Are You Fully Covered?

Only some forms of water damage may be covered by home insurance policies. Usually, “sudden and accidental discharge of water,” such as damage caused by a burst pipe, is covered. You may also be covered for a sewer backup if you have this endorsement on your policy (it’s an optional coverage). Comprehensive water coverage, until very recently, was not available to homeowners in Canada.

1. You are insured against sudden direct physical loss or damage to insured property, as defined in your policy, caused by:
   1. flood;
   2. ground water or rising of the water table;
   3. mudflow;
   4. surface water; or
   5. the backing up or escape of water or sewage within your dwelling or detached private structure through a:
      1. sewer on your premises;
      2. septic system on your premises; or
      3. sump located within your dwelling or detached private structures; or
      4. drain located within or on your dwelling or detached private structures
2. Mass Evacuation expenses, as defined in your policy, if resulting from an Insured Peril covered under this endorsement.

This endorsement does not cover loss or damage caused directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by:

• spray, waves, tides, tidal waves, storm surge, tsunamis, seiche, escape of salt water from any natural or man-made watercourse or body of water, ice or waterborne objects, regardless of any other cause or event that contributes concurrently or in any sequence to the loss or damage;
• continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water whether from natural or man-made sources;
• landslide or any other earth movement; and
• occurring while the dwelling is under construction or vacant, even if we have given permission for vacancy

Coverage can be added to your existing home insurance policy or if you don’t currently have a policy, you can call for a quote or click here.

All CAA Home Insurance policyholders with sewer backup coverage will automatically be upgraded to CAA Water Coverage at no additional cost until your renewal.

CAA Water Coverage offers the following enhanced protection in addition to sewer backup:

• Overflow from a nearby lake or river
• Surface water caused by a sudden weather related event
• Rising of the water table or ground water entering your home from a point which is below grade

All CAA Home Insurance policyholders with sewer backup coverage will automatically be upgraded to CAA Water Coverage at no additional cost until your renewal.

The cost of coverage is determined by the limits of coverage, deductibles and location of your property. You can reduce the cost by selecting a higher deductible. Installing risk mitigating devices, such as a backwater valve, sump pump or water detection device may also reduce the cost.