6 ICLR narrated animation: Weeping tiles and sump pumps

This narrated animation was made possible with federal support through Natural Resource Canada's Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program.
Basement flooding is a large and growing problem for residents, municipalities and insurers across Canada. In just the past few years there have been several events that have resulted in basement flooding in both larger and smaller communities across the country. Indeed, almost no community in Canada is immune from basement flooding.
A foundation drain is an underground perforated pipe, or weeping tile, that runs along the bottom of a home's foundation. The weeping tile helps keep the basement free of excess moisture, and is also very useful for helping to reduce infiltration flooding. The water that is conveyed by the weeping tile is relatively clean, and does not normally require treatment at sanitary sewage treatment facilities.
Water from the weeping tile should be directed to a sump-pit, and then pumped out of the sump-pit using a sump-pump. The location of the sump-pit depends on how weeping tiles are connected to the pit under the basement floor. Sump-pits are normally located where service connections enter the home (for example, where the sanitary sewer lateral enters the home).
ICLR's Handbook to reduce basement flooding, which contains 20 tips homeowners can follow to reduce the risk of basement flooding, can be downloaded for free in both English and French at www.iclr.org/flooddroughthandbook.html
Get more information on hazard research and safety tips at www.iclr.org