The Hamilton protective plumbing program (3P) is a City of Hamilton grant and loan for homeowners. The grant is up to $2000 for a backwater valve and other eligible work. A loan of up to $2000 can cover extra eligible cost. The home must be a single family house with a basement, built before January 1, 2012, and connected to the City sewer. The program does not waterproof foundations.
All figures below come from the City of Hamilton Protective Plumbing Program page, last modified September 3, 2026. Rules and funding can change. Confirm with the City before you start work.
What the program is for
The program targets one problem: sewage and storm water that flows backward from the City sewer into a home. This is called sewer backup. It happens in heavy rain when the sewer fills and pushes water up through the floor drain in the basement.
The program protects the house from that backflow. It does not stop groundwater from seeping through a wall or a floor. These are two different problems with two different fixes. A Hamilton basement waterproofing contractor handles seepage. A plumber handles a backwater valve.
Hamilton has a mix of older housing stock in the lower city and newer suburbs on the Mountain. Older homes often have a floor drain tied to the City sewer. The City sets the pre-2012 cut off for that reason. The City page does not explain the date, so treat that as the stated rule and not as a reason.
Who qualifies
The City page lists these conditions:
- You own a single family residential home.
- Your home has a basement.
- The home is connected to the City sewer system.
- Your property taxes are current.
- The home was built before January 1, 2012.
- You are not in the process of adding a secondary dwelling unit.
If you own a condo, a multi-unit building or a rental with several units, check with the City. The page does not describe those cases. Do not assume you qualify.
What the program covers
The City lists three types of eligible work:
- A backwater valve, including the assessment.
- Downspout disconnection.
- A sump pump installed together with a backwater valve.
A backwater valve is a one-way valve in the sewer line. It lets waste water leave the house. It closes when water tries to come back in.
What the program does not cover
The page says the loan does not cover other costs such as repaving a driveway or restoring landscaping. The list of eligible work also leaves out several common basement jobs:
- Foundation crack repair.
- Exterior waterproofing membranes and excavation.
- Interior weeping tile and drainage systems.
- Mold testing and removal.
If water comes through the wall in a rainstorm, a valve will not stop it. A sump pump on its own is also not listed. It is eligible only with a backwater valve.
Grant and loan amounts at a glance
| Item | What the City page says |
|---|---|
| Grant maximum | Up to $2000 for a backwater valve and other eligible work |
| Grant with a pre-qualified contractor | The maximum of $2000 is available |
| Grant with another contractor | Backwater valve grant limited to $500 |
| Loan maximum | Up to $2000 for eligible cost beyond the grant |
| Loan interest | 4% for the full term |
| Loan repayment | Through property taxes, added to the tax roll; early repayment allowed without penalty |
| Loan payout | Paid to the owner after invoices and inspection are complete |
| Grant payout | Paid to the property owner, who pays the contractor |
The loan does not replace the grant. It covers eligible cost that remains after the grant. Loan approvals depend on funding set by Council. The City processes them in the order it receives them.
What the work can cost
The City publishes fees for its five pre-qualified contractors. These are the figures on the City page, before HST:
| Item | Published range |
|---|---|
| Assessment and mainline backwater valve | $1292 to $1562 |
| Assessment and adapt-a-valve backwater valve | $1292 to $2505 |
| Building permit | $291 |
| Downspout disconnection, per downspout | $75 |
The range for each item comes from five contractors. The widest spread is on the adapt-a-valve option. These are published fees, not quotes. The final price depends on the valve type, how deep the sewer line sits, how hard the floor is to cut, and the number of downspouts.
A typical job could land near the grant maximum once HST and the permit are added. The loan exists for the gap. Ask for a written quote that lists the valve, the permit, any floor restoration and HST as separate lines.
How to apply for the grant
The City page gives these steps:
- Contact the City to confirm eligibility.
- Get the assessment form, downloaded or mailed.
- Choose a pre-qualified contractor.
- Schedule the assessment and review the recommendations.
- Approve the work if you are satisfied. You are not obliged to proceed.
- The contractor obtains the permit and completes the work.
- A Building Inspector inspects the work.
- Submit the completed package to the City at 330 Wentworth Street North.
Do not hire a contractor first and apply later. The assessment and the inspection are part of the process.
Permits and pre-approval
A backwater valve installation needs a building permit. The contractor submits the permit information to Building Services before work begins. An adapt-a-valve installation also needs City pre-approval.
Loan recipients must get any required permits before they start work. The page says the loan is cancelled if they do not.
How to apply for the loan
The loan has its own process. Every registered owner must sign the application. The City then sends an approval letter with the loan amount and a Commitment Letter. Return the signed Commitment Letter before work starts.
Three loan rules matter most:
- A licensed plumber or a sewer drain contractor licensed in Hamilton must do the work.
- The owner must book an inspection for any backwater valve or sump pump. Without it, the loan is cancelled.
- The final invoice must reach the City within 12 months of loan approval. Late invoices do not receive the loan.
The City has no contract with the contractors. The agreement is a private contract between the owner and the contractor. The page says disputes go to the contractor first.
Is the program open?
The City page does not say whether the program is open or closed. It says loan approvals depend on funding as determined by Council. Some third-party sites list older or different figures, such as a lower cap or a closed status. Use only the City page and a call to the City.
When a valve is not enough
A backwater valve is one layer of protection. Basement water in Hamilton comes from several sources. Heavy rain can overload the sewer. Clay soils can hold water against a foundation wall. Grading can slope toward the house. Old foundations can crack.
Use this matrix to match the symptom to the fix.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Who to call first |
|---|---|---|
| Water or sewage rises from the floor drain in a storm | Sewer backup | A plumber, and the City program |
| Water seeps at the wall and floor joint | Groundwater pressure | A waterproofing contractor |
| Water stains below a window well | Poor drainage or grading | A waterproofing contractor |
| Horizontal or stair-step cracks in a block wall | Structural movement | A foundation repair company |
| Musty smell, visible growth on drywall or wood | Moisture and mold | A mold removal company |
Downspout disconnection, which the program covers, helps with the second and third rows too. It moves roof water away from the foundation. It is also the cheapest item on the City fee list.
Some homes need both a valve and a waterproofing system. If a flood has already happened, a mold check is also wise. Wet drywall and carpet can grow mold within days. Check Health Canada guidance on mold for the health side.
What Hamilton’s boards show
Our boards rank companies by Google rating and review count. They are data, not endorsements. Valve work is plumbing, so most plumbers do not appear on these boards. The boards cover waterproofing, foundation repair and mold removal, which are the jobs the program does not fund.
For October 2026, the Hamilton basement waterproofing board ranks 20 companies. The median rating is 5.0. The median review count is 48.5. The total is 1389 reviews. Four companies have fewer than 20 reviews.
The top of that board shows how wide the spread is. Omni Basement Systems shows 4.6 from 269 reviews. Aquamaster Basement Waterproofing Hamilton shows 5.0 from 148 reviews. Royal Work Waterproofing shows 5.0 from 144 reviews.
What this means for you:
- A 5.0 rating with 12 reviews says less than a 4.6 rating with 269 reviews. Read the count and the rating together.
- Because the median rating is 5.0, rating alone does not separate the companies. Review count and the text of recent reviews help more.
- Four of 20 companies have fewer than 20 reviews. Ask those companies for references.
The Hamilton foundation repair board ranks 20 companies with 1376 total reviews. The Hamilton mold removal board ranks 20 companies with 1558 total reviews and a median of 71.5 reviews. Three of those have fewer than 20 reviews.
Readers just outside the city can compare the basement waterproofing companies in Burlington. The full basement waterproofing hub lists every town board.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask each contractor these questions, for plumbing and for waterproofing work:
- Is the quote in writing, with the permit and HST shown?
- Who pulls the building permit?
- Will the inspection happen before I pay the final invoice?
- What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
- What caused my water problem, and does this work address it?
If a company says one product fixes every water problem, ask for the reasoning. A valve fixes backflow. A drain and sump system manages groundwater. Each does a different job.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Hamilton Protective Plumbing Program pay?
The City of Hamilton page says the grant is up to $2000 for a backwater valve and other eligible work. The grant drops to $500 for a backwater valve if the owner uses a contractor outside the City’s pre-qualified list. A separate loan of up to $2000 is also available.
Does the program fix a wet basement or waterproof the foundation?
No. The program covers a backwater valve with assessment, downspout disconnection, and a sump pump installed with a backwater valve. It does not cover crack repair, exterior membranes, interior drains or mold removal.
Is the program open right now?
The City page does not say whether the program is open or closed. It says loan approvals depend on funding set by Council. Call the City before you sign any contract.
Do I have to use one of the City’s pre-qualified contractors?
No, but the grant is lower if you do not. The page says a backwater valve grant is limited to $500 with a contractor outside the list. Loan work must be done by a licensed plumber or a sewer drain contractor licensed in Hamilton.