Glossory of Terms

BACKWATER VALVE 

A backwater valve is located in a house’s sanitary sewer line. The valve closes under pressure, preventing sewage from returning up the line and back into the home. 

CATCH BASIN 

A catch basin collects stormwater from the street through an open metal grate and channels it to an underground stormwater pipe. Below street level is a trap where sand, gravel, and other material is captured for removal. 

DOWNSPOUT 

A downspout is a length of pipe that is connected to an eavestrough and runs vertically from the roof to the ground. 

DOWNSPOUT EXTENSION 

A downspout extension is a length of pipe that is connected to the bottom of the downspout and runs at a downward angle away from a building. 

DRY POND 

A dry pond is a man-made depression created to capture surface runoff during major rains. See definition for Wet Pond. 

EAVESTHROUGH 

An eavestrough is attached directly below the roofline. It collects stormwater from the roof and channels it to a downspout. 

FOUNDATION DRAIN 

Means an exterior foundation drainage sys-tem placed outside the foundation wall near the footing, which is piped and connected to a sump pump that pumps the water to a dis-charge system. 

FOUNDATION SERVICE 

An underground sewer pipe that connects a private foundation drainage system (weeping tile) to a storm sewer main. This type of service is designed to collect subsurface flows and groundwater only. 

GREY WATER 

Grey water is the relatively clean waste from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances. 

INTERNAL SWALE 

A swale designed to handle surface water entirely within a property. 

LOT GRADING 

Lot grading is shaping and sloping the land to direct surface drainage away from buildings and towards a Town right-of-way (lane or street). The purpose of Lot Grading is to direct surface runoff away from buildings for the benefit of property owners. 

LOT GRADING PLANS 

Lot grading plans are engineered drainage designs for neighbourhoods specifying design elevations, surface grades, lot types, swale locations, and other drainage related information required for lot grading. These plans are approved by the Town of Slave Lake and enforced under provisions of the Property Drainage Bylaw. 

RAIN GUTTER 

A rain gutter is another name for eavestrough. 

SANITARY SERVICE 

An underground sewer pipe that connects a private sanitary drainage system to a sanitary sewer main. This type of service is designed to collect sewage and wastewater. 

SANITARY SEWER MAIN 

A sanitary sewer main collects sewage and grey water from homes and businesses and directs it to a plant for treatment. 

SLOPE 

A slope is any inclined portion of ground or earth that directs water in a specific direction. 

SPLASH PAD 

A splash pad is a concrete or plastic channel that can be attached to the side of a building and sits at an angle under a downspout. It channels stormwater from the downspout away from the building. 

STORM SERVICE 

An underground sewer pipe that connects a private stormwater drainage system to a storm sewer main. This type of service is designed to collect surface and subsurface flows resulting from rainwater and snow melt. 

STORM SEWER MAIN 

The storm sewer main collects rainwater and snowmelt and channels it via pipes to creeks, ravines, dry ponds, wet ponds, stormwater lakes, wetlands, and the North Saskatchewan River. 

STORMWATER 

Stormwater means any surface runoff that is the result of natural precipitation. 

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT LAKE 

A stormwater management lake is a body of water that is designated to collect and contain stormwater from a surrounding area. The lake may be natural or man-made. 

SUMP 

A basement sump is a pit in the ground under the basement floor that collects excess groundwater from weeping tile or surrounding soil. 

SUMP PUMP 

A sump pump is a motorized mechanical device that keeps basements dry by pumping excess water from a sump to the surface. 

SWALE 

A swale is a shallow, sloped channel in the ground that moves water in a specific direction. 

WEEPING TILE 

Weeping tile is a perforated pipe that surrounds the foundation of a home and collects excess groundwater. In most homes, this excess water is released to a sump pump, which carries it to the surface. 

WET POND 

A Wet Pond is a stormwater facility constructed through filling and/or excavation that provides both permanent and temporary storage of stormwater runoff. 

WINDOW WELL 

A window well is a corrugated metal product that surrounds a basement window at or below ground level. Installation allows for proper lot grading around the basement window.