Flooding in Ottawa is seasonal and predictable. March and April melt water overwhelms sump systems in Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Nepean and Orleans when the ground is still frozen and discharge lines ice over. Intense summer storms surcharge older combined sewers in the core, pushing Category 3 water up through floor drains. And riverside properties in Britannia, Constance Bay, Cumberland and Manotick see overland water in high-water years.
Flood water is not clean water. Ground water and sewer surcharge are treated as Category 2 or Category 3 losses: containment, full PPE, removal and compliant disposal of affected porous materials, EPA-registered antimicrobial treatment, drying under HEPA negative air, and post-remediation verification before the space is returned to use.
Crews are staged across the city and reach most Ottawa addresses inside 90 minutes — overnight, weekends and holidays included.
Our industry-standard protocol
- 1
Make-safe & standing water removal
Electrical hazards isolated, then truck-mounted extraction removes standing water from the slab and any submerged assemblies.
- 2
Category classification
Melt water through a foundation crack, sump overflow and sewer surcharge carry very different contamination loads. Classification decides what can be dried in place and what must be removed.
- 3
Containment & controlled removal
Affected carpet and underpad, wet insulation and unsalvageable porous wall materials removed under containment, with HEPA negative air keeping contamination out of the rest of the home.
- 4
Sanitization & antimicrobial application
Hard surfaces and remaining structure cleaned and treated with EPA-registered, Health Canada-compliant products selected for the substrate.
- 5
Structural drying & verification
LGR dehumidification and air movement to a documented dry standard with daily logs, closing with post-remediation verification. Reconstruction is not part of our scope.
What's included
- ✓ Spring melt and overland flooding
- ✓ Sump-pump failure and power-outage flooding
- ✓ Storm surcharge and combined-sewer backup
- ✓ Category 3 sewage decontamination
- ✓ Foundation crack and weeping-tile seepage response
- ✓ Wet carpet, underpad and insulation removal
- ✓ Crawlspace and cold-cellar drying
- ✓ Contents pack-out coordination
- ✓ Post-remediation verification & air sampling
- ✓ Flood documentation for your own insurance submission
- ✓ Multi-unit and rental property response
- ✓ We do not rebuild — mitigation and remediation only
Ottawa's four flood patterns
- Spring melt (March–April) — frozen ground cannot absorb melt water, which finds foundation cracks, window wells and frozen sump discharge lines.
- Sump failure — a pump that runs continuously during melt burns out, or a summer storm knocks power out and the basement fills within hours.
- Combined-sewer surcharge — heavy summer rainfall overwhelms older sewer infrastructure in the core, producing Category 3 backups through floor drains.
- River overland water — Ottawa and Rideau River properties see contaminated water and long drying timelines in high-water years.
Is Ottawa flood damage covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on the water's path. Sudden internal failures such as a burst pipe or a failed water heater are generally covered under standard policies. Sewer backup and overland water are usually optional endorsements that must be purchased separately — many Ottawa homeowners discover the gap after the loss. Seepage from long-standing foundation defects is typically excluded as maintenance.
Regardless of coverage, we work for you rather than a carrier. You get an itemized scope, daily psychrometric logs, moisture maps, phase photos and a verification letter — the package Canadian adjusters expect when you submit your own claim. If cash flow is the obstacle, ask dispatch about restoration financing through our partners.
Preventing the next Ottawa basement flood
After mitigation we document what failed so it does not repeat: test the sump annually and add a battery or water-powered backup, extend downspouts at least two metres from the foundation, grade soil away from the wall, install a backwater valve if the property is on an older combined sewer, and keep window wells clear before the March melt. None of these are services we sell — they are what actually keeps the basement dry.
Where we respond
Crews dispatched 24/7 across Eastern Ontario, including:
Instant cost estimate
Preliminary CAD range in under a minute. A free on-site inspection confirms the scope, and financing is available while your claim is reviewed.
Estimated mitigation range
$2,848 – $4,188
Mitigation and remediation only — we do not quote or perform reconstruction.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you respond to a flooded basement in Ottawa?
Most Ottawa addresses see a certified technician inside 90 minutes, and about two hours to Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, Stittsville and Manotick. Dispatch runs 24/7/365 with extraction, LGR drying and HEPA negative-air equipment pre-loaded.
Is sewer backup water dangerous?
Yes. Sewer backup is Category 3 — grossly contaminated. It requires full PPE, dedicated equipment that never crosses into clean zones, removal and compliant disposal of affected porous materials, antimicrobial treatment and post-remediation verification. Do not attempt DIY cleanup or run household fans through it.
Can a flooded Ottawa basement be saved without demolition?
Often, if extraction starts within hours and the water is clean. Once water sits past 48 hours, or if it is Category 2 or 3, wet insulation, carpet underpad and affected wall materials generally have to come out for the structure behind them to dry and verify clean.
What does flood cleanup cost in Ottawa?
A clean-water basement with partial removal typically runs $3,500–$9,000 for mitigation; a Category 3 sewer backup runs $8,000–$25,000 depending on affected area and removal scope. Every project starts with a written scope before work begins.
Do you rebuild the basement afterward?
No. We extract, decontaminate, dry, verify and document. Reconstruction is arranged separately by you — we hand your builder verified dry readings so they can start immediately.