In short
- Gloucester was a township from 1850, a city from 1981 and part of Ottawa since 2001; its 2021 population was about 150,000.
- A stuck main valve: 3-1-1 sends City crews to close the water at the curb, and bills a service fee.
- Leak fixes reported to HomeStars Ottawa average $450.
- The Leitrim and Findlay Creek area grew from 1,333 people in 2006 to 14,089 in 2021.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fix a leak | $100–$800 | Ottawa jobs reported by homeowners, average $450 |
| Faucet repair or installation | $200–$3,800 | Ottawa, average $945 |
| Toilet repair | $142–$1,000 | Ottawa, average $344 |
| Blocked drain | $124–$8,500 | Ottawa, average $1,112; the top end is a major line problem |
Sources. HomeStars, Plumbing Services Cost Guide for Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Water meter FAQs, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Causes of basement flooding, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Responsibility for sewer laterals, seen 29.10.2026. Area facts: Wikipedia, Gloucester, Ontario, read 29.10.2026.
A former city with many ages of housing
Gloucester began as Township B in 1792, took its name in 1850 and became a city in 1981. It joined the new City of Ottawa in 2001. In 2021 it counted about 150,000 people.
That spread leaves a mix. Neighbourhoods such as Beacon Hill, Blackburn Hamlet, Chateau Neuf, Convent Glen and Chapel Hill held between 4,000 and 10,000 residents each in 2021 and were already established in 2006. Leitrim and Findlay Creek went from 1,333 people in 2006 to 14,089 in 2021. A plumber arriving at a Blackburn Hamlet house and at a Findlay Creek house meets different pipes, different valves and different warranties. Put the build year in the request.
Leaks: where they start
Supply lines, fixture connections, toilet tanks and drain joints all age. The work starts with finding the source. Staining under a bathroom, damp drywall, a hissing wall and a meter that runs with every tap shut each point to a different place.
On the HomeStars Ottawa list a leak repair falls between $100 and $800. Faucet work ranged from $200 to $3,800, and toilet repairs from $142 to $1,000, according to the same HomeStars guide. These are reported jobs and exclude extra material and labour. Our leak repair page and faucet and toilet repair page go through the visit in order.
Shut-off valves and the meter
Find your main valve before a leak starts: in a Gloucester house it is usually on the basement wall where the service pipe comes in, and it closes water to the whole property. In a condo or townhouse complex, ask the property manager which valve serves your unit and who is allowed to close the building main.
The meter sits beside that valve. The City gives residential meters a typical 25-year life. A bill that climbs with no leak is a question for the City. One that climbs while you hear water is a call for the plumber.
Drains and the sewer lateral
East and south Ottawa have the full range of sewer layouts, from older streets where weeping tile may drain to the sanitary line to subdivisions with separate storm and sanitary laterals. Ask the company which layout applies to your street before you choose a device.
On a backup the first job is to find which side of the property line holds the problem, since the City answers for the street half of the lateral; see drain cleaning. Our sewer line repair page covers what follows if the pipe is damaged.
The east end and Orléans
Gloucester overlaps with Orléans in the east. Chapel Hill, Convent Glen and Orleans Wood sit inside the old city boundary. If your home is there, read our Orléans page for the river and clay notes. For the south, see Riverside South and Manotick; for the inner east, Vanier.
Water on the basement wall
Water on a basement wall after rain or a thaw can come from the plumbing, from seepage through cracks, or from a sewer backup. The City lists melting snow, spring runoff and heavy rain among the causes of water entering through cracks in walls and floors. A plumber rules the pipes in or out. Tell the company the timing, and if sewage is involved or water is rising, follow the steps on the basement flooding page.
Who you are dealing with
Gloucester is large, so we match it by area: one independent company serving the east and south gets your street and build year from Ottawa Plumbing Desk. Its plumber calls, sees the job and sets the price.
Questions to ask the company
- Which part of Gloucester do you cover, and does the visit cost change for Findlay Creek or Blackburn Hamlet?
- If the leak is inside a wall, how do you find it and what does the quote cover for opening and closing it?
- If the problem turns out to be on the City side of the property line, what do you do?
- Will the written price list parts, labour and HST?
Have this ready for the call
- Street, nearest main road (Bank Street, Walkley Road, Ogilvie Road, Innes Road or Hunt Club Road) and postal code
- Year the home was built and the type: detached, semi, townhouse or condo
- Photos of the leak, the stain or the fixture, with a wide shot showing the room
- Where the building shut-off valve is, and your property manager's number for a condo
- The date your last water bill rose, if the leak shows up on the meter
Questions people ask
Which parts of Ottawa count as Gloucester?
Gloucester is the former city east and south of the inner core. It takes in Billings Bridge, Beacon Hill, Blackburn Hamlet, Pineview, Blossom Park and Leitrim, and part of Orléans. If you are in the far east, our Orléans page may match your street better; give the postal code either way.
Does a Findlay Creek house have different plumbing from a Blackburn Hamlet one?
Usually. Findlay Creek is almost all built since 2006, so its parts are recent and some homes still sit inside Tarion’s two-year window. Blackburn Hamlet was established well before 2006, and a house there may be on its second or third water heater and set of valves. Give the build year.
Why is the leak repair range so wide, from $100 to $800?
The figure depends on where the leak is and how much has to be opened to reach it. A visible supply connection under a sink sits at the low end. A leak behind a wall or under a slab needs more time, access work and materials, and the company can only set the price after it sees the pipe.
