Resident seeks accountability for Omemee flooding one year later

Last March residents across Kawartha Lakes experienced high levels of melting ice and snow.

Darlene Holliwell said her Omemee condominium building, located on Rita Crescent, experienced damage from flooding which cost her more than $50,000 to fix. “Out of the 14 lower apartments, 10 of them flooded,” she said. While hers was only flooded with water, she said some of her neighbours had sewage run into their homes.

She alleges that at the end of last March the sump pump system in Omemee stopped pumping due to a backup alarm failure that she says Ontario Clean Water Association (OCWA) is responsible for.

OCWA is responsible for the water and wastewater systems in Omemee. This includes operating the Omemee drinking water system, managing the sewage system, and conducting routine maintenance.

“OCWA takes its responsibilities to the communities we serve very seriously, and we are sympathetic to those in the Kawartha Lakes area who experienced flooding last March due to the extreme weather conditions,” said Amanda White, communications specialist for OCWA. “At that time, an external review found OCWA not responsible, as our team responded and operated diligently within the challenging circumstances presented by this unprecedented weather.”

Holliwell lived in a motel until June as the house was unliveable in. She’s now frustrated as she feels “nobody wants to take responsibility for this.”

“I asked for $15,000 for compensation (from the city). I don’t think that’s terrible. I think $5,000 for my husband, my daughter and myself is not a big deal,” Holliwell said. Her hope now is that no one else has to go through the same situation as her and her neighbours did.

The city told Kawartha Lakes Weekly in a statement that damage done on private property is the responsibility of the owner. “If flooding happens, the municipality may provide safety updates, information, and emergency support, but does not cover damage to private property. Property owners are responsible for drainage on their own land and for protecting their homes from water that comes onto their property.”

The city said it works all year to prepare for and reduce flooding risks. During the melting season, city staff monitor conditions and work with regional partners, like conservation authorities, to keep an eye on water levels and provide advance water safety and flooding warnings to the public.

The municipality also maintains municipal drainage systems to help water flow away safely. During the spring melt they also work to monitor drainage infrastructure, like culverts and catch basins, to clear debris.

For more information on how the city prepares for emergencies, such as flooding, go to kawarthalakes.ca.