Some Ottawa residents are reporting flooding in their basements following another severe storm that soaked the capital. Environment Canada says 23.5 millimetres of rain was recorded at the Ottawa Airport on Monday after a series of storms moved through the national capital region. Sections of Highway 417 were submerged in water during the afternoon commute due to the storm, and some residents reported flooding on residential streets in the west end. Coun. Theresa Kavanagh told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal she received 10 reports from residents about flooding in the west end. “There have been some flooded basements. So lots and lots of concern; we’re all kind of PTSD right now,” Kavanagh said. Kavanagh said flooding on residential streets and on the Queensway is a “major concern.” “You talk about the one in 200-year rainfall, but if this keeps happening, we’re just going to have to do a bit more than what we were doing before,” Kavanagh said. Coun. Sean Devine also said he received reports of flooding in his Knoxdale-Merivale ward. “It’s hard to grasp just how frustrated, scared and angry some of these residents must be,” Devine said on Facebook. More than 6,000 residents reported flooded basements following heavy rain on Canada Day, with some areas in the west end receiving more than 140 millimetres of rain. The City of Ottawa described the flooding as a one in 200-year rainfall event. Infrastructure and Water Services general manager Tammy Rose told councillors in a memo on July 11 that staff were considering a “comprehensive review” to look at the performance of the sewer system and “identify opportunities for improvement.” The memo says staff will undertake the following activities and studies: Kavanagh says city staff have been checking places that were flooded to see how the infrastructure worked. “They’ve got people out there checking places that pooled up, and in some cases, it’s clogging. The catch basins are clogging, culverts are clogging. We can all do our bit and help with the catch basins, keep them clear in our neighbourhoods,” Kavanagh said.
