Influence of materials deposition on functioning of backwater valves

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The existing situation in Canada is such that basement flooding due to sewer backups is the most expensive source of home insurance claims. Exacerbating an already bad situation is that issues of basement flooding are likely going to increase, as a result of more intense storms and increasing urbanization. While the intent is that backwater valves are intended to prevent backflow into basements, and hence to abate the above-indicated basement flooding, the hydraulic performance of backwater valves warrants serious attention for both design and maintenance needs. The challenging location of the valves, the 'clogging' of the valve operation (as a result of faeces, cotton batting, dental floss, etc.), and the undesirable aspects of maintaining the valves, are inhibiting the performance of the backwater valves. The result is that for many individual houses, while the valves may exist, they are either totally or partially nonfunctional. This project will develop flow visualization information that will allow a computer model to be employed, thereby enabling computer models to investigate incidences of historical flooding as have been incurred and assess the functionality of backwater valves which have had significant materials fouling the valves.