Residents in the Town of Essex get an update Tuesday night on a major sewer project aimed at preventing basement flooding in Ward One.
Many residents experienced basement flooding last year, prompting town council to approve a $2.2-million upgrade for the sewer system.
Karl Grymonprez, who lives on Iler Ave., told council last June the water was coming in so fast, his sump pump didn't have a chance to work properly.
“We’ve never had water issues in this town like we do the past year,” he said. “For me to babysit a sump pump for nine hours that fills in 30 seconds, there is something wrong.”
Since then, Ward One Councillor Steve Bjorkman says he's had no calls about basement flooding, although he's had a few about yards and streets overflowing.
"Part of that is getting people to understand that your road is supposed to flood, and your yard will flood because we're trying to let as much storm water blast into the sewers," he says. "That's when we get overwhelmed."
Fortunately, Bjorkman says the weather has cooperated with construction.
"I was pretty worried about that forecast over the weekend, but it didn't really show up for Essex Centre," says Bjorkman. "We look like we're on time."
Council doesn't have a specific date set to finish the project up by but hopes to have it done this fall.