Neighbour's grey water pooling on my side of the fence: Recourse or am I SOL?

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Jul 22nd, 2021 10:02 pm

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Jul 16th, 2021 10:13 pm

NewtotheCrew [OP]: Newbie; Jan 26, 2015; 33 posts; 4 upvotes; Oshawa, ON

Jul 16th, 2021 10:13 pm

Neighbour's grey water pooling on my side of the fence: Recourse or am I SOL?

My neighbour built a structure (a shack really) beside our shared fence in the backyard and put in an outdoor sink. The drain runs out the back in between our houses and the water is pooling up and running on to my side and coming up on to my interlock. I am obviously not thrilled about it.

I have brought it to him 3x. The first 2 he shrugged off and said he would get an extender pipe to move the outlet of the drain further away from where my patio starts. After the 3rd time (where I was a little more firm in seeking a solution) he actually extended the pipe about 6 ft. further towards the front of our houses. Tonight he had a large gathering and used the sink enough where it ran on to my interlock again.

Question: Clearly the grade is working against me as the water is flowing to my side. If it was rainwater, I wouldn't bat an eye but it's grey water from his sink. Do I have any recourse here or am I doomed to walk in soapy water all Summer?

18 replies

Jul 16th, 2021 10:50 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 20679 posts; 24710 upvotes; GTA

Jul 16th, 2021 10:50 pm

Is his shed within 2ft of the property line? If so, it's probably against bylaws, so you could report him if you want to start a fight.
What's he washing in the sink? Hands?
You could setup some kind of barrier to keep it on his side. Maybe a few foam rolls (like pool noodles) under the fence or vinyl garden edging.
Some pics would help.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+1

Jul 17th, 2021 1:26 am

doobievibes: Sr. Member; Oct 1, 2003; 819 posts; 623 upvotes; Vancouver

Jul 17th, 2021 1:26 am

So, he has a sink that he uses to wash "who knows what", and that basically discharges onto the ground surface?

Unless that is just water or rainwater, I don't think he can do that.

Depending on how serious your municipality is about contaminants going into the storm system, they can stop him from using that sink.

I see you are from Oshawa, so I found this:

https://www.oshawa.ca/Uploads/16/StormS ... 6-2013.pdf

I am kinda a proponent for keeping our urban streams and waterways, as safe and clean as possible, so stuff like this we gotta try to stop.

+2

Jul 17th, 2021 9:03 am

Zamboni: Deal Fanatic; Oct 19, 2008; 7391 posts; 2990 upvotes; Whitby

Jul 17th, 2021 9:03 am

If there's a bbq kitchen possibly your neighbour/guests are washing dishes?....can't see any need for guests to wash their hands.

Is there a pool in that yard, if so did you see the sink?.....neighbour might have a shower in that shack.

Jul 17th, 2021 9:49 am

chimaican: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 18158 posts; 16355 upvotes; GTA, ON

Jul 17th, 2021 9:49 am

One would think that it would have to connect to a proper sewage line.

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

+2

Jul 17th, 2021 9:54 am

ChesterCheetoh: Member; Nov 28, 2020; 213 posts; 255 upvotes

Jul 17th, 2021 9:54 am

Check your local by-laws. Many prohibit discharging water onto neighbouring properties, including location of downspouts, sump hoses etc.

+2

Jul 17th, 2021 1:26 pm

NewtotheCrew [OP]: Newbie; Jan 26, 2015; 33 posts; 4 upvotes; Oshawa, ON

Jul 17th, 2021 1:26 pm

Thanks for the replies everyone. I know this can't be legal what he's doing but I'm struggling to find it expressly stated in a by law. I'm in Clarington now and I found this regarding drainage but it seems to refer specifically to pool and sump pumps as opposed to drains per se:
https://weblink.clarington.net/weblink/ ... Page1.aspx
I know By law could have a field day with his backyard because in addition to the shack he built he also has 2 gazebos he built which I'm certain he didn't get a permit for...but, as much as I dislike the man, I do need to live beside him so I don't want to escalate to that level. Just would like to know that I have by law support for when I approach him and ask him to either extend to the front of the property or bury it.

Jul 17th, 2021 1:27 pm

NewtotheCrew [OP]: Newbie; Jan 26, 2015; 33 posts; 4 upvotes; Oshawa, ON

Jul 17th, 2021 1:27 pm

Here's what his drain looks like. Directed right at the fence.

Images

Jul 17th, 2021 1:37 pm

pootza: Deal Fanatic; Dec 19, 2009; 5869 posts; 4173 upvotes

Jul 17th, 2021 1:37 pm

doobievibes wrote: ↑ So, he has a sink that he uses to wash "who knows what", and that basically discharges onto the ground surface?

Unless that is just water or rainwater, I don't think he can do that.

Depending on how serious your municipality is about contaminants going into the storm system, they can stop him from using that sink.

I see you are from Oshawa, so I found this:

https://www.oshawa.ca/Uploads/16/StormS ... 6-2013.pdf

I am kinda a proponent for keeping our urban streams and waterways, as safe and clean as possible, so stuff like this we gotta try to stop.

So you don't think people can wash the carrots that they pick out of the garden with the outside tap before they eat them and they have to bring them into the house to wash them off? You can't take the garden hose and hose down the mud you got on your boots outside or even wash your car on your lawn (which apparently you can do in Vancouver)?

Jul 17th, 2021 2:45 pm

torontotim: Deal Fanatic; Nov 17, 2012; 5066 posts; 4616 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 17th, 2021 2:45 pm

NewtotheCrew wrote: ↑ Thanks for the replies everyone. I know this can't be legal what he's doing but I'm struggling to find it expressly stated in a by law. I'm in Clarington now and I found this regarding drainage but it seems to refer specifically to pool and sump pumps as opposed to drains per se:
https://weblink.clarington.net/weblink/ ... Page1.aspx
I know By law could have a field day with his backyard because in addition to the shack he built he also has 2 gazebos he built which I'm certain he didn't get a permit for...but, as much as I dislike the man, I do need to live beside him so I don't want to escalate to that level. Just would like to know that I have by law support for when I approach him and ask him to either extend to the front of the property or bury it.

Why do you need to find it explicitly in a bylaw? Are you the lawyer who is going to argue this in court?

Call the city and file a complaint. It's up to them to inspect and confirm compliance, not you.

+3

Jul 17th, 2021 2:53 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 20679 posts; 24710 upvotes; GTA

Jul 17th, 2021 2:53 pm

NewtotheCrew wrote: ↑ Here's what his drain looks like. Directed right at the fence.

Yea, dick move to direct it to your lot. He should just dig a small French drain to let the ground absorb it.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+7

Jul 17th, 2021 4:15 pm

chimaican: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 18158 posts; 16355 upvotes; GTA, ON

Jul 17th, 2021 4:15 pm

Looks like an outhouse.

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

+4

Jul 22nd, 2021 10:41 am

nielboy: Deal Addict; Jun 12, 2008; 3637 posts; 1233 upvotes; Ancaster

Jul 22nd, 2021 10:41 am

Does Oshawa not require a swale between the properties for drainage to properly direct water off your properties?

You could maybe suggest to him to dig a small trench along his fence line to keep the water on his side of the property.

He could either fill it with gravel so his side absorbs the water or put in a perforated weeping tile pipe and run it to the front of his yard...then top off the weeping tile with some crushed gravel.

Jul 22nd, 2021 10:47 am

jacquesstrap: Deal Addict; Nov 9, 2008; 1852 posts; 877 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 22nd, 2021 10:47 am

This is nasty and I would 100% call the city if you've spoken to him and he has not addressed.

Could be washing/rinsing anything in there - raw chicken, dishes with food on them.

There also is probably a bylaw that they can't intentionally discharge water onto another property - definitely is one in Toronto.

Jul 22nd, 2021 3:26 pm

smitty9999: Deal Addict; Dec 25, 2007; 1348 posts; 857 upvotes; GTA

Jul 22nd, 2021 3:26 pm

#Oshawa confirmed.

Jul 22nd, 2021 4:09 pm

Anikiri: Deal Guru; May 1, 2012; 10515 posts; 11347 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 22nd, 2021 4:09 pm

I am 100% sure that shack is illegal.

Jul 22nd, 2021 8:09 pm

deals4realz: Member; Nov 27, 2020; 300 posts; 630 upvotes

Jul 22nd, 2021 8:09 pm

I pity OP, that neighbour sounds like the worst kind of person to have next to you. Why on earth did he not just run it straight out onto his jungle? Oh, I know why - he's an assh**e.

OP, remove a board from your fence then remove his drain pipe.

+2

Jul 22nd, 2021 9:44 pm

eclone: Deal Addict; Jun 20, 2010; 2263 posts; 1836 upvotes

Jul 22nd, 2021 9:44 pm

The neighbor isnt stupid. He knowingly and intentionally directed the water to drain onto your property and the fix to continue to do so just further down.

You can get the city to put a fix to this and his outhouse but he seems like the vindictive type so tread carefully as you need to live with the fallout.

By the looks of that area, just go at night and angle the drain to his side. I doubt he would even notice. If he moves it back it just reaffirms his intentions and respect for you, then you have no choice but to add drainage on your side or report.

+1

Jul 22nd, 2021 10:02 pm

hierophant: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 7024 posts; 6845 upvotes

Jul 22nd, 2021 10:02 pm

eclone wrote: ↑ By the looks of that area, just go at night and angle the drain to his side. I doubt he would even notice. If he moves it back it just reaffirms his intentions and respect for you, then you have no choice but to add drainage on your side or report.

I would speak to him first and ask him to move so it doesn't direct to your property and let him know you'll be reporting him to the city. If you don't feel comfortable speaking to him then you could try the above. You should have absolutely no qualms in reporting him to the city if he doesn't move it.

I think people in thread are jumping to conclusions and assumption by calling him vindictive, asshole, etc. OP I wouldn't take on that mindset - wont' do you any good unless there are other things he's done. In that case, get some cameras setup if you think he may retaliate if you report him.

+1

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