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The Residential Protective Plumbing Program (RPPP) provides financial assistance to qualified City of Ottawa property owners for the installation of protective plumbing devices, such as sump pumps and storm and sanitary backwater valves to prevent water and sewage from flooding homes as a result of increased water level in the City’s sewer system.

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What many homeowners in Ottawa may not be aware of is that the city is now offering a Protective Plumbing Grant that covers a portion of the cost of having a Back Water Valve installed in your home.

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How much are the rebates?

 

 

 

 

 

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The City will rebate up to a maximum of each of the individual rebates available at the time of the submission of Part 1 of the application form (more information below). Should the cost of the work be less than the amount of the available rebate, the City shall rebate the lesser of the two amounts.

 

Prior application(s) specific to the property, including those by previous owners, may limit eligibility for specific rebates.

 

Who is eligible for the program?

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To be eligible for the Residential Protective Plumbing Program, the following must be satisfied:

 

• Applicant must be the property owner

• Property must be:

• Residential

• Located in the City of Ottawa

• Served by City sewers

• Built prior to January 1, 2004 for protective plumbing work related to the private storm sewer services

• Built prior to January 1, 2012 for protective plumbing work related to private sanitary sewer services

• Protective plumbing device(s) considered as part of the rebate application shall not be installed for the purposes of maintaining, repairing or replacing existing protective plumbing device(s)

• Property taxes must be current

• Applications must be completed and approved before any work can commence

 

What is protective plumbing?

 

Protective plumbing prevents water and sewage from entering your home during a backup. These methods can range from installing a sump pump and changing the footing drains around your foundation to installing an approved backwater valve on the sewer pipes connecting your sanitary sewer to the City sewer system.

 

Protect your home from sewage backup in basement with a sewer backwater valve installation.

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The exact requirement of protective plumbing installations is determined through the careful investigation of your home's sewer system, and requires a City of Ottawa building permit and plumbing inspections to ensure installation in accordance with building codes.*

 

*We can provide you with a free quote if you plan on installing a backwater valve without participating in the Residential Protective Plumbing Program, or if you have already received drawings and a sewer inspection video from a previous contractor.

 

Your in home evaluation is free of charge, but please kindly note that there is a fee to provide you with technical plumbing drawings and a camera inspection, as required to apply for the Residential Protective Plumbing Program.

 

The Application Process 

 

(City of Ottawa Applications can be completed by the homeowner, or have us assist in completing the forms for a small administration fee).

 

Step 1: Submit Part 1 of Application

 

Download Part 1 of the application or obtain a form from your nearest City of Ottawa Client Service Centre.

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Ensure your completed application is signed and includes the following documentation:

 

• Proof of ownership (copy of deed, land transfer or property tax bill), and

The following documents prepared by a licensed plumber:

 

• Detailed listing of proposed work (included on application form)

• Quote for the proposed work

• Detailed diagram showing existing and proposed work (included on application form)

 

Applications can be sent via e-mail or mail to the Residential Protective Plumbing Program at protectiveplumbing@ottawa.ca (link sends e-mail) or

 

Residential Protective Plumbing Program

Public Works and Environmental Services Department

City of Ottawa

951 Clyde Avenue

Ottawa, ON K1Z 5A6

 

Condominium Associations

 

To proceed with a Residential Protective Plumbing Program application, Condominium Associations must first obtain, in writing, permission from each property owner to act on their behalf.

 

Download the Homeowner Authorization form or obtain a form from your nearest City of Ottawa Client Service Centre. The completed Homeowner Authorization forms should be submitted with the Part 1 Application form.

 

Step 2: Part 1 Application Review

 

The City will review your application and will contact you regarding the status of your application, next steps and assigned RPPP file number. Please refer to your RPPP file number when contacting the City regarding your application.

 

Step 3: CCTV Inspection

 

Once the application is approved, contact your contractor to arrange for a Closed-Circuit Television CCTV Inspection. The CCTV inspection reviews the sewer lateral from inside the home to the street (main City sewer).

 

The CCTV inspection and report must meet the City’s CCTV requirements  for format, reporting and equipment. The contractor must submit an electronic copy of the CCTV inspection and the inspection report via DVD or to the City service provider’s FTP site (link is external).

 

Once complete, the City or its service provider will contact the applicant to arrange for a site visit.

 

Step 4: City of Ottawa Site Visit

 

A City of Ottawa site visit is required to confirm the protective plumbing work required. This may involve taking measurements and photographs of the existing plumbing. The site visit is free of charge.

 

Please note that more than one site visit may be required.

 

Step 5: Site Visit Review

 

Once the site visit is complete, you will be contacted to confirm the status of the proposed work by your contractor and next steps. To avoid unnecessary expenses, a Site Visit Review should be received by the applicant prior to applying for a building permit and undertaking any of the proposed work.

 

Step 6: Installation

 

Contact Demolition Now to arrange for the installation of the approved protective plumbing devices. The backwater valve and its installation must meet the current requirements of the Ontario Building Code (link is external), the current City of Ottawa’s By-laws, Sewer Design Guidelines and the City of Ottawa Standard Tender documents for Unit Price Contracts.

 

The applicant or the contractor must obtain and provide payment for a building permit to perform the proposed work and should arrange for a final inspection by City’s Building Code Services.

 

The building permit application must include copy of the approved Part 1 Application and Site Visit Review.

 

Step 7: Submit Part 2 of Application

 

Download Part 2 of the application or obtain a form from your nearest City of Ottawa Client Service Centre.

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Ensure your completed application is signed and includes the following documentation:

 

• Copy of Building Permit, including receipt(s)

• Original contractor invoice marked paid in full

• Copy of Building Code Services inspection report

 

Prior to the expiration of the one-year deadline (as indicated on the initial approval), you must complete Part 2 Application and submit to the Residential Protective Plumbing Program.

 

Step 8: Part 2 Application Review and Rebate Processing

 

The City will review the application and notify the applicant(s) of the status of the rebate. Processing time depends on the volume of applications received.

 

Once approved, a rebate cheque will be issued by the City of Ottawa, and mailed to the applicant(s) within eight to 10 weeks.

 

Application forms

 

If you are interested in this program, it is important to contact the City to discuss your requirements and the circumstances pertaining to your home before undertaking any work. Application forms can be obtained from:

 

The City’s Web site, electronic Homeowner application form (fillable PDF) and electronic condominium owner authorization form (fillable PDF)

• Application Part 1

• Homeowner Authorization (Condominium Associations)

• Application Part 2

 

Information from the City of Ottawa

 

For additional information regarding the Residential Protective Plumbing Program, please contact our

 

Water and Waste Water Information Line at 613-580-2424, ext. 22300

 

For more information from Demolition Now, or to book your free, in home quote, simply call or text 613-220-5121, or email us at Greg@DemoNow.ca.

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Please note that the quote is free of charge. However, if we provide you with technical drawings or CCTV video, there will be a charge to create technical drawings and to provide you with the video inspection.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Will the process cause any disruption/noise/dust?

At Demolition Now, we take dust mitigation seriously, and use state of the art equipment to filter the air during the concrete removal and installation process to remove any potential airborne dust particles.

 

We cover all of the homeowner's personal items with painters plastic, cover flooring with neoprene floor runners, and leave your home freshly vacuumed and wiped down at the end of each day.

 

At Demolition Now, we strive to ensure that the entire construction process is as seamless as possible. Although we can provide you with accurate work times for the scope of work as it relates to the concrete removal, concrete installation, and any plumbing installations, we cannot control the availability or schedule of any City of Ottawa employees or contractors as it relates to your scope of work.

 

Depending on the location of your existing water and sewer lines, as it relates to our scope of work, homeowner's can expect a small disruption of home usage around the immediate work area(s) during the project duration.

 

Who will be performing the work at my home? Are they sub-contractors?

The principal contractor, and point of contact for the proposed work will be Demolition Now Inc.

 

Our crew is comprised of the owner (Greg) and his team of trained, courteous, friendly and properly insured team. Demolition Now will be the contractor that sets up the job for you, oversees the project start to finish, removes and re-installs the concrete, and completes the administration as it relates to your project.

 

The plumbing contractor for the proposed work will be an insured, licensed and vetted plumbing company, that we fully trust and use on a regular basis for our projects. The homeowner will have their own separate contract with our affiliate plumbing company as it relates to the plumbing scope of your project.

 

Will protective plumbing keep water out of my basement?

If properly installed and maintained, protective plumbing devices will prevent water and wastewater from a surcharging event from entering the home.

 

Protective plumbing devices will not stop water from entering through:

 

• Cracks in walls or window wells,

• Failed foundation drains or sump pumps,

• Overflowing eaves troughs and plugged downspouts,

• Poor foundation drainage,

• Poor lot drainage, or

• Water sources inside the house.

 

How do I know if I have a backwater valve installed on my property?

Backwater valves were mandatory in new homes after 2004 (stormwater) and 2012 (sanitary), but some older homes have had them installed retroactively.

 

If you are unsure of if you have a valve installed on your property, check between the last branch of your sewer line and where the pipe exits your foundation.

 

 

 

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Are there limits to the rebate availability?

Funding is limited. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. If an application is not fully processed due to insufficient funds, the applicant(s) will be notified and the application will be closed. Applicants may submit a new application once funding becomes available.

 

What if I live in a Condominium?

To proceed with a Residential Protective Plumbing Program application, Condominium Associations must first obtain, in writing, permission from each property owner to act on their behalf.

 

Download the Homeowner Authorization form or obtain a form from your nearest City of Ottawa Client Service Centre. The completed Homeowner Authorization forms should be submitted with the Part 1 Application form.

 

Can I withdraw from the program?

The RPPP is a voluntary program and you may withdraw at any time.

For more information on the Residential Protective Plumbing Program, please contact the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1 or by email at protectiveplumbing@ottawa.ca or by mail at:

 

Residential Protective Plumbing Program

Public Works and Environmental Services Department

City of Ottawa

951 Clyde Avenue

Ottawa, ON K1Z 5A6

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