When it rains hard, the city of Brussels regularly faces flooding. It sometimes happens that basements of residents are flooded. Do you live in a flood-prone area or suffer from flooding in your basement? The City of Brussels can help you with its new 'diagnose and works against flooding' premium.
In Brussels, several situations can cause water to seep into a basement:
1. High water table
Groundwater naturally rises and seeps through the basement walls.
2. Pipe leak
A leak in the building's pipes, around the building, or in the street sewers can bring water into the basement.
3. Sewer overflow during downpours
During heavy rains, sewers can overflow, and water enters through grates, vents, or other openings.
4. Sewer backflow
When there is very heavy rain, the water level in the sewers rises above that of the building, and wastewater flows back into the basement through your home's drainage system.
The bonus applies only to the last case: sewer backflow.
Which actions are eligible?
This premium allows you to:
1. Have a diagnosis
A Vivaqua flood prevention advisor will visit your home, inspect your basement, and prepare a report. They will then recommend tailored solutions in the form of necessary repairs.
2. Have works carried out
Contact one or more contractors to obtain quotes based on the assessment. The Vivaqua advisor will review the selected quote.
After the works are completed, they will return to inspect and verify that they were done properly.
Only works proposed by the Vivaqua advisor and approved after completion qualify for the grant.
How much is the premium?
The municipal grant covers two types of expenses:
1. External siteVivaqua's advisory service
- The City pays the invoice directly, up to 900 euros.
- This service includes: the assessments, recommendations, verification of quotes, and final inspection of the works.
- In most cases, 900 euros is sufficient to cover the entire service.
2. Works performed at your home
You pay for the works, and the City reimburses you up to 3,000 euros.
Who can apply for the premium?
You can apply for the grant if you meet the following 4 conditions:
- You are the person (or organization) who had the assessment and work carried out.
- The building is located within the City of Brussels.
- The building is no longer covered by the architect's ten-year liability.
- The building is:
- either located in a flood-prone area (see the next tab, 'How do you know if your building is in a flood-prone area?')
- or affected by flooding caused by sewer backflow
How do you know if your building is in a flood-prone area?
Check out the maps:
External siteFlood maps for the Brussels Region (Atlas)
If your building is in a low, medium or high flood risk zone, it is considered flood-prone.
If your building is not in a flood-prone area but is nevertheless experiencing sewer backflow, you can prove it with photos or videos.
During the visit, Vivaqua advisors will confirm free of charge whether the problem is indeed sewer backflow.
If they determine that this is not the case, you will not be eligible for the grant.
- If you are eligible for the grant:
- Provide your personal information
- The building's address
- A photo or video of previous flooding incidents.
- The City of Brussels' Climate and City in Transition department will then forward your application to Vivaqua's flood prevention advisors.
- A flood prevention advisor will then contact you (see the 'Things to check before the diagnostic visit' tab). After the diagnostic visit, recommendations will be sent to you.
- Have the flood prevention advisor's recommended works carried out.
- Once you have had the works carried out and obtained the flood prevention advisor's written declaration of compliance regarding the works, you must complete the municipal grant form and return it, along with the required documents, to urb.primes@brucity.be within 3 months of receiving the flood prevention advisor's written declaration of compliance:
During the Vivaqua support service, you must be able to provide the flood prevention advisors with the following information, possibly using a plan or sketch:
- The location of the downspouts and how they are connected to the domestic drainage system
- The layout of the pipes in the basement and the various openings and connection points in the basement (septic tank, manholes, sink, toilet, shower,...)
