Municipal Drainage

Drainage, in accordance with the Ontario Drainage Act is to oversee the maintenance and construction of all municipal drains throughout the municipality.

A municipal drain is simply a drainage system that channels water off of agricultural land or removes excess water that collects on properties. Most municipal drains are either open ditches or closed tile systems in the ground. Structures that are considered part of municipal drains are grassed waterways, storm water retention ponds, culverts and bridges. Certain creeks and small rivers are also considered to be municipal drains. Municipal drains are created under the authority of the Drainage Act.

View the drainage map

Landowners requesting a New Drain may fill out and submit Petition for Drainage Works by Owner (Drainage Act 1990 Section 4) to the Township of Blandford-Blenheim. This will set in motion a project to create a new municipal drain.

All additional steps can be found under Section 4 of the Drainage Act.

If you suspect a problem with a drain, contact Jim Harmer, Drainage Superintendent.

Landowners requesting maintenance on an existing drain may fill out and submit the Request for Municipal Drain Maintenance (Municipal Drain Work Order) to the Township of Blandford-Blenheim

Landowners requesting improvements or modification on an existing drain may fill out and submit the Request for Drainage Works (Drainage Act 1990 Section 78) to the Township of Blandford-Blenheim.

All additional steps can be found under Section 78 of the Drainage Act.

Find all of the process guidelines and application forms related to Drainage Services here:

Application for Drainage Assessment Reapportionment
Request for Drainage Improvement and/or Modification (Drainage Act 1990 Section 78)
Petition for drainage works by owner (Drainage Act, 1990 Section 4)
Request for Municipal Drain Maintenance (Municipal Drain Work Order)

Maintenance on municipal drains is the most common procedure that occurs. This work includes clearing of the drain, such as removal of beavers/dams, trees, repairing/replacing tile, silting and cleaning out tiles.

All parties affected by a Municipal Drain are encouraged to periodically inspect the drain and report any visible or suspected problems to the Township of Blandford-Blenheim. Repeated inspection and maintenance of a drain should allow the drain to provide a service for many years.

Municipal Drains are maintained by the Township of Blandford-Blenheim at the expense of all the lands and roads as specified in the Schedule of Assessment for Maintenance from the corresponding Drain Report.

Each owner must provide an access route to the drain for access by the Township to undertake necessary repair or maintenance. As well, a right-of way along the drain route equal to the working area described in the report is also to be available for future maintenance.

The Township of Blandford-Blenheim and the County of Oxford determined that all streets in Princeton are to be reconstructed to an urban standard complete with curb and gutters.

As part of the road reconstruction the municipalities require the existing drainage systems to be enlarged and to have appropriate storm water management facilities.

Since most existing drainage in Princeton has been installed pursuant to the Drainage Act, all new drainage work will also be pursuant to the Drainage Act and will be known as the Princeton Drainage System 2022.

Works are ongoing, with some being completed in 2023. See this schedule of assessment for the 2023 works completed.

Municipal Drainage

Helpful Links

Construct a new drain

Report a problem

Request improvements

Drainage services forms

How municipal drains are maintained

Princeton Municipal Drainage System, 2022