The City of Port Colborne offersWater Service and Sewer Lateral Replacement Grants to assist homeowners with costs of replacing their water and/or sewer lines.
These grants help homeowners address issues such as high water bills, inadequate water supply, and/or potential contamination by supporting the replacement of private water and/or sewer lines.
The City is responsible for maintaining and replacing the water and sewer lines from the watermain or sewer main to the property line, while property owners are responsible for the lines extending from the property line to the homes (see diagram below).
There are several reasons a water or sewer line may need to be replaced, including:
- Deterioration: Over time, pipes can corrode, crack, or even collapse, leading to a reduced water flow.
- Leaks and Breaks: Damaged pipes can leak, causing contamination and higher water bills.
- Lead Pipes: Many older water and sewer lines may contain lead, which poses health risks and requires replacement.
- Undersized Pipes: Some pipes are too small, causing low water pressure, water supply issues, increased wear on plumbing, and drainage problems.
If issues are found on the City-owned section of the line, the City or one of its approved contractors will repair or replace it. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining and replacing the private section of the line.
Property owners can apply for grants to cover the following costs, paid directly to an authorized contractor (excluding permit fees):
- Water line replacement: Up to $2,000
- Sewer line replacement: Up to $2,000
- Water and sewer line replacements: Up to $5,000
Please see the grant conditions below.
All residential property owners who receive a Water/Wastewater bill are eligible to apply for these grants.
Grant approvals are subject to the availability of funding, as determined by City Council. Applications will be processed in in the order they are received.
The applicant(s) for the grant(s) must meet all the following criteria to qualify for the grants:
- Must be a residential property.
- Must be the owner(s) of the property.
- All owners of the property must apply for the grant(s).
- Complete the application form and provide a job estimate that details what work is to be done, and separates out costs for each portion of work (i.e., separate line item prices for private water line and/or sewer line replacement, surface restoration, internal plumbing modifications up to the water meter, etc.)
- The owner(s) must not have any outstanding taxes or debts owed to the City of Port Colborne at the time the application is processed.
- The home must be an existing home. New homes in the planning stages or under construction are not eligible.
- Understand that labour provided by the homeowner is not eligible for reimbursement under this grant.
Are there any timeline restrictions?
All grant approvals will be valid for twelve (12) months and will expire if the work is not completed within that period, unless extended at the discretion of City Staff.
What if I'm unable to have the work completed within the twelve-month window?
It is the applicant's responsibility to contact the City to request an extension. Failure to do so will result in automatic expiry.
Do I have to pay back the grant?
No. The grant is not required to be paid back.
Grant Coverage
The grant(s) will cover eligible costs for replacing the private water and/or sewer lines, including excavation, materials, inspections, internal plumbing from point of entry up to the water meter, and basic surface restoration (e.g., asphalt/gravel patching, topsoil, seeding), as approved and determined by City Staff.
It does not cover:
- Relocating internal plumbing past the existing water meter;
- Repaving an entire driveway;
- Restoration of landscaped yards; or
- Any other such costs that are deemed by City Staff to be unnecessary for the replacement of the owner's private service.
Any work that has started or completed prior to the application approval will be ineligible for reimbursement under this program.
City not Liable
To qualify for a grant, the property owner agrees that the City shall not be liable for any damages to the owner's property as a result of any private water and/or sewer line replacement.
- Step 1: The property owner(s) must contact at least one contractor for a quote to replace their private water line and/or sewer line. It is recommended that property owners get multiple quotes to ensure they are paying a fair price.
- Step 2: Complete and submit the Water Serivce-Sewer Lateral replacement Grant Form, indicating which Grant(s) are being applied for, along with a copy of the quote from the chosen contractor.
- Step 3: The City will review the application and assess approvability subject to available budget. The City will advise the applicant in writing of its decision.
If the application is approved:
- Step 4: The property owner(s) or their contractor will apply for a building permit through the City's Building Department. Failure to obtain a permit prior to work commencing and having related inspection(s) completed will result in cancellation of any approved grant. Building permit fees will be waived for approved applications.
- Step 5: The contractor will complete the replacement of the private water and/or sewer line(s).
- Step 6: The contractor must arrange for the Building Department to inspect the new line(s). Any deficiencies must be corrected. Failure to obtain an inspection will result in cancellation of any approved grant.
- Step 7: Once the Building Inspector has approved the work, the contractor will send an invoice for the work to the property owner.
- Step 8: The property owner(s) must then submit a copy of the invoice to the Environmental Services Division.
- Step 9: The Supervisor of Water/Wastewater will review the submitted invoice for approval.
- This process will consist of the Supervisor of Water/Wastewater comparing the invoice to the approved application form. If there are any invoice charges that are not detailed on the approved application, the Supervisor will evaluate and may approve charges that meet the eligibility criteria (stated in Schedule A of the application form). The property owner(s) will be notified of any invoice charges that do not meet the eligibility criteria prior to the grant payment being issued.
- Step 10: The City will review the invoice, and if eligible, the grant payment will be issued directly to the contractor. Property owners are responsible for paying the contractor the balance of the invoice.
To get started, apply online or request a hard copy of the application form from City Hall.
Hard Copy Applications
Hard copies can be requested by calling our Customer Service Representatives at 905-835-2900, emailing customerservice@portcolborne.ca, or visiting City Hall at 66 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne.
Completed hard copy applications can be dropped off or mailed to City Hall.