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In light of the recent flooding, and flooding that this region has seen in the past few years, the city of Windsor has changed it's building policies slightly.

Effective January 1st, 2012, the City of Windsor’s Building Department will require “backwater valves” — devices designed to stop sewer backups into homes — in all newly constructed single family homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses.

The desire to “reduce the impact of severe rainfall events and lessen the extent of any damage associated with these events” came after a major rainstorm in Windsor/Essex in June 2010. If you remember, that same storm formed a Tornado in the Leamington area and caused millions of dollars worth of damage.

The cost of installation for a Backwater Value is approximately $250. As of January 2012, “an application for a building permit involving a sewer drain where the drain is below the level of the adjoining street anywhere in the City of Windsor shall be required to install a Backwater Value on the building drain”.

For more information, call 311.