage Act or any predecessor of the Act at the expense of the upstream lands and roads as set out in the last applicable By-Law. Drain maintenance is by request only from any road authority or landowner within the watershed limits of the drain. Request forms are available from the Drainage Superintendent, third floor at City Hall. Maintenance work is eligible for agricultural grants to those properties listed in MPAC with the Farm Property Class Tax Rate.
Drain Repair and Improvement
Section 78 of the Drainage Act allows landowners and road authorities to request for repair or improvement to the whole or part a Municipal Drain. Request forms are available from the Drainage Superintendent, third floor at City Hall. All projects under Section 78 require the appointment of a Drainage Engineer to prepare a new report. Repair and improvement work is eligible for agricultural grants to those properties listed in MPAC with the Farm Property Class Tax Rate. Common requests are as follows:
- New access bridges or culverts,
- Replacement of existing bridges or culverts,
- Covering in part or whole of a Municipal Drain,
- Deepening, widening and extending to an outlet,
- Relocation of the Municipal Drain,
- Construct a new outlet, and
- Consolidate two or more drainage works
For further information on how to proceed with maintenance, repair, or improvement please contact:
Drainage Superintendent
519 332 0330 extension 3267
