DDO flooding has residents blaming city’s infrastructure

Residents in Dollard-des-Ormeaux in Montreal's West Island are reeling in the aftermath of intense flooding.

Residents in Dollard-des-Ormeaux (DDO) in Montreal’s West Island are reeling in the aftermath of intense flooding over the weekend.

Now, some are blaming the city, claiming that officials have dragged their feet when it comes to updating infrastructure.

Monday, residents on Lake Street and other parts of DDO were clearing out soaked furniture and personal items from their basements after the abundant rainfall.

“We had three feet of water in the basement,” said Robert Murray, who added that he just redid his basement after the flood of 2024. “We didn’t even have it for ten days. It was unbelievable.”

Murray’s neighbour, Avrom Shtern, said his home flooded again, too - but this time it was worse.

“Two years ago, when we were flooded, it was mainly clear water,” he said. “This time around, it was a lot of sewage.”

Sewage water was also at knee-level in Rebecca Pimienta and Emil Levkovsky’s home.

The couple has a two-year-old and a baby on the way.

They insisted the city needs to act.

“When it comes to actually improving our infrastructure, you know, it’s always committees, and we need to discuss and do inquiries,” lamented Levkovsky.

Not too far away on Drouin Street, Robert Wolofsky said his home also flooded again despite efforts to waterproof.

“What more could I do? I have three pumps,” he said.

Wolofsky told CTV News he is considering taking legal action against the city.

“I think the class action lawsuit, I’m still in the early stages of thinking about it, but it’s a failure to act,” he said. “They haven’t invested in infrastructure.”

In response, DDO Mayor Alex Bottausci insisted that his office is working on the problem and admitted that he also has water in his basement.

“We are building such an infrastructure. In fact, one place this summer is on Tecumseh and Frontenac [streets],” he said. “We’re building a massive cistern underground. So, there is more to come that way.”

“We built another one last year at Terry Fox Park, right?” Bottausci said. “They’re coming, but they’re millions of dollars, and we’re trying to qualify for grants through the Quebec government.”

The mayor added that heavy rainfall in a short period of time would cause problems for most sewer systems.