Drainage

The Town of Amherstburg is responsible for overseeing the maintenance, repair, improvement and expansion of the Town's municipal drains. There are approximately 200 municipal drains, which include a total of 290 kilometres of open and closed drainage systems. For further information on drains, please read So What's a Municipal Drain prepared by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

If you have received notice for a Drainage On-site Meeting and wish to participate, click here.

Drain Maintenance

Maintenance on a municipal drain is considered upon request of the road authority, the drainage superintendent or property owner(s) within the watershed. Maintenance works may include:

• Brushing of banks
• Bottom cleanout
• Culvert repairs
• Bank erosion control
• Catch basin cleanout and repairs
• Tile flushing

Drain Repair and Improvement

Property owners can request construction on the whole or part of the drain. All work requires an appointment of a drainage engineer to prepare a report. Common repair or improvement requests are:

• Change of use or subsequent connections
• New assessment schedule
• New access bridges or culverts (residential or agricultural)
• Replacement of existing bridges or culverts
• Installation of piping to enclose the drain
• Relocation of the drain

Drainage On-Site Meeting

Prior to the commencement of any Drain Maintenance or Drain Repair and Improvement project, an On-Site Meeting is conducted to discuss the scope of the project. At the On-Site meeting, the Drainage Superintendent will be present to answer questions that affected residents may have. If the project requires more extensive drain repair or improvement, an engineer may also be present. If you have received a notice for an On-Site Meeting, the Town encourages you to participate. You may have valuable insight that could help to shape the scope of the project. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but still wish to voice your opinions or concerns, you can do so by contacting the Drainage Superintendent directly.

Speak at a Drainage On-Site Meeting

Due to physical distance restrictions during the COVID-19 Declared Emergency (declared by the Province of Ontario and the Town of Amherstburg under the provisions of Section 7.0.1 and Section 4(1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.E.9), the Town of Amherstburg Engineering and Public Works Department are holding electronic Drainage On-Site Meetings. Any person, who wishes to make representations may do so either in writing, or electronically via the internet or telephone, and is required to register as a delegate using the links below.

Online Fillable Delegation Registration Form (Done directly through the website)

Upon completion of the online delegation registration form, you will receive an automated email response that will provide registration instructions that can be used to gain access to the specified electronic Drainage On-Site meeting.

Delegation Registration Form (Fill, print, sign, deliver – in person or email)

If you have comments regarding a drain or notice that you have received, but are unable to participate in the electronic Drainage On-Site Meeting, they may be forwarded in writing either by mail or in person to Shane McVitty, Drainage Superintendent & Engineering Coordinator at the Public Works Department, 512 Sandwich St S, Amherstburg, ON N9V 3R2. Comments delivered in person can be placed in the drop box beside the front door at the Public Works Department. Comments can also be emailed by 12:00 p.m. the day prior to the meeting to drainage@amherstburg.ca. All public comments received prior to the Drainage On-Site Meeting will be read aloud at the beginning of the meeting.