Why Montreal homeowners are seeing repeated basement floods

After decades without flooding, some homeowners in Montreal’s West Island are now dealing with repeated basement damage year after year. In DollarddesOrmeaux, resident Arlene ThompsonMaclaren says her home has flooded three times since 2024, forcing her to tear out walls, insulation and flooring each time. Experts quoted in the report say the pattern is being driven by a mix of factors, including heavier rain linked to a warmer atmosphere, aging drainage systems and more paved surfaces from urban development. They say older neighbourhoods were not built for the kind of intense storms now affecting the region. Specialists say there is no single fix. Possible responses include infrastructure upgrades, more green space, better water retention measures and homeowners using floodresilient materials and maintenance steps such as sump pumps and backwater valves.