Plumbing in Nepean
Send your Nepean street or postal code, the problem and the year the house was built. One independent plumbing company that works in Nepean gets the work order and calls you.
In short
- 01Nepean's urban area spread into rural land in the 1950s and 1960s; it became a city in 1978 and joined Ottawa in 2001.
- 02The City of Ottawa says homes with a possible lead water service pipe are typically those built before 1958.
- 03In some older homes, foundation drains connect to the sanitary sewer; the City says flooding risk in those areas comes mainly from that sewer.
- 04Permit counter: Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- 05A water main leak repair in Ottawa ran $3,250–$15,000 on jobs reported to HomeStars.
Typical ranges
Source HomeStars, Plumbing Services Cost Guide for Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, How Much Does Plumbing Cost?, Canada-wide, seen 29.10.2026. Lead pipes: City of Ottawa, Lead Pipe Replacement Program and How can I tell if I have a lead service pipe?, seen 29.10.2026. Sewers: City of Ottawa, Causes of basement flooding and How to prevent basement flooding, seen 29.10.2026. Permit counter: City of Ottawa, submitting building permit applications, seen 29.10.2026. Area history: Wikipedia, Nepean, Ontario, read 29.10.2026.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Can you tell me what my water service pipe is made of where it comes through the basement floor?
- Q2If it is lead, what does replacing the private part cost, and will you coordinate with the City on the public part?
- Q3Are my foundation drains tied to the sanitary sewer, and what would changing that involve?
- Q4Is my backwater valve cast iron, and does it need cleaning or replacing?
- Q5Will you put the scope, permit and price in writing before you start?
Before the visit
- Year the house was built, and any plumbing work done since
- Clear the space between the basement floor and the water meter, where the service pipe shows
- A photo of the pipe below the meter and of any backwater valve cover
- Your result from the City's lead lookup by address, if you checked
- Street and nearest landmark, such as Bells Corners, Centrepointe or Merivale Gardens
Old township, postwar streets
Nepean Township dates to 1792. After Ottawa annexed Westboro in 1950, Nepean’s centre moved to Bells Corners, and through the 1950s and 1960s its urban area spread into rural land, east toward Centrepointe and south toward Barrhaven. Nepean became a city in 1978 and joined Ottawa in 2001. Neighbourhoods such as Bells Corners, Craig Henry, Crystal Beach, Leslie Park, Manordale, Merivale Gardens and Qualicum-Graham Park are part of that story.
The build year of a Nepean house tells a plumber what may be behind the walls and under the floor. Write it in the work order, with any plumbing work you know was done since.
The water service pipe
The City of Ottawa says homes possibly served by a lead water pipe are typically those built before 1958. The only visible part of the service pipe is the short run between the basement floor and the water meter, and the City’s lookup by address tells you if your home may have lead. The homeowner owns the pipe from the house to the shut-off valve; the City owns the rest to the watermain. The City runs a Lead Pipe Replacement Program with a rebate for replacing the private part. If you ask a plumber to replace it, ask how the job lines up with the City’s part.
Older sewer connections
In some older homes, the City says, foundation drains connect to the sanitary or combined sewer, or are absent. In those areas the basement flooding risk generally comes from the sanitary or combined sewer. The City recommends routing foundation drains to the storm sewer or a sump pump and installing a backwater valve. Homes built before January 1, 2012 can qualify for its sanitary backwater valve rebate.
If you already have a valve and cast iron pipes, the City notes rust can build up at the hinge and keep the valve from closing during a surcharge. Ask the plumber to look at it on the same visit.
Permits close by
Building Code Services keeps a counter at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, open weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm by appointment or walk-in. Applications also go online through My ServiceOttawa. The City asks for inspections to be booked 48 hours ahead.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Plumbing Desk passes your Nepean work order to one independent plumbing company. That company calls you, prices the work and does it.
Questions
01Could my Nepean house have a lead water pipe?
The City of Ottawa says homes potentially affected are typically those built before 1958. Nepean’s suburbs began to spread in the 1950s, so the oldest streets may be close to that line. The City’s page has an address lookup, and the City takes requests to test a home’s drinking water for lead.
02Who owns which part of the water service pipe?
The City of Ottawa says the property owner is responsible for the pipe from the home to the water shut-off valve, the private portion, and the City owns the pipe from that valve to the watermain.
03What does it mean if my foundation drains go to the sanitary sewer?
In some older homes, the City says, foundation drains connect to the sanitary or a combined sewer, and in those areas the basement flooding risk generally comes from that sewer. The City recommends foundation drains run to the storm sewer or a sump pump.
04Do I file a Nepean permit in person or online?
Both work. Building Code Services has a counter at the Nepean Client Service Centre, Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, by appointment or walk-in on weekdays. Online applications go through My ServiceOttawa.
05Is Barrhaven covered on this page?
Barrhaven was part of the City of Nepean before 2001, and it has its own page: plumbing in Barrhaven. This page covers the older Nepean neighbourhoods north of it.