Drainage is the movement of water and occurs naturally through rivers, creeks, streams and other natural watercourses. Drainage can be enhanced through the construction of roadside ditches, channels, pipes as well as ponds or other devices to control the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff.

Report a blockage of the Township's drainage network

Some of the Township drainage network uses catch basin inlets, located near the curb on the road. If you have one near your home, please contact us to report blocked or clogged inlets.

You can also report a blockage by completing our Report a Concern form online. 

Report a Concern

Severn maintains drainage networks sufficient for the protection of the road. Slow moving or standing water in the ditch may not be an indication of a problem. Ditch cleanout out maintenance is performed on an as needed basis.

Drainage easements

Township of Severn has many easements such as surface drainage, watermains and sewers. An easement is a legal right to use your land for a particular purpose and may prevent you from using this land in some manner. 

If you have a drainage easement on your property, we ask that you please keep the easement free of fences, sheds, play structures, etc. We also ask that you do not plant gardens, shrubs or trees within the easement as this will impact maintenance operations and we may have to remove it without notice.

Please contact us if you have questions about what you can and can't do on your property if you have an easement.

Drainage conflicts with neighbours

Drainage issues can develop between neighbours. For example, a landowner may be diverting or discharging water on your land or into your private ditch. 

Township of Severn is not responsible for resolving drainage issues that develop between property owners.

Potential solutions could include:

If you are unable to reach an agreement to resolve the conflict with your neighbour, consider consulting a lawyer. The courts' position on drainage disputes can be found by researching applicable case law. It is good practice to seek professional legal advice. 

Learn about drainage problems between neighbours and how to avoid legal action

Municipal drains

Municipal drains are a very specific type of ditch created under the authority of the Drainage Act. Even some creeks and small rivers are considered municipal drains if they were improved or deepened at the request of a petition. Municipal drains are primarily located in rural agricultural areas of the province.

Township of Severn has nine municipal drains servicing more than 380 properties. To find out if your property is services by a municipal drain, please contact us.

For more information about municipal drainage visit the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Municipal Drains page. 

Award drains

An award drain may look like any other drain, such as a ditch or a pipe, but have a different legal status than other drains. They were built under the authority of the Ditches and Watercourses Act that was repealed in 1963. Since the Act has been repealed, no new award drains can be constructed.

Property owners assigned or awarded sections of the drain are responsible for the maintenance of an award drain. Unlike municipal drains, Severn is not responsible for maintaining award drains, has no authority to enter onto land to perform the work, and no means to recover cost.

Tile Loan Program

The Tile Loan Program, authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) under the Tile Drainage Act, provides loans to agricultural property owners to help you finance tile drainage projects.

Apply for a loan

To start the loan process, fill out the Drainage Loan Application and submit it by email or drop it off to the Administration Office at 1024 Hurlwood Lane in Severn.

Tile drainage loan process

Once your application is approved, you must arrange to have the work completed by a tile drainage contractor licensed under the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act. After the work is complete, contact us to book an inspection.

We do not charge a fee for this service. Please submit your invoice to our Finance department when the tile drainage is complete. A sketch showing the extent of tiling must accompany the invoices. We will prepare loan documents to send to OMAFRA in the amount of the loan.

Terms of the loan

The term of the loan is 10 years and repayments are due annually with your property tax instalments. The interest rate for the loans issued under this program is currently at 6%, fixed for the 10-year term of the loan. Interest is compounded annually, and the loan can be paid off at any time without penalty.

Please note

Financial terms and conditions are subject to change and you should confirm with the Township during the application process. Visit OMAFRA for more information about the loan.