In Bowmanville, part of the Municipality of Clarington, Hayes Plumbing handles plumbing emergencies 24/7: downtown along King Street and Liberty Street, the subdivisions around it, and the rural roads out toward Hampton and Tyrone. A live operator is available at any hour on (905) 576-3043 and sends a licensed plumber east from the Hayes shop in Oshawa (448 Ritson Rd. South). Expect a drive of 15 to 25 minutes in most cases. That is the time on the road, not a promised arrival time.
Common plumbing emergencies in Bowmanville
Older homes in and around Bowmanville may still have cast iron drains or galvanized supply pipes, and many newer ones rely on a sump pump that can stop during heavy rain or snowmelt. In either kind of house, these call for an immediate phone call:
- A burst pipe, or a leak you can't stop at a fixture valve.
- Sewage coming up a floor drain or a toilet.
- A failed sump pump with water rising in the pit or on the floor.
- A leak from the water heater tank.
- Losing all water to the house.
Before the plumber arrives
- Go to the water meter, usually where the water line comes into the basement, and close the main shut-off next to it. Responsibility for the valves on both sides of a Region of Durham meter rests with the homeowner.
- Main won't close? After hours, phone the Region on 905-576-9991. Its Works crews can shut off the water at the curb stop outside, which is also called the service box, and a fee for this is added to your water bill.
- With the tank leaking or the water off, switch the water heater off as well.
- When there is water on the floor, keep away from electrical equipment, and don't change fuses while standing in water or on damp ground.
- Photos of the damage and receipts for emergency work are worth keeping. The Region advises reporting flood damage to your insurer without delay.
Region of Durham or Clarington: who looks after what
Drinking water and sanitary sewer service in Bowmanville comes from the Region of Durham, not from the Municipality of Clarington. The town is served by the Region's Lake Ontario water system, and that system has a water supply plant in Bowmanville.
- Region of Durham: 311 or 905-668-7711, and for after-hours water and sewer emergencies, 905-576-9991. Call about a broken water service box, a leaking water meter, a watermain break, or a sewer backup caused by a blockage outside your property.
- Clarington: storm sewers on local roads, plus building permits.
- The homeowner: the sewer connection inside the house and within one metre of the foundation, the water service on the lot, and any blocked drain on the property. Our licensed plumbers make those repairs.
- Gas: if you smell it, get out of the building and phone Enbridge Gas (1-866-763-5427) or 911 from outside.
Cost and permits in Bowmanville
No set emergency price applies, because the cost depends on the problem, the access and the parts; the repair is quoted in writing before work begins. Planning figures from our 2026 Oshawa plumbing cost guide: drain cleaning ($150 to $400), water heater installation ($500 to $1,500), and leak and drain line repair ($500 to $1,500 for a spot repair, $3,000 to $10,000 for a full line replacement).
On permits, Clarington says one is normally required for altering or adding any plumbing and normally isn't for replacing plumbing fixtures. The Building Division is in Bowmanville itself, at 40 Temperance Street (905-623-3379 ext. 2660).