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Several residents in Lucknow watched in horror as their basements
flooded and sewage came pouring in along with the water overnight Dec.
28-29 last year. Now, they want Huron-Kinloss council to find out who is
to blame so they can be compensated for the damage.
Jackie Wilson, on behalf of the affected residents, told council Feb. 17
that the system operator, Veolia, should be held accountable for not
keeping its system properly maintained.
"I had sewage running into my basement," she said. "Who pays for fixing
that now? I pay my taxes. I pay a sewer tax, not to have sewage running
into my basement."
According to a staff report, an initial bypass of the sewer system
(pouring raw sewage into the river) was allowed because the back
pressure build-up in the system literally lifted a manhole cover off its
base and raised the operator's concern that internal damage to the
system was a possibility.
A second bypass was initiated in response to concerns by a neighbour
whose basement had flooded. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment
(MOE) accepted the reasoning because other municipalities were
experiencing the same flooding conditions at that time. However, the MOE
made it clear that this was an exception and not an acceptable reason
for a bypass as per the conditions in the township's Certificate of
Approval.
"That night we had an extraordinary storm event and the system was
overwhelmed," said councillor Jim Hanna. "The bypass was initiated to
relieve the system. But we have to get approval to do it, we just can't
go ahead with it."
Wilson said the pressure on the system was so strong that it blew off
the backflow preventer in her home. "Last spring, we had flooding in
that area but there was no water in the basements. We expect the
operator to maintain the system and keep an eye on it, especially during
a flooding incident."
Danielle Broome, one of the affected residents who lives on Clyde
Street, said she has had water in her basement before but not sewage.
"We manage it with a sump pump, but that night it was pouring through
the shower and the toilet; you can't pump that out."
"I'm not sure why something couldn't be done," said councillor Anne
Eadie. (next column)
27/02/2009 12:34 AM
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Administrator Mary Rose Walden said there was so much
pressure on the system that the operator was afraid the pipes were going
to burst. "The pumping station was shut off and the ministry allowed the
bypass, but some (of the sewage) went back," she said. "After about an
hour, the pumping station was up and running."
Wilson said she was told by an MOE representative that the bypass
should've been left on throughout the flooding incident.
"We're allowed the bypass only if there is a threat to the system," said
councillor Lillian Abbott.
"Veolia did not check on the system," said Wilson. "That's my concern."
Mayor Mitch Twolan said the township will have to check with Veolia and
discuss the circumstances relating to the township's Certificate of
Approval. "I can understand how upset you are," he said. "I'd be
frustrated too."
"Our basements are being fixed, but we each have to pay a $500
deductible," said Wilson.
"The problem with the MOE is you get a different story from each
different representative," said Hanna. "We'll talk to Veolia and the MOE
and find out what the story is."
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