Legal Confusion On Backflow Preventers To Increase Basement Flooding?

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction has issued a new report, Lot-side risk reduction through voluntary retrofit programs, code interpretation and by-laws. The report shows wide variations across Canada in how backflow prevention rules are interpreted, resulting in many new houses still being built without backflow preventers. Backflow preventers can be a key tool in preventing basement flooding as climate change increases the severity of storms. As flooding becomes more common and more expensive, more property owners are finding themselves unable to obtain insurance against it, with potentially catastrophic consequences for family/small business finances. Clear rules requiring backflow preventers, and having them installed in all new buildings, could help.