Municipal Drains
Municipal drains remove excess water collected by residential lots and agricultural, industrial or commercial lands. Municipal drains can be in the form of a ditch or buried underground with a closed pipe or tile system. They can also include pumping stations, grassed waterways, buffer strips, culverts, bridges or even creeks and small rivers.
On this page:
- Municipal Drains Map
- Maintenance
- Development
- Additional Resources
- Ralph Bradley Memorial Bursary
- Contact us
Municipal Drains Map
Municipal Drains Maintenance
The County of Brant conducts maintenance on municipal drains as needed.
Property owners may be responsible for a portion of the maintenance costs for municipal drains located on their property. Municipalities are permitted to accumulate these costs for up to five years or until the total reaches $5,000. As a result, you may receive a bill for maintenance work completed before you took ownership of the property.
To help minimize maintenance costs and protect your property during storms, please:
- Remove debris from catch basins located on your property.
- Keep the area around municipal drains clear and accessible.
- Avoid storing materials or planting trees near the drain.
If you have any questions or believe maintenance is needed on a municipal drain on your property, please contact the County of Brant.
Municipal Drains Development
Landowners experiencing drainage issues may file a petition under the Drainage Act to request the creation of a municipal drain.
If the petition meets certain requirements, the County’s engineering department will begin developing a proposed solution. This process includes several public appeal opportunities to ensure community input and approval.
Once all appeals are resolved, the municipality passes a bylaw to adopt the engineer’s report, and the project costs are assessed to the affected landowners.
The municipal drain is then constructed and becomes part of the County of Brant’s infrastructure. Ongoing maintenance of the drain is the County’s responsibility.
View the Drainage Act online.
Additional Resources
- Municipal Drains Ontario Website
- Property Sales and the Drainage Act website
- Tile Loan Program website
- Understanding Drainage Assessments website
Ralph Bradley Memorial Bursary
Chapter 5 of the Drainage Superintendents Association of Ontario (DSAO) is offering the Ralph Bradley Memorial Bursary, valued at $1,000, for the 2025–2026 school year.
This bursary is open to students graduating in 2025 from an accredited high school in Niagara Region, Haldimand County, Norfolk County, Brant County, Halton Region, or the City of Hamilton.
To qualify, applicants must:
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Have a minimum B average (70% or higher)
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Plan to pursue post-secondary studies in an agriculture or water management–related field
For more information, view the Ralph Bradley Memorial Bursary Guidelines and Application (PDF)
Applications are to be made in writing and submitted by July 11, 2025.
Contact Us
For questions regarding Municipal Drainage, contact our Drainage Superintendent.