Skip to Content

City of Oshawa homepage City of Oshawa homepage

Text Resize

Regular Large X-Large

Colour Contrast

Default High

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, please contact [email protected]

View Our Accessibility Plan

  • Careers
  • Live Chat
  • Apply & Register
    • Animal Licence
    • Apply for a Job
    • Bid Opportunity
    • Blue Box and Green Bin
    • Building Permits
    • Business Licence
    • Certification of Recognition
    • Development Application
    • Freedom of Information Request
    • Grant or Rebate
    • Parking Permit
  • Pay & Buy
    • Animal Licences
    • By-law Penalty
    • Donations
    • Parking Tickets
    • Property Taxes
    • Recreation Program
  • Get Involved
    • Attend or View a Meeting
    • Connect with Oshawa
    • Contact Council
    • Service Feedback
    • Speak at a meeting
    • Submit a Complaint
    • Volunteer
  • Report an Issue
    • City or Park Tree Maintenance
    • Faulty Parking Meter or Pay Machine
    • Lost Pet
    • Missed Garbage Collection
    • Parks or Trail Maintenance
    • Roadway or Sidewalk Maintenance
    • Streetlight Out
    • Service Oshawa Online
Contact Us
  • Parks, Recreation and Culture
    • Parks, Recreation and Culture
    • Arts and Culture
    • Community Clubs, Groups and Organizations
    • Events Calendar
    • Festivals and Events
    • History and Heritage
    • Libraries
    • Parks, Trails and Open Spaces
    • Recreation
    • Visiting Oshawa
    • Volunteering
    • Waterfront
  • Home and Property
    • Home and Property
    • Animal Services
    • Building and Renovating
    • Cemeteries
    • City Services Map
    • Environment
    • Fire Services
    • Garbage, Recycling and Green Bin
    • Housing Permits and Licences
    • New Subdivision Homeowners
    • New to Oshawa
    • Parking
    • Property Maintenance and Standards
    • Property Taxes
    • Snow Clearing
    • Tenants
    • Traffic Safety
    • Zoning
  • Fire Services and Community Support
    • Fire Services and Community Support
    • Accessibility
    • Animal Services
    • Community Engagement
    • Community Safety, Security and Well-Being
    • COVID-19
    • Education
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Feed the Need Oshawa
    • Fire Services
    • Oshawa Community Grants
    • PulsePoint
    • Seniors
    • Tribute Communities Centre Suite and Bowl Tickets
    • Unsheltered or Homelessness
  • Transportation and Parking
    • Transportation and Parking
    • Cycling
    • Development Map
    • Interactive Map
    • Oshawa Executive Airport
    • Parking
    • Regional Roads
    • Road and Sidewalk Closures
    • Road and Engineering Projects
    • Road Maintenance
    • Road Permits
    • Roundabouts
    • Snow Clearing
    • Street Naming Policy
    • Traffic Safety
    • Transit
    • Weight Restrictions
  • Business and Development
    • Business and Development
    • Bid Opportunities
    • Building and Renovating
    • Business Directory
    • Business Licences and Permits
    • Development Map
    • Downtown Oshawa
    • Filming in Oshawa
    • GO East Durham
    • Housing Permits and Licences
    • Incentives and Programs
    • Invest Oshawa
    • Major Construction and Renewal Projects
    • Mayors Economic Recovery Task Force
    • Planning and Development
    • Shop Local
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
    • TeachingCity Oshawa
    • Tour of Growth and Development
  • City Hall
    • City Hall
    • Accessibility
    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Bid Opportunities
    • Budget and Financial
    • By-laws
    • Careers
    • City Committees
    • City Council
    • City Records
    • Commissioner of Oaths
    • Community Engagement
    • Complaints
    • Contact Us
    • COVID-19 Information and Updates
    • Departments
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Elections
    • Government Services
    • Major Construction and Renewal Projects
    • Merchandise and Souvenirs
    • News Centre
    • Our Oshawa
    • Plans, Reports and Studies
    • Recognition and Awards

flooding on a street

Flooding

HomeEmergency ServicesFlooding
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Flooding is a natural event where a piece of land that is usually dry is suddenly underwater.

Types of flooding in Oshawa

Creek flooding

Creek flooding occurs when the flow rate exceeds the size of a creek, causing overtopping of the creek banks.

Affected lands are located in a natural floodplain and/or along a creek.

Urban flooding

Urban flooding occurs when the rainfall exceeds the capacity of a drainage system, causing the backup in the storm sewer and/or foundation drain systems.

Roads in newer areas of the city are designed to carry the significant flows.. During larger rainfall events, ponding and deeper water should be expected within the road and boulevard.

The areas most affected are lands in the older parts of the city where the roadway design did not consider the passage of any major flows.

Localized flooding

Localized flooding occurs when surface flow paths are blocked or restricted.

It can happen anywhere, but more often in the older parts of the city when grading changes have been done prior to the passing of the City's Site Alteration by-law in 2006.

Resources

Basement or building flooding

  • For backup through basement floor drains, contact the Region of Durham Works Department Depot at 905-655-3344.
  • Seepage through basement walls and floors may indicate a problem with the foundation of your home drainage system. Call a local professional to assess the weeping system around the footing of your home.
  • Surface flows entering through the lowest opening of a building can be resolved by redirecting drainage away from your home. Before changing any grading ensure you refer to our Landscaping and Grading webpage.

Property flooding

  • Visit the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority website for more information on flood status and flood forecasting caused by creeks overflowing their banks after heavy rainfall or snow and ice melt.
  • Your lot may have poor grading, such as low lying areas, which allow water to pond before draining away. Refer to our Landscaping and Grading webpage before changing any grading.

Roadway flooding

  • If you notice that a sewer grate is clogged with debris such as leaves, snow or ice, clear it out or contact Service Oshawa.
  • If a storm sewer grate is repeatedly blocked or has a poor ability to drain water from the surface, it may signify a larger problem. To report this concern, contact Service Oshawa.

Resources

  • Emergency preparedness 
  • Government of Canada: Flood preparedness

Emergency Preparedness: Be prepared for 72 hours

Would you be prepared if a flood happened today? 

Get details on how to be ready

Contact Us

© 2022 City of Oshawa

Service Oshawa
1st Floor, West Wing, City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: [email protected]

  • Resources

    • Accessibility
    • Contact Us
    • Freedom of Information
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • Privacy & Terms of Use
    • Sitemap
    • Website Feedback
  • Open new window to view our Facebook page
  • Open new window to view our Twitter page
  • Open new window to view our Instagram page
  • Open new window to view our Youtube page
  • Open new window to view our LinkedIn page

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.