Mayor demands complete report

Aylmer residents & city focus on flooding

Several weeks ago, Mayor Pedneaud-Jobin met with Aylmer residents to examine flooding cases in the sector. Citizens explained what they had gone through and the number of times they have had sewer back-ups. Wychwood residents have been the most affected by this situation.
   
Since flooding was reported this summer across Gatineau, the mayor has requested a report for each affected neighbourhood.  Aylmer councillor, Audrey Bureau, who attended the meeting, noted, “The problems are not the same for all the affected areas in Gatineau. The mayor and I are committed to coming back to them with short-, medium- and long-term action plans”.

Many flooding instances are related to sewer back-ups. Back-ups can happen inside homes when there are heavy rainfalls, especially when frequent. The back-up happens when the amount of water to be evacuated exceeds the capacity of the network. Water can also back up into the house when the check valves, on the pipes linking appliances to the main collection pipe, or on the siphon pipe of the appliances, are not working well.
   
If ever the blockage is continuous or difficult to eliminate, the owner must have the entire piping inspected with a camera to find the source of the obstruction. Following Public Works’ study of the video recording, if the results show that the problem is located within the City’s pipe boundary and not within the vicitim’s property, the City should reimburse the cost of the video equipment rental, according to Gatineau’s communications services. Wychwood residents affected by the floods are asking for more -- compensation for all costs not covered by private insurance. “This is a real problem because our home insurance premiums are going up and the value of our houses is going down,” Mr Pineault of the Wychwood sector told the Bulletin.
   
The meeting focussed on sewer back-ups of last July 25, although residents also wanted to address the October 2017 floods. Some home-owners say they are considering suing the City for the daily stress this imposes on them. 247 citizens signed a petition asking the City to conduct a public inquiry regarding these repetitive floods. An outraged Stephanie Bond noted, “The time has come for the City of Gatineau to take charge of its infrastructure problems.” She wants the City to install permanent pumps. “I have spent the last nine months of my life trying to obtain justice for my family and my neighbours,” she declared.
   
A meeting between city administration and councillors, with an update on the situation, took place August 28. Mayor Pedneaud-Jobin had also met with Bellevue ward residents in the Gatineau sector.
(Transl. CB)