An Oshawa resident issues a cautionary tale to homeowners following Durham Region’s refusal to cover $1,600 in plumbing expenses resulting from a city-owned tree. Bev Fiddler criticizes the region’s application of its bylaw as unjust, penalizing her and her spouse for promptly addressing damage they were not responsible for.
Fiddler recounted discovering a drainage issue while doing laundry in her basement on Jan. 3 around 8:30 p.m. Despite their swift action to address the problem, which involved raw sewage, the couple found water leaking from the sealed water main drain in the electrical room of their basement. A plumbing service called in for emergency assistance revealed a significant tree root obstruction causing the damage, approximately nine meters away from their residence, for which the City of Oshawa bore responsibility.
As per Fiddler, the plumber informed them of the city’s accountability for the tree. However, Durham Region’s bylaw stipulates that while the region handles sewer service cleaning and unblocking, undertaking such services without the region’s authorization voids any reimbursement entitlement.
Following payment to the plumber, Fiddler approached the city, which promptly covered the watermain seal repair to prevent further harm within two weeks. She was advised to submit a reimbursement claim for the plumbing services on the region’s website. However, by July, Fiddler had not received a response. Upon inquiry, she discovered that the region had turned down her request on Jan. 27, a notification she claimed not to have received.
Expressing her discontent with the outcome, Fiddler highlighted that she was unaware of the region’s bylaw until the denial. She further mentioned the region’s suggestion of pursuing a legal appeal, a costly proposition in her view. Fiddler emphasized the urgency of her actions to safeguard her property from damage, particularly given the leak’s occurrence in the electrical room.
Durham Region emphasized the necessity for residents to notify them of sewage backups for inspection. The region also offers after-hours emergency services for basement flooding on its website.
After the claim denial, Fiddler sought the City of Oshawa’s intervention to remove the tree, citing potential future issues. While city staff inspected the tree in August, they refrained from removal due to its intact condition. However, they returned last week to trim the exposed tree roots.
Fiddler, now retired, lamented that the plumbing costs could have been allocated elsewhere and stressed the financial burden such unexpected expenses impose on residents without emergency funds.
Fiddler has engaged with Ward 5 city councillor Brian Nicholson, who explained that he could not address the matter as it is under staff review. Although CBC News reached out to Nicholson for input, Durham Region confirmed that Fiddler’s claim remains closed post-rejection. Nicholson mentioned possible steps to address water and sewer concerns in the upcoming regional budget, as per a public Facebook group post.
Durham Region clarified that no relevant budget items have been proposed, and no other insurance claims were lodged in Fiddler’s vicinity.