City of Corner Brook

The City of Corner Brook General Information

This section outlines general information of use to residents. In particular, it relates some preventative measures, homeowners should consider in protecting their property. We urge everyone to take the time to review this information.

Mulch & Recycling

Subdivision Design Procedures (Draft)

To obtain the latest draft of the Subdivision Design Procedures for the City of Corner Brook, click here.

Water & Sewer System Information
The City of Corner Brook attempts to provide the best possible water and sewer services to residents, but unavoidable problems may develop creating problems and inconveniences for individual properties.

Provincial legislation limits municipal liability to cases of negligence only, and as such, the City of Corner Brook is not liable for damage caused by sewer backups and water line breaks. We wish to advise of a number of actions or installations which you may undertake to prevent or reduce loss or damage due to inadvertent malfunctions in the City and/or property owners’ water and sewer systems.

Residents and property owners should ensure that their insurance policy includes coverage in the event of sewer backups and water breaks. This coverage, as well as coverage for oil tank leaks, is available for a modest premium. Residents should also install on their internal sewer systems, an appropriate back water valve to prevent sewerage from entering the residence from the City’s main sewer line in the event of a line blockage or malfunction.

Homes subject to high pressure are advised to install a pressure-reducing valve on the main water line entering the residence. The National Plumbing Code of Canada requires that hot water tanks have an appropriate pressure/temperature relief valve and vacuum relief valve. These devices protect from possible pressure surges or vacuums created within the water lines. Many residents may have already installed such devices, and such installations should be verified by visual inspection. If all the above devices have not been installed, residents are urged to have them installed by a qualified plumber.

Water Information Line
For 24 hour information regarding water outages, boil order advisories or other related issues, citizens may call 634-7711.

Cross Connections
Residents are also advised to be on guard for possible cross connections in the home. A cross connection occurs when a part of the water system comes in contact with the sewer system. Should water and sewer systems be cross-connected inside the home, possible contamination of the entire City water system may result. Contamination may also occur when residents use attachments to garden hoses for lawn fertilizers/insecticides without backflow preventers being installed on the hose. The concern is that should a vacuum occur in the main water line, the fertilizer/insecticide could be drawn back into the water system. Such backflow preventers are available at most hardware stores and the City urges the use of such devices.

Snowclearing Damage Claims
The City will not accept responsibility for damage caused to fences, hedges or property resulting from the weight of snow being pushed or blown by snowclearing equipment. The City will only consider claims where the fence or property has been physically struck by the snowclearing equipment, and only when the damage occurs on private property which is greater than 20’ from the centre line of the street.

Removal of Snow from Fire Hydrants
While the City of Corner Brook makes every effort to clear snow away from fire hydrants, the large number of these hydrants makes it difficult to clear all of them in a timely manner. The Corner Brook Fire Department suggests that residents locate the hydrant nearest their home and take a little extra time to remove the snow from around the hydrant. This extra time spent may reduce the Fire Department’s response time should an emergency occur. Under the Highway Traffic Act it is an offence for a person to stop or park a vehicle within one metre of a fire hydrant.

Your cooperation could help reduce fire damage to a home - maybe yours!

Outdoor Fireplaces
Usage of commercial outdoor fireplaces is permitted within the City of Corner Brook provided certain conditions are met. While there is little code related material on these types of appliances, the standard fire safety and common-sense approach should be applied. Fuel must be what is referred to as normal combustibles (i.e. wood). Placement of the appliance must allow for two-metre clearance on all three sides, a three metre clearance from the load door and a five metre from propane BBQ tanks. This clearance is measured from the nearest combustible (i.e. buildings, patio railings, furniture and fuel for the appliance). If the unit is placed on a wooded patio deck, it must sit on a non-combustible pad, such as a patio block, that extends one half metre beyond (in front of) the load door.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
In addition to smoke detectors, if your property has a furnace, wood stove, kerosene heater, or oil-fired hot water heater, a carbon monoxide detector is advised, as carbon monoxide is odourless and deadly. If you suspect a carbon monoxide leak, the Fire Department is able to check the carbon monoxide levels in your home. Remember to periodically check and replace batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector.

Depositing Snow onto City Streets
The City Street By-Law prohibits the depositing of snow and/or ice on the pedestrian right-of-way and traveled portion of any public street, road, lane or bridge within the City. The By-Law provides for penalties of $20 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $75 for subsequent offenses.

Snow Removal from Sidewalks
Businesses are reminded that City bylaws require business operators in designated areas to keep the sidewalk in front of the place of business free of snow and ice which, in this case, may be deposited in the curb gutter area of the roadway or street to await removal by the City.

Overnight Parking
The cooperation of the public is requested as it relates to snowclearing operations for the City of Corner Brook. Accordingly, commencing on December 1st, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary shall issue $50 overnight parking tickets for people who park on City streets or in their driveways in such a way as to interfere with snowclearing. Tickets for overnight parking violations will be issued from 1:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Snowmobile Use on City Streets
Under the City of Corner Brook Recreational Vehicle Regulation, 2000, the use of snowmobiles is prohibited within the Corner Brook Area. Residents are advised to contact the Development & Planning Division at City Hall at 637-1550 for the exact boundaries of the Corner Brook Area (HTML or PDF). The operation of snowmobiles is prohibited on any public street, road, lane or bridge within the City.

Pesticide Usage

The City of Corner Brook encourages all residents to reduce the use of chemicals when treating their lawns and gardens. To learn more about alternative methods, you may link to the following websites:

www.caps.20m.com

www.bbc.guelph.org/pestinfo

www.beyondpesticides.org

www.env.gov.ca

www.healthylawns.net

www.theorganicreport.org

www.sieraclub.ca

Water Resources Data and Tools

www.gov.nl.ca/env/Env/waterres/WRMD_Data.asp

Sewage Backup and Flooding Information for Residents

Sewage backups and flooding of residential basements can potentially pose a health risk to residents of these homes as the waste water from a sewage back up will often contain infectious organisms. Although skin contact with flood water does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk, there is some risk of infection to exposed open cuts or sores of disease from eating or drinking anything contaminated with flood water. High humidity and moist materials also provide ideal environments for the excessive growth of microorganisms and fungi that are already present in the home. This may result in additional health concerns such as allergic reactions.

Flooded homes and damaged living areas can be safely reoccupied subject to the affected area being appropriately cleaned and disinfected. Any such cleaning process carried out by the homeowner or a commercial cleaning contractor should include;

Disposal of items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, stuffed toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products). In general, materials that are wet and cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried within 24-48 hours should be discarded, as they can remain a source of microbial growth.
Removal and disposal of contaminated drywall and insulation up to 500mm (20 in.) above the high-water line. Dry wall that has been exposed to high humidity or standing water for a prolonged period of time should be removed in their entirety and discarded.
Thorough cleaning of all hard surfaces; such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures with hot water and detergent. Concrete surfaces can be effectively cleaned with a solution of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) in water (one half cup TSP to one gallon of warm water). Surfaces should be rinsed after washing to ensure effective disinfection. Disinfection with a chlorine solution can then be provided using one part bleach to four parts water.
It is important for a thorough drying after all surfaces and materials are cleaned and disinfected to prevent mold growth. No reconstruction or renovations should occur until all surfaces are dry.
Individuals involved in the clean up or in contact with flood water must wash hands with soap and clean warm water after participating in flood cleanup activities; and after handling articles contaminated with flood water or sewage to prevent infection or the spread of disease. Anyone suffering from symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea or have wounds that develop redness, swelling, or drainage, should seek immediate medical attention.

Further information on the flood remediation is available from; the Centre for Disease Control at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/; the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation at http://www.cmhcschl.gc.ca/en/burema/gesein/adhose/abhose_ce07.cfm; and the Environmental Protection Agency at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/flood.html.

If you require any further information or assistance please contact Stephen Burbridge, Assistant Director of Operational Services at 637-1509.