A City of Oshawa tree caused sewage to back up in this woman’s home. But the region won’t cover plumbing costs

An Oshawa woman has a warning for homeowners after Durham Region declined to cover $1,600 in plumbing costs caused by a city-owned tree.

Bev Fiddler says the region is applying its bylaw unfairly, punishing her and her husband for acting quickly early this year to fix damage they didn’t cause.

“There is no room for flexibility or no room to at least hear the homeowner’s position,” she said.

Fiddler was doing laundry in her basement around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 3, when she noticed the sink wasn't draining. Her husband tried to use a plunger, but they saw the water that returned had raw sewage in it.

They then noticed water “spilling out” from the sealed water main drain in their basement’s electrical room, she says.

“It was coming out quickly and it was like it’s going to start flooding,”