Sewer Backups Responsibility: Who's Accountable?

If you are a property owner in the City of Winnipeg, you hold the responsibility for the maintenance and repairs of your drain and sewer lines from your building or private residence to where they connect with the main city sewer line. Proper sewer line maintenance is crucial to prevent issues such as sewer backup. Regular cleaning by a professional sewer cleaning contractor is essential, especially in older structures, where tree roots may infiltrate your sewer lines and cause blockages.

What about city-owned trees obstructing my sewer line? Unfortunately, as a property owner, you are still responsible for the sewer lines stretching from your building to the sewer main hookup, which may include sections beneath city sidewalks and roads. You cannot cut down a city-owned tree that is blocking your sewer, as there are specific regulations to follow.

In cases where you request in writing the removal of city-owned trees due to sewer line blockage, a representative from the Forestry Branch will assess the tree(s) in question to make a determination. It is rare for the City of Winnipeg to remove trees solely for sewer backup prevention purposes. Trees are typically only removed if they are dead, diseased, dying, part of approved construction, or pose a visibility or safety hazard.