Insurance Claims

We identify potholes through regular patrols and resident reports to customer service. If you see a pothole, please contact Public Works. By reporting a pothole to customer service, you are not submitting a claim to the Town.

We will not be responsible for your property damage due to potholes if we have met the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards (MMS). The MMS are standards for road maintenance, such as patrolling, salting, clearing snow and pothole repair. These standards vary depending on the speed limit and traffic volume of roads. On busier roads, we fix potholes within seven days of them being reported. On smaller roads, we fix potholes within 14 days of them being reported.

If you are submitting a property damage claim due to potholes, please do so within 10 days of the incident.

You must report any accident involving collisions with Town vehicles to your own insurer. Regardless of fault, in accordance with the Direct Compensation Rules in the Insurance Act, all physical damage must be reported to and paid by your own automobile insurer.

Our staff are on call 24 hours per day to deal with emergencies, such as sewer backups. If you experience a sewer backup, please call us at 705.429.2540 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM from Monday to Friday, or 1.888.851.7870 on evenings, weekends or holidays.

Before clearing a blocked sewer

Contact Ontario One Call before clearing a blocked sewer service line outside a house or building. It is important that you make sure that no natural gas line intersects the sewer line before attempting to clear it.

Using rotating or water jetting equipment to clear a blocked sewer line can damage a natural gas line and cause a serious gas leak. 

Responsibility for repairs

If the problem with the sewer lateral exists on the private property side, then it is the property owner's responsibility to call a licensed plumbing/drain contractor to perform any additional maintenance or rehabilitation work to address the cause of the blockage. If there is a deficiency with the sewer lateral and it is determined that the backup was caused by grease or materials such as diapers, paper towels or feminine hygiene products, the property owner will be responsible for having it removed.

If the problem with the sewer lateral exists on the public property side, Our staff will make an assessment to determine if any additional remedial work is required. Any work required on the public side will be scheduled and completed by the Town at no cost to the owner.

Because liability can never be assumed, we recommend you first contact your home insurer before submitting a claim to the Town. If your insurer believes the Town is responsible for your damages, they may seek compensation against the Town on your behalf.

Preventing a sewer backup

• Do not dispose of paper towels, diapers and feminine hygiene products in your residential sewer line. These products do not deteriorate quickly like bathroom tissue and should be disposed of in your garbage bin.
• Avoid pouring cooking oil and grease down the sewer drain. There is a common misconception that it is OK to wash grease down the drain with hot water. In fact, the hot water will help to carry the grease down the drain, but quickly cools off as it flows into the sewer drain. As it cools, it can solidify and clog the drain, resulting in a sewer backup.
• Review your residential insurance policy or contact your agent to determine if your policy covers damages due to sewer backups and/or water damage. In many cases this additional coverage can be purchased at a minimal cost to cover your home in the event of a sewer backup incident.