Heavy rains flooded De Belmont street on in Montreal’s East end borough of Saint-Leonard Tuesday night.
Fire crews were dispatched to bail out up to 50 homes in the area as water spilled into basements and garages during a torrential downpour.
READ MORE: Heavy rain leads to flooding, difficult road conditions in Montreal
But that isn’t the first time it has happened. The street also flooded less than three months ago, in July.
“I’m in panic mode, I never know what to find, what surprise,” De Belmont resident Franca Bucaro said with several inch’s of water covering her basement floor.
Panic is now her reaction every time it rains, she said. Her home has flooded during both incidents.
Repairs on her home from the July event were nearly finished, she said. She was about to sign the insurance papers but will hold off as she suspects her home will need more work.
READ MORE: Saint-Leonard residents furious with borough after flash flood
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The problem stems form the the city’s sewer system. Borough officials say one issue is that heavy rains cause the sewer to fill the reservoir too quickly.
The result is water overflowing back into the streets and into homes.
“It’s unacceptable, its terrible,” Borough Mayor Michel Bissonnet said.
Bissonnet says the issue is a city problem, claiming the borough has done all it can do on the issue and its is up to the city’s water department to correct it.
“We’re waiting for a meeting to hear the proposition to help the citizens,” Bissonnet said.
“We have to find a solution so these people can live in peace.”
READ MORE: Saint-Leonard residents blast borough mayor about repeated flash floods at heated meeting
In a meeting with residents In July, Bissonnet said he was going to speak with the city on the issue.
He says that meeting happened and they are trying to schedule another date to plot out possible solutions for the reoccurring flooding, however no date has been set.
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The city officials say they are aware of the situation and they will continue to have talks with the borough.
In the meantime they are asking residents to do their part by installing preventative measures to stop flooding in the future.
That is little comfort to Bucaro, who said she doesn’t see the point since the problem will not stop until the city fixes the sewers.
“Its frustrating. I don’t know what to do,” Bucaro said.
“I’m at the end of my rope I have no more patience. I’m disappointed that no one cares about us.”
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