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✦ 24 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 51,400 ✦ Optional delivery $6/Newsstand $1 ✦ THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008 Get local 24/7 newsdurhamregion.com Hundreds of homes flooded
‘The toilet was just overflowing, it was like a geyser’
Region can’t guarantee it ‘will never happen again.’
By Reka Szekely [email protected]
DURHAM — Dumpsters and mounds of garbage that were once prized possessions dotted Durham neighbourhoods on Tues- day as hundreds of residents tossed out the contents of their basements after a storm Monday caused a backup of sanitary sewer flow and flooding in their homes. The downpour overwhelmed pumping stations in Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa causing toilets, showers and floor drains to overflow in some neighbourhoods. “The toilet was just overflowing, it was like a geyser,” said Whitby resident Sue Lytwyn. Ms. Lytwyn and her husband Bil fought the flow, eventually opening the door of their walkout basement so the water could flow out. For the Annes Street residents, this was Jason Liebregts/ News Advertiser photo the third flood in eight years. They were Lawrie Road resident Jamie Derusha cleans up after his home flooded on Monday. A number of residents suffered damage to their homes after sew- also flooded in 2000 and 2005. Last time, the age pumps couldn’t handle the water following the storm. This is the third time homes in the area have flooded since 2000. couple’s insurance claim totalled more than $100,000. They estimate at least 30 homes on their street were affected this time. up through the floor drains in people’s base- some action, we need some answers. I love eventually rebuilt. In the meantime, flood- In total, Durham works commissioner ments,” he said on Wednesday. my neighbourhood, I still need my home.” ing will continue to be a threat to some Cliff Curtis said 100 or so homes were flood- Victoria Derucha, who lives on Lawrie But Mr. Curtis said the Region has worked neighbourhoods. ed and the early speculation was the storm Road in south Ajax where more than a dozen to improve the situation, disconnecting “There’s no guarantee it will never happen was more severe than a one-in-a-hundred- homes were affected, was also flooded in cross-connections where sanitary sewers again, if we get a big enough storm, it’s going years storm. 2000 and 2005 and she has questions for and storm sewers meet and deepening sew- to happen,” he said. “Some people would “Apparently last night we had so much Durham officials. ers. In older neighbourhoods where founda- point to climate change, I hesitate to do that, infiltration in the system that the pumps got “How do you go through 30 years and not tion drains pour storm waters into the sewer but we seem to be getting more severe and overwhelmed and then the sewers backed have any floods and we have three floods in system, Mr. Curtis estimates it will take 50 to up and if they back up high enough, it pops eight years?” said Ms. Derucha. “We need 100 years to disconnect them as homes are ✦ See Insurance, Page 2
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