The house of a Montrealer is flooded four times in three summers

A Montrealer whose residence has been repeatedly flooded for two years is. In addition, struggling to find solutions to solve this problem when her insurance has just announced that they would not reimburse her anymore.

“We are caught in a story that never ends. Meanwhile, ” complains Gayle Jarowsalvski, a resident of the Saint-Laurent district for whom problems accumulate each time it rains in Montreal.

His residence, located at the corner of the Lapointe and Sainte-Croix streets, is in a bowl. Nevertheless, During the torrential rains. Nevertheless, the water rises on the streets and the sidewalks, sometimes reaching the exterior stairs of the houses.

Gayle Jaroslawski in front of her house. Similarly, Photo Zoé Arcand

For the most unlucky like M^me Jarowslavski. Therefore, the basements are flooded repeatedly for the third summer in a row, despite the presence of a sponge park, which absorbs rainwater, nearby.

Cousineau park. For example, Photo Zoé Arcand

A problem does not wait for the other

This time. For example, she and her spouse were waiting for the firm foot storm: they had house montrealer flooded four times valves installed in the cellar and they were looking forward to seeing their effectiveness. They also had the floor snatch.

The situation augured well, since less water accumulated in the street only during the storm Debbyin August 2024, she praised. It was then a similar amount of rain in rain in almost as much time.

The accumulation of water at the corner of the Lapointe and Sainte-Croix streets on July 13, 2025. Photo provided by Gayle Jaroslawski

On August 9, 2024, several centimeters of water had accumulated in front of Gayle Jaroslawski. Photo provided by Gayle Jaroslawski

“The valves worked well. we had a less accumulation of water, but we discovered another problem. It is a real headache ”, signs the one who always tried to dry his basement during the passage of Journal.

The subsoil of Gayle house montrealer flooded four times Jaroslawski, a Montrealer, has been repeatedly flooded since 2023 during torrential rains. Photo provided by Gayle Jaroslawski

She discovered that water also infiltrated concrete, previously hidden under the floor. And the costs are accumulating with the problems that have made him spend more than $ 10,000 to date.

Abandoned by insurance

And since the beginning of the month. “insurance no longer covers”, deplores the mother, who will undoubtedly have to invest even more to waterproof her cellar.

Water infiltrates the basement of Gayle Jaroslawski by concrete. Photo provided by Gayle Jaroslawski house montrealer flooded four times

“Before 2023, we had been flooded only once and it was over 20 years ago. I understand that it is explained by climate change, but we need help, ”insists the 58 -year -old woman. Some residents can obtain city subsidies for this type of renovation.

Sponge. company park

The mayor of the arrondissement of Saint-Laurent, Alan de Sousa, deplores that the city has canceled the construction of a retention basin in 2022, which could have contained 60,000 cubic meters of water, or 24 Olympic pools.

Maya Vodanovic. the water manager at the Executive Committee, explains that it would not have been enough to relieve the system. She took the opportunity to announce the construction of a new sponge park at Parc Marcel-Laurin, in Saint-Laurent.

Construction will have to start at the end of 2026. it will be the “largest resilient park in Montreal”, according to M^me house montrealer flooded four times Vodanovic. It will absorb 5 million liters of water (the equivalent of two Olympic pools). will be funded by the City and by Quebec.

Municipal elections will take place in the fall.