City concerned about water contamination after Burlington flood

CTV Toronto: $10,000 worth of damage Burlington's mayor is looking for help from the province following a flood that has left residents with hefty bills. Scott Lightfoot reports

As residents in Burlington, Ont., continue to clean up after an estimated two months' worth of rain pummelled the city in approximately three hours on Monday, the mayor says there is concern about the contamination of water.

"There's obviously a concern about contamination in the water and we're concerned about some elderly residents (whose homes) have been flooded," Mayor Rick Goldring told reporters on Tuesday. He added that his own basement was flooded and that his street looked like a "war zone."

On Monday night, hundreds of residents in Burlington made flood-related calls for help as a heavy storm blew through the city.

Floodwaters from the thunderstorm turned roads into rivers, flooded basements and shut down power.

At a news conference Tuesday, Goldring said the storm and resulting flood prompted the city to reassess its infrastructure and water management systems.

"Obviously storm-water management is a big part of our capital budget every year, and our staff is always analyzing what we need to do and the action we need to take," Goldring said.

"I believe we've done the best we can addressing what needs to be done so far."

Goldring has not ruled out the possibility of asking the province for disaster relief. An assessment of the damage is still underway.

Izzy Nicholson, whose home is located in one of the worst-hit areas in Burlington, says the water level at one point had climbed to above a light switch.

"The water pressure was so hard it started to turn the lights on," she told CTV Toronto.

Water in the area swelled up to approximately 1.8 metres on Monday, as the creek that runs behind many of the homes became bloated and flooded nearby backyards and basements.

At the height of the flooding, many roadways were closed, including major highways in and out of the City of Burlington.

Westbound lanes of Highway 407 at Appleby Line, the eastbound ramp of Highway 403 to Highway 401 and the Queen Elizabeth Way at Guelph line were closed due to flooding for part of the night. GO Transit service was temporarily suspended due to the QEW closure.

Environment Canada is reporting that 125 millimetres of rain fell overnight, but unofficial reports suggest the rainfall in some areas was closer to 250 millimetres. According to the Weather Network, 125 millimetres is about two months' worth of rain.

Though highways have since reopened, many woke up to flooded basements and power that was cut overnight when sewage backed up.

City workers were overwhelmed, and some residents took to the streets to clear sewer grates themselves.

Some homes were damaged, but no injuries have been reported so far.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Naomi Parness