Moncton home retrofitted to reduce the risk of basement flooding

MONCTON, NB, May 16, 2012 /CNW/ - The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), with support from the City of Moncton, has retrofitted a Moncton home to reduce the risk of basement flooding. Approximately 160 homes experienced basement flooding in the Moncton area during an intense rainfall event associated with tropical storm Danny in late August, 2009. However, Moncton is not alone in experiencing basement flooding, as many cities across Canada have been impacted by significant urban flooding events over the past few years.

"Basement flooding, caused by overland water flows, infiltration and sewer backup, is a major concern for many urban municipalities in Canada," says Dan Sandink, ICLR's Manager of Resilient Communities & Research. "With the increase in the frequency and intensity of rainfall events, along with urbanization and aging infrastructure, more homeowners are experiencing basement flooding. What's more, the proliferation of finished basements means that individual damage figures can be quite high. Effective management of flood risks requires investment and upgrading of municipal sewer infrastructure -- along with educated homeowners who take action to prevent flooding. Protecting properties from flooding is a shared responsibility.This retrofit demonstrates a number of ways that property owners can help guard against it."

"We are pleased the ICLR chose a home in Moncton to showcase what homeowners can do to reduce their risk of experiencing flood damage," says Jack MacDonald, General Manager of Engineering and Environmental Services with the City of Moncton. "As our climate continues to change it is now more important than ever, for homeowners to take the shared responsibility of flood prevention and focus on reducing the risk of basement flooding. We encourage all homeowners to install a backwater valve in their home—this is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of flooding."

For over a year now, the City of Moncton has had a Backwater Valve Incentive Program, assisting homeowners in reducing their risk of basement flooding from sewer backup. The Backwater Valve Incentive Program provides a $500 rebate towards the installation of an approved backwater valve. In order to qualify for the rebate, all work must be performed by a licensed plumber under the terms and conditions of a plumbing permit and inspected by the Building Inspection Department. To get started, interested residents should call a licensed plumber who will assess their needs and advise on how to claim the $500 rebate.

More information on the City of Moncton's Backwater Valve Incentive Program can be found at: http://www.moncton.ca/Government/Departments/Building_Inspection/Backwater_Valve_Incentive_Program.htm.

Among its many resources, ICLR has issued a "Handbook for Reducing Basement Flooding," a publication that addresses the concerns of homeowners, local governments and insurance companies of the increasing instances of basement flooding. The booklet provides comprehensive information on how to mitigate flood risk for individuals and communities. It contains 20 measures that homeowners can take to reduce their risks and their neighbourhoods' risk of basement flooding. Many of the measures are simple and relatively inexpensive -- for example, downspout disconnection, and sealing any cracks in foundation walls and basement floors.

ICLR has also produced a smaller, more readable version of the handbook that is more manageable for the average homeowner. The Institute has also produced a series of five 'how to' videos on reducing the risk of basement flooding. These videos can be viewed on ICLR's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/ICLRinfo.

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Established in 1998 by Canada's property and casualty insurers, ICLR is an independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Toronto and at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. ICLR is a centre of excellence for disaster loss prevention research and education. ICLR's research staff is internationally recognized for pioneering work in a number of fields including wind and seismic engineering, atmospheric sciences, water resources engineering and economics. Multi-disciplined research is a foundation for ICLR's work to build communities more resilient to disasters.

Situated at the geographic centre of the Maritimes, nine of New Brunswick's top tourist destinations are within an easy 1.5 hours commute from Moncton. Excellent beaches, with the warmest waters east of the Carolinas and world-class national parks are only a short drive away. But Moncton has much to offer on its own, with a rich blend of English and Acadian tradition that gives the city a unique cultural flair. The city's vibrant downtown, variety of festivals and great restaurants make it a great place to visit—even if you don't leave the city.

Media contacts:

Dan Sandink, Manager, Resilient Communities & Research, ICLR
tel. [phone], ext. 3212
cell 416-278-1096
[email protected]

Kelly Jones, Communications Officer
City of Moncton
506-877-7745
[email protected]