Sewer and Watermain Work in Toronto
Every Toronto house has two buried lines running to the street: a sewer lateral carrying wastewater to the City sewer, and a water service bringing drinking water in. Many of them are older than the people living in the house. Clay sewer laterals crack and fill with tree roots, old water services corrode, and when either fails you find out fast, with a flooded basement, a sinkhole in the lawn or water bubbling up through the driveway.
As a Toronto excavation contractor, we repair and replace private sewer laterals and water services across Toronto, plan replacements before they fail, and run a 24-hour emergency line for property managers and homeowners.
Emergency Response: What Happens When You Call
- You call (647) 277-2002. Day or night, tell us what you see: water in the basement, water in the yard, a sewage backup or a hole that was not there yesterday.
- We arrive within 4 hours. The crew brings a hydrovac truck. Water and vacuum expose the break without the risk a bucket carries next to gas and hydro lines that run close by.
- We isolate and protect. Water is shut off, the area is made safe, and if sewage has entered the basement we coordinate cleanup.
- We inspect. A camera inspection shows the condition of the lateral and whether trenchless repair is possible.
- We repair and document. Photos and line items go to your adjuster from day one, and we bill the insurer directly where coverage applies.
Repair Methods
Trenchless pipe bursting
A cable pulls a bursting head through the old pipe, breaking it outward while pulling a new HDPE pipe in behind. Only small pits at each end are dug.
Cured-in-place (CIPP) lining
A resin-soaked liner is inverted into the old pipe and cured to form a new, jointless pipe inside it. Ideal where the old pipe is cracked but still in line.
Open-cut replacement
Where the pipe has collapsed or sagged badly, or a new connection is needed, we excavate a trench, replace the pipe and backfill. Deep trenches are shored with trench boxes.
| Method | Digging required | Best for | Typical cost range |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIPP lining | Access points only | Cracked but straight pipe, root intrusion | $8K-$18K |
| Pipe bursting | Two small pits | Full replacement under driveways and trees | $12K-$25K |
| Open-cut | Full trench | Collapsed or sagging pipe, new connections | $15K-$35K+ |
Private vs City-Owned: Who Pays?
In Toronto, the lateral is split at the property line. The homeowner owns and maintains the section from the house to the property line; the City owns the section from there to the main. If our camera finds a problem on the City side, Toronto Water investigates and repairs it. We coordinate both so the whole line is sound, and we show you the footage so you know what you are paying for.
Permits, Locates and Subsidies
Private drain and water service work needs a plumbing permit from Toronto Building, which we file. Excavation requires Ontario One Call locates, and because a gas service often runs within a metre of the sewer lateral, we daylight it with our hydrovac before digging. This is how our East York crew replaced a collapsed lateral sitting right beside an Enbridge line without a scratch. If you add a backwater valve or sever an old weeping tile connection while the line is open, the work may qualify for the City of Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy; see basement waterproofing for more.
Planned Replacement vs Waiting for Failure
If you have slow drains, gurgling toilets, recurring backups or large trees near the front of the house, a camera inspection now can save an emergency later. Planned replacements cost less than emergencies, can be scheduled around you, and usually allow trenchless methods. Book a site visit or, if water is coming in right now, call the 24-hour line.
