Municipal Drains

A municipal drain is constructed to improve the drainage of lands. It is used primarily in rural areas to discharge excess water from the private agricultural tile drainage systems, roadside ditches, residential lots, industrial and commercial lands and other properties. 

The Drainage Act provides for the construction and management of many of the communal drainage systems in Ontario. 

Constructing a New Drain

Landowners requesting that a new drain be established under Section 4 of the Drainage Act must complete and submit a Petition for Drainage Works by Owners to the Municipal Office.  

Maintaining an Existing Drain

Basic maintenance and repair work falls under Section 74 of the Drainage Act. This generally includes work such as clean outs, removal of beavers/dams, repairing/replacing tile and repairing the existing drain in a way that does not alter the drain's original construction. Please contact the Municipality for more information.

Repairing an Existing Drain

If an existing drain requires significant repair and as a result the repair includes changing the original drain's infrastructure in such a way that it is different from the original engineered plans, a Petition for Drainage under Section 78 of the Drainage Act must be filed with the Municipal Clerk. Examples include widening, lengthening, deepening a drain, etc.