Water, fire and mold damage restoration in Hamilton

Water damage in Hamilton: what is different here

• The older lower city is served largely by combined sewers. In heavy rain they can back up into basements through floor drains.

• Century homes in the lower city often have stone or block foundations and original clay drains, which makes water entry and slow drying more likely.

• Stormwater runs off the escarpment toward the lower city and the harbour, concentrating flow in the creeks below.

Floodplains and who regulates them

Hamilton Conservation Authority covers most of the city, with Conservation Halton, the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority covering the edges. Conservation authorities publish floodplain mapping and issue flood watches and warnings, which are worth following during spring melt and summer storms. Ontario is merging its 36 conservation authorities into nine regional bodies, expected to take effect on 1 February 2027, so the name of the body responsible will change.

Who to call in Hamilton

Sewer backup or basement flooding

For a water or wastewater emergency, or if you think there is a problem with your sewer lateral, call the City of Hamilton at 905-546-2489.

Power

Alectra Utilities distributes electricity in the urban part of Hamilton. Report outages and downed lines to your distributor.

Gas

Natural gas in Hamilton is distributed by Enbridge Gas. If you smell gas, leave the building and call its emergency line from outside.

Numbers checked October 2026. In any immediate danger, call 911.

Neighbourhoods we cover

Durand

Directly south of downtown and fully built out by the end of the 1800s, with large Victorian and Edwardian houses, many now apartments.

Westdale

A planned neighbourhood from the 1920s, centred on Westdale Village and beside McMaster University.

Crown Point

An east-end neighbourhood in the lower city that has seen heavy renovation activity in recent years.

Hamilton Mountain

The part of the city on top of the escarpment, above the lower city and the harbour.

Housing here: what the census shows

What we handle locally

• Water Damage RestorationWater keeps moving after the leak stops.
• Basement Flood CleanupA flooded basement is three problems at once: standing water, contaminated surfaces and a structure that is soaking it all up.
• Sewage Backup CleanupSewage is a health hazard, not a mess to mop.
• Burst Pipe Water DamageA split supply line can release a great deal of water before anyone notices, and it runs downhill through ceilings and walls.
• Fire Damage RestorationAfter the fire is out, the damage continues.
• Smoke and Odour RemovalSmoke travels much further than flames.
• Mold Removal and RemediationMold (or mould, as it is also spelled in Canada) is a moisture problem that shows up as a mold problem.
• Asbestos RemovalAsbestos is harmless while it is sealed inside a material and dangerous once that material is broken, cut or sanded.
• Storm Damage RestorationA storm opens the building and the rain does the rest.
• Emergency Board-Up and TarpingAn open building takes on weather and invites theft.
• Contents Cleaning and Pack-OutYour belongings are part of the loss.
• Reconstruction and RebuildThe emergency work removes what was ruined.

Basement flooding subsidy in Hamilton