As more homeowners with flooded basements come forward in Kelowna, the more fingers are being pointed at new hillside developments.
WATCH: Kelowna development up the hill being blamed for water damage down the hill
Residents believe blasting, tree removal, and shifting dirt could be causing changes to groundwater flow.
Gary Brucker, who lives on Applebrook Crescent below Wildon, is one of those homeowners.
“We’ve lived here since 2002 without an incident until the development above us was finished,” Brucker said. “It’s definitely connected in my opinion.”
Brucker had to tear up the flooring in his basement bedroom and family room, before hiring a company to jackhammer up the concrete, and install a drainage and pump system.
“I’m now into it for about $25,000 over the last two years,” Brucker said.
City engineers agree that surface work may impact groundwater, but right now, groundwater is not monitored by either developers or city planners.
Ground water mapping is something the City of Kelowna is now considering, however, though it is an expensive and time consuming process.
“There are watershed level studies that the city can lead or initiate that may be able to identify where the groundwater currently is, where it goes, and how to protect future developments,” Kelowna Development Engineer James Kay said, “but I’m afraid that doesn’t help residents with existing flooding.”
Several affected homeowners Global News spoke with have said their considering a class action lawsuit, including Gary Brucker, who says he has spoken to a lawyer.
“Lets just say we’ve had some conversations and he suggested we start to gather names.”
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