Down with downspouts
Disconnecting your home's downspouts from the sewer system is an effective way to protect water quality in your community.
Most downspouts move rain water or snowmelt away from roofs directly into the municipal sewer system. However, during heavy rains, the extra volume can overwhelm the system's capacity, increasing the risk of basement flooding and washing huge amounts of polluted water (including raw sewage) directly into rivers and lakes. That untreated water can threaten the health of fish and other wildlife and require beaches to be closed.
A growing number of communities in Ontario now make disconnecting downspouts mandatory; for instance, Toronto recently passed a bylaw requiring all homeowners in the city to disconnect their downspouts, while Windsor requires it in certain parts of the city.
Because rainwater falling onto the roof is generally clean, it makes sense to find other ways to divert it from the sewer system.
When you disconnect your downspout, remember to direct the water onto your lawn or garden or collect it in a rain barrel. Don't direct the water on to your neighbour's property, or the road, sidewalk or driveway, where it can pool and freeze in cold months or enter the sewer system in warmer months. And remember to keep the water away from the foundation of your house to avoid basement flooding.
For more on why disconnecting your downspout is a good idea, even if it isn't the law where you live, visit the EnviroLaw blog or the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
