It's one of the largest combined projects ever in Windsor.
The City of Windsor is embarking on $89-million worth of projects next year to help reduce or prevent basement flooding in East Windsor. Twelve projects will add new storm sewers and widen sanitary sewers to improve flow and improve the capacity of three pump stations by 40%.
Mayor Drew Dilkens says the work will improve the St. Paul, Pontiac, and East Marsh pump stations along with the Little River Pollution Control Plant.
"It is an extensive upgrade to the sewer system and that happens on Belleperche from Tranby Ave. to the St. Paul Pump Station," says Dilkens.
The city is applying for $32-million in federal grants to help pay for the projects. If the funding is approved, the projects should be done in 10 years.
Windsor has had two major flooding events over the last two years, affecting over 9,000 people and damaging more than $200-million in property.
All projects are based on sewer inspections done with cameras and smoke over the last year.
Dilkens says other areas affected by basement flooding, like south Windsor, will be addressed with the sewer master plan over the years.
"There will likely be multiple recommendations that come from the sewer master plan, each of which may be $100-million in different projects," the mayor says.
Dilkens says this is a long-term plan to deal with global climate change and bigger storms.
"This is a solution that will absolutely move the needle on future basement flooding events," Dilkens says.