Kew BeachNeighbourhood flooding

Every time it rains,
we worry.

Repeated flooding damages homes, destroys belongings and takes away space families rely on. We’re asking the City of Toronto for lasting solutions.

Kewbeach Avenue and adjoining streets, from Woodbine to Waverley.

What we’re asking the City

Ask City Council about the flooding around Kewbeach Ave

Meet the people running to represent Ward 19, Beaches-East York, on Toronto City Council. Tell candidates what happened, how it affected your household, and what you want the City to fix.

Ward 19 council candidate meet-and-greet

Monday, October 5, 2026
6:30–9 p.m. · Free and open to everyone

Beach United Church
140 Wineva Avenue

Event details

Official candidate listOctober 26 election

Meet with the City to address decades-old problems.

  1. Health concerns

    Address the hardship, loss and stress of repeated flooding, including concerns about sewage-contaminated water.

  2. Infrastructure

    Improve the drainage. Set out what has been completed since the City’s 2012 study, what remains, and when the work will happen.

  3. Kenilworth detention tank

    Investigate the Kenilworth tank’s operation and capacity, publish its operating records, and set a timetable for work to reduce flooding. Why the tank matters.

The Kenilworth detention tank.

The City’s 2012 study found that high tank levels could restrict drainage from connected storm sewers and contribute to local flooding.

Read the tank finding · PDF p. 62

What has changed since 2012?

We’re asking the City to explain what happens at the tank during heavy rain, what has been fixed, and whether the planned upgrades will relieve neighbourhood flooding.

What the studies say, and what still needs checking

How high tank levels restrict drainage. High tank levels can close flap gates and restrict drainage from connected storm sewers. Water upstream then has to rise above the tank-side level before the gates can reopen.

Built to protect beach water quality. The tank is in the park at the foot of Kenilworth Avenue. The City’s 1998 account describes it holding stormwater and combined-sewer overflow, then releasing retained flows toward treatment when capacity is available. Excess flows can overflow to the lake.

What happened to the flood-relief proposals? The 2012 study recommended bypass pipes and a shallow sewer along Kewbeach Avenue (pp. 120–121). It also proposed a Kenilworth outlet redesign pilot and further analysis of lake levels and rainfall (p. 7). The City needs to identify what was done and how it performs.

Upgrades are on the City’s timetable. A March 23, 2026 report lists the Kenilworth and Maclean tank designs as complete, with construction expected to start in 2027 over three years. It does not establish whether that work delivers the earlier flood-relief proposals. 2026 upgrade schedule · p. 4.

Community photos

Neighbours’ photos and a short video of flooding around Kewbeach Avenue and adjoining streets.

Shared by a neighbour, with permission. Select a photo to enlarge it.

Kippendavie Avenue

September 2, 2026

Floodwater in a garage

September 2, 2026

Andy Olvet Lane after dark

September 2026 · 24-second silent video

Water covers the lane as the camera pans past fences and buildings, then down to the water around the person filming.

A longstanding, ongoing problem.

The City’s 2012 study documented local flooding problems and recommended improvements. These original records help explain why neighbours are asking for action. For neighbours facing repeated sewer backups, “100-year storms” can feel as though they happen every two or three years.

Historical reports · 2005 and 2008

Mapping the impacted neighbourhood.

The City’s map shows a concentration of reported basement flooding around Kewbeach Avenue and adjoining streets.

The report also identifies Kew Beach as one of nine flooding clusters for July 8, 2008 (p. 55).

Wider City of Toronto map with large, translucent, overlapping circles showing approximate areas of basement-flooding reports from 2005 and 2008, concentrated near Kewbeach Avenue. A labelled navy diamond marks the Kenilworth tank in the park south of Kewbeach Avenue. Circles do not identify individual properties.

Reports: City of Toronto / GENIVAR, 2012 study, Figure 2.2 (map dated March 10, 2010). Basemap © City of Toronto, retrieved September 27, 2026, under the Open Government Licence – Toronto. Street alignment aid: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Tank location: 2012 study, PDF p. 175.

Enlarge mapOriginal map · Figure 2.2 · PDF p. 17Tank location · PDF p. 175Report discussion · p. 14City basemapMap licenceStreet alignment data
Compare with the original map detail Original Figure 2.2 crop, including Kewbeach Avenue and surrounding streets north, west and east.

City of Toronto / GENIVAR · Figure 2.2 · Map dated March 10, 2010.

See the local sewers and surface-flow routes

The City’s 2012 study map shows storm, sanitary and combined sewers, surface-flow routes, low points and the Kenilworth tank. The blue arrows show flow over the ground.

City study map of Cluster 1 around Kewbeach Avenue, with sewer lines, blue surface-flow routes, low points, the Kenilworth tank and original legend.

City of Toronto / GENIVAR · 2012 study · Original map · PDF p. 175 · Enlarge map

For catchbasins and planned changes, see the Waverley proposal drawing (p. 314) and Kewbeach proposal drawing (p. 321). These distinguish existing pipes from proposed work.

Causes of basement flooding

Surface water, sewer backup and leaks can all bring water into a basement.

Causes of basement flooding: blue stormwater backs up through connected outdoor drains; brown sanitary backup rises through the floor drain, sink and toilet. The cutaway also shows manhole inflow, leakage through soil, a sewer blockage and surface water entering the basement. Steps 1–3 appear at bottom left; the typical-connections note is at bottom right.
An illustration adapted from the City’s general diagram (PDF p. 276). Enlarge diagram.
Read the flooding pathways
  • Street water enters the sewer. Ponding can enter through a sanitary manhole cover. This is separate from the street catchbasin feeding the storm sewer.
  • Sewage backs up into the basement. Overload or a blockage can cause wastewater to return through the house lateral and rise through floor drains or other low fixtures—the brown layer across the basement floor. City explanation · p. 272.
  • Damaged pipes add flow. Water can leak between deteriorated storm and sanitary laterals through the surrounding ground; cracks and joints can also admit groundwater. Leakage through soil is different from a pipe cross-connection. Lateral leakage · p. 257; Inflow and infiltration · p. 278.
  • Connections vary. Foundation drains may connect to storm or sanitary sewers. Downspouts can add rainwater to underground pipes, including through improper sanitary connections. The original note allows for interconnected systems.
  • Water also enters from outside. Poor lot drainage, overflowing eavestroughs, plugged downspouts, reverse-slope driveways, leaky windows or doors, and homes in ponding or overflow paths are all shown. Cracked basement walls provide another route.

The accompanying fact sheet also lists foundation-drain and sump-pump failures.

Bring your concerns to the council candidate meet-and-greet.