Grants to help Welland residents who suffered from sewage backups being offered

Flooding in July required that Niagara Region staff at the Talbot Avenue pumping station in Dain City keep sewage from backing up into homes in Dain City. Sewage backups from significant weather events in Welland will be covered by a grant of up to the $3,000. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Dave Johnson
Courtesy of Welland Tribune

Sewage backups from significant weather events in Welland will be covered by a grant of up to $3,000, says the city.

Last week, councillors passed the compassionate grants for sewer backup policy written by Mike Lostracco, the city’s revenue service manager.

Residents in Ward 6, especially those in Dain City and the Southworth Street area south of Ontario Road, have seen flooding and sewer backups into their homes from significant rainfall events.

In April 2018, at least 30 residents on Forks Road and south of it in Dain City saw their basements flooded as the sewer system backed up. This past July, another heavy rainfall event saw more homes flooded and sewage backups.

The grant is to help cover costs resulting from storms and the city said is not to be construed as a perceived liability.

“It can be difficult to understand the impact of these weather events on your home until you’ve experienced it,” said chief administrative officer Steve Zorbas in a release late in the week.

“We hope this policy gives some peace of mind to homeowners and also shows that we’re listening to residents about the challenges they’re facing, especially when it comes to those with financial impacts,” he said.

Under the policy, a homeowner must have proof that two or more sewer backups were related to sewer surcharging as a result of significant rainfall.

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