The Region of Peel’s plan to require homeowners to disconnect their downspouts from draining directly into wastewater pipes or face fines has drawn the ire of one Mississauga woman.

Lynda Petch, who lives in the Glen Erin Drive and Council Ring Road area of Mississauga, said she wasn’t pleased after receiving a flyer from the Region that had information about its downspout disconnection rebate program. She was particularly displeased with the flyer stating that downspout disconnection will become mandatory for homes built before 1975 and that, in the future, those who haven’t disconnected from the sewer system could be fined.

Petch felt it was unfair of the Region to expect homeowners to be responsible to make changes after a home has been built and inspected. Her downspout passes through a concrete pad into the ground and presumably connects with the wastewater sewer system, although she doesn’t know for certain.

According to Region officials, the downspout disconnection program is currently voluntary and they’re offering a rebate of up to $100 per home to encourage people to disconnect. The mandatory program starts next July.

There are two types of sewer systems – one for storm water and one for wastewater, which is water generated from inside the home from say a toilet or shower. When storm water, from rain runoff or melting snow, gets into the wastewater system it can create problems. It puts strain on the infrastructure and can cause basements to flood during heavy storms.

Disconnecting downspouts from the wastewater system, according to the Region, helps reduce basement flooding.

"Basement flooding is something we don't want to have and we would also love to be able to reduce the amount of water going through the system that we have to treat,” said Jeanne Thomsen, project manager of infrastructure planning and studies state of good repair with the Region.

Thomsen said changes made to the Region’s wastewater bylaw last year actually require all homes to stop letting storm water drain into the wastewater sewer. They’re bringing in a mandatory program that will focus on homes built before 1975 because, up until then, direct connections of the downspouts to the wastewater system were the norm.

Final details about the mandatory disconnection program, such as timelines and fines, still need to be determined. The matter is expected to come before Regional councillors for approval in the spring.

Meanwhile, Petch says having to comply with the Region means she would have to rejig her downspouts and would be sending the water down her driveway and onto the street as well as onto her neighbour’s property.