Not every flood-protection measure involves breaking concrete. The humble downspout — the pipe that carries rain off your roof — is the simplest item in Mississauga's rebate program, and it pays $125 per downspout, up to 4 ($500).
Why the City cares about your gutters
In many older Mississauga neighbourhoods, downspouts were plumbed directly into the sewer system. Every storm, your entire roof's worth of water — thousands of litres — goes straight into the same pipes that are supposed to protect your basement. Multiply that by every house on the street and you get overloaded sewers, which is exactly what causes basement flooding.
Disconnecting the downspout redirects that water onto a splash pad or extension that drains into your lawn or garden, where the ground absorbs it — instead of the sewer.
What counts (and what doesn't)
- The rebate is $125 per downspout disconnected from the sewer connection, to a maximum of 4 downspouts ($500).
- If your home has more than 4, disconnecting the extras is still smart — the rebate just caps at 4.
- Like everything in the program, it must be included in your pre-approval before the work is done, and it counts toward the overall $7,500 application cap.
Don't know if your downspouts are connected?
You're not alone — this is the number-one "I have no idea" answer in our eligibility check, and that's fine. The telltale sign: a downspout that goes straight into the ground (rather than ending above a splash pad) is usually connected to the sewer. Our assessment confirms it either way, and the camera inspection we use to check your drains is itself a rebate-eligible cost.
The smart play: bundle it
Downspout disconnection alone won't max out your rebates — but it's almost free after the rebate, and it's the perfect add-on to a backwater valve or sump pump application since everything goes through one pre-approval. Answer a few questions about your home and we'll show you the full picture: every eligible item, every rebate, and your real out-of-pocket cost.