Dec 02, 2008 - 04:30 AM

By Reka Szekely

DURHAM -- The Region is considering a program that would at least partially subsidize backflow preventers for homes affected by basement flooding.

On Aug. 11, about 150 homes in Durham were flooded due to sewer backups after heavy rains. The Region has identified four areas where flooding occurred in clusters: Annes Street, Walton Boulevard and Lupin Drive in Whitby, and Lawrie Road in Ajax.

The Region says the backups were caused by stormwater overwhelming the sanitary sewer system. The works committee ordered smoke testing of the areas surrounding the flooded homes in both municipalities.

They found several problems, including cracked sewer laterals, which are pipes that connect homes to sewer pipes on the street; 18 manholes in need of repair; connections from stormwater catch basins; and 79 connected downspouts that funnel water off roofs. The majority of the connected downspouts, 73, were found in Whitby.

Residents also heard the Town of Ajax has known since 2006 about stormwater catch basins in a local park that have been flowing into the sewer systems and had plans to disconnect them this fall. This has not occurred yet. Lower-tier municipalities such as Ajax and Whitby are responsible for stormwater.

The works department has fixed some of the easier problems, such as the manholes, but staff says more investigation is needed to find deficiencies in the system. It could include using cameras to examine pipes.

"This is not going to be a quick fix," said John Presta, the Region's director of environmental services. "There's a lot of fieldwork involved and it's going to be a multi-year program in terms of trying to minimize basement flooding in the future."

Following the update from staff, the committee heard from frustrated homeowners.

"I am here to put a voice and a face to the victims of the repeated flooding on Lawrie Road," Ajax resident Victoria Derusha said. "I know the flood of August the 11th is old news, but every single day as residents, we're still dealing with this issue."

Stephen Woodstock, who's lived on Annes Street in Whitby for 23 years, told councillors he's been flooded six times.

"We've lost a lot of stuff, a lot of personal things that cannot be replaced," he said, adding that he can no longer make insurance claims about floods.

Several residents said they hadn't heard anything from the Region since August. Regional Chairman Roger Anderson asked staff if there had been any public meetings about the issue. The answer was no and the issue had been turned over to the Region's insurance company to pay out the $400 per household the Region provides for sewer-related floods.

The response did not sit well with Mr. Anderson.

"I don't care if we have enough insurance to buy every one of these houses, it's part of public relations, communications, let these people know what the hell we're doing," he said.

He asked staff to create a program where the Region would subsidize part of the cost of backflow preventers, devices that could stop sewers from backing up into basements.

However, backflow preventers have downsides too. They must be maintained regularly and risks include possible foundation damage to homes.

Both the regional officials and residents said they were looking at the devices as a Band-Aid solution while the Region worked on the stormwater infiltration problem, a process that could take years. Mr. Anderson said the Region would not recommend or install the devices and homeowners would have to weigh the pros and cons.

As well, he asked that a public meeting be held for the residents to discuss the flooding issue.

"I'd hate to say it, (but) I think somewhere along the line we're at fault here," said Mr. Anderson, adding the fault may lie with a combination of the Region, the municipalities or even some of the residents of Ajax and Whitby not disconnecting downspouts or drains from the sewer system.

The committee also heard from Paul Theil, a retired engineer who wrote a book, Modern Sewer Design. Mr. Theil said he thinks the problem is caused by the water treatment plant at the foot of Lawrie Road. It's a theory several residents have raised in the past, only to have it dismissed by the Region.

During storms, Mr. Theil said, surface water is blocked from flowing into the lake, and he suspects flood gates that prevent stormwater from getting into the sewer system aren't working properly.

Although the Region's works commissioner said he would be surprised to find out the water treatment plant in Ajax is responsible for the flooding, Durham will consult with Mr. Theil.