A roadside ditch is mainly used to drain water from roads and is maintained by the road authority. A municipal drain is a legal drainage system created under the Drainage Act and is designed to manage water from multiple properties.
Municipal Drains
The Town of Fort Erie is home to a network of municipal drains. Most municipal drains are open ditches, although some consist of underground pipes or tiles designed to collect and convey excess water to natural watercourses. Municipal drains are most commonly found in rural and agricultural areas, where they play an important role in managing drainage and preventing flooding.
Municipal drains are created and maintained under the authority of the Drainage Act R.S.O. 1990. They benefit agricultural lands as well as other rural properties by providing an outlet for excess surface and subsurface water.
If your property is connected to or assessed within a municipal drainage system, you may have questions about your responsibilities and the drainage process. This page is intended to provide general information and guidance. For more specific information regarding your property, please contact the Town's Drainage Superintendent.
Additional Resources
- Top 10 common law drainage problems between rural neighbours
- Ontario municipal drains in agriculture, their infrastructure and management
- So... What's A Municipal Drain?
- Understanding Drainage Assessments
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a roadside ditch and a municipal drain?
How do I report a blocked municipal drain?
Contact the Town at 905-871-1600 ext.2405 and provide the location of the blockage and any details you can share. Municipal staff will review the concern and determine if maintenance is required.
Can I alter a municipal drain on my property?
No. You must obtain approval from the Municipality before making any changes to a municipal drain. Unauthorized changes may affect drainage and could result in additional costs.
How do assessments under the Drainage Act work?
Assessments are used to fairly divide the cost of construction, improvement, and maintenance of a municipal drain. Each property's share is based on the benefit received and other factors identified in the Engineer’s Report.
Who pays for municipal drain maintenance?
Property owners in the municipal drain watershed share the cost of maintenance. Costs are divided based on the assessment set out in the drain's Engineer’s Report.
How do I know if there is a municipal drain on my property?
Since not all municipal drains are above ground, it can be tricky to know for sure if your property has a municipal drain on it. If you aren’t sure, give us a call at 905-871-1600 ext.2405 and ask to speak to our Drainage Superintendent.
How are new municipal drains created?
The process for creating a municipal drain is outlined in detail on the Ontario Drainage Act. At a high level, the process for a new municipal drain is through petition:
Petition for drainage work:
If there is a lack of drainage in a certain area, residents in the area can submit a petition for drainage work to the City of Port Colborne by contacting the Drainage Superintendent.
The petition is taken to Council and the Council will appoint an engineer to complete an investigation. If warranted, a report will be generated to identify the solution to the drainage problem and how the costs will be shared.
Engineer’s report:
The Engineer’s report is presented to Council for consideration.
The report is temporarily adopted by Council as a by-law.
Residents can then submit appeals to the Court of Revision and the Tribunal if they believe they have been assessed unfairly or if the report requires changes.
Once all appeals are settled, Council passes a by-law adopting the engineer's report. This gives the City the legal authority and responsibility to build the drain and maintain it in the future.
Current Municipal Drian Project Status
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