You can reduce the risk of flooding by understanding the types of flooding and, depending on the location of your home, by contacting the regulatory authority for your property.
Different areas in the town may experience different types of flooding:
River flooding happens when rain or melting snow causes the river to rise and spill over its banks into areas next to it. The areas next to the river that can be underwater for a period of time are called floodplains.
If you would like to know if your property is next to a floodplain, or if you're considering construction within or next to a floodplain, you should contact to local regulatory authority.
Properties near the following creeks should contact Conservation Halton at 905-336-1158, ext. 2227 or envserv@hrca.on.ca:
Properties near Clearview Creek should contact Credit Valley Conservation at 905-670-1615 or planning@creditvalleyca.ca.
Visit our Storm Water Management Pond map to find out what watershed your property is in.
Lake flooding happens when high water levels, storms or melted snow cause a lake to overflow along the shoreline.
If you are considering construction on a shoreline property, check with Conservation Halton at 905-336-1158 ext. 2227 or envserv@hrca.on.ca.
Urban flooding happens if the amount of rainfall or melting snow is too much for drainage systems to handle. If this happens, water may seep through building walls, floors, and back up through sewer pipes.
Oakville's stormwater management system helps reduce urban flooding. However, communities developed before 1980 do not have as much stormwater protection and are at a higher risk.