Water Damage Markham
Water damage Markham residents experience in the neighbourhoods closest to Richmond Hill, such as Langstaff, West Thornhill and the Woodbine corridor, is the focus of a number of City of Markham studies.
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Markham's southwest, our nearest neighbour
Richmond Hill shares a boundary with Markham along Leslie Street and Highway 7, so a crew leaving from here reaches the Langstaff and Woodbine areas within minutes. The City of Markham has prioritised West Thornhill, the Don Mills Channel in the Woodbine and Denison area and Markham Village and Unionville for flood-control upgrades. A Class Environmental Assessment for Don Mills Channel flood reduction was finalised in 2018, and it describes reclaiming the flood plain, creating a storage pond and restoring the Don River watershed to a more natural state.
The crew comes from our Richmond Hill office.
The Rouge River Tributary 5 study
The City of Markham also completed a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment for Rouge River Tributary 5, which runs from Highway 407 to the Rouge River near Unionville Gate. The study looks at flood mitigation to support development in Markham City Centre. For homeowners in that part of the city, the point is that new building and creek management are being coordinated, but those projects take years and do not remove the need for private protection such as a sump pump or valve.
What the City of Markham asks owners to do
- Keep downspouts and weeping tile out of the sanitary system
- Maintain the private drain from the house to the property line
- Consider eligible flood protection devices through the City's rebate program, under its current terms
- Be cautious of phone scams that mention the program, as the City warns
- Keep insurance in place and review what it includes with your broker
A newer building stock
Many Markham homes close to Richmond Hill were built in the 1980s and 1990s and later, with sump pits and weeping tile designed to modern standards. When they fail, the cause is often a sump pump that stopped working, an overloaded drain on a sloped lot or a plumbing fixture that leaked on an upper floor. In condominiums around Highway 7 and Leslie, risers and stacks are shared, so we coordinate with the property manager.
The process is the same whatever the cause. We stop the source, extract water, map the moisture and dry the structure over three to five days with daily readings. You pay nothing for the assessment, and a written scope with the price follows.
Markham's storm record: 2005 and 2017
A September 18, 2017 presentation to the City of Markham's General Committee lists the major storms: August 19, 2005 at 191 mm an hour over ten minutes and 113 mm in 24 hours, and in 2017 June 17 at 126 mm an hour, July 7 at 164 mm an hour and July 16 at 84 mm an hour. The presentation notes reports of storm sewer backup, sanitary backup and groundwater basement flooding in 2017. The City names West Thornhill, the Don Mills Channel, Markham Village and Unionville as its flood control priorities (checked November 2026).
Water damage Markham: questions
Do you cover Unionville and Cornell as well?
Yes, all of Markham.
Does the City of Markham help with prevention?
There is a rebate program with conditions. Read the current version on markham.ca.
Who should I call first, you or my insurer?
Either is fine. We can start work while you reach your insurer, and we document everything.
How long does a basement take to dry?
Usually three to five days.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you. In a hurry? Calling is fastest.