Beaches residents say detention tanks add to flooding woes but City staff disagree
Every time a major rainstorm is forecasted to hit Toronto, Beaches resident Steven Roberts starts making phone calls. “I call the central water plant to get them to turn the pumps on,” Roberts said. Those pumps, he argues, drain water out of large underground detention tanks located under a field in Kew Beach — steps […]
During a recent heavy rainstorm in September, residents of the Beaches area in Toronto experienced flooding issues. Steven Roberts, a long-time resident, frequently contacts the central water plant to activate pumps in large underground detention tanks located beneath Kew Beach, near his home. These tanks collect stormwater, and if the pumps are not activated, they overflow, leading to flooding.
However, City staff argue that the tanks are fully automated and do not require manual operation. Despite this, Roberts and several neighbors insist the tanks frequently overflow, exacerbating flood risks. They claim the tanks have been a problem for years, and they have repeatedly requested meetings with city staff to address their concerns.
The city, however, maintains that the tanks are functioning as designed and that the major flooding was due to the substantial amount of rain. They are currently working on a study to determine how to mitigate future flood risks in the neighborhood, with results expected next year. In the meantime, residents are frustrated, pointing to a history of neglect and inaction by city officials.
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