Mill Woods residents blame poor drainage for summer floods

More than 100 Mill Woods residents whose homes were flooded this summer are blaming the city over a lack of poor drainage in the southeast Edmonton community.

The residents packed the North Millbourne community hall Monday night at a public meeting with members of the city's drainage department.

Almost one third of the 1,700 basements flooded in Edmonton's storms in July are in Mill Woods.

Resident Eric Colburn told drainage officials that overflow ponds built by the city as flood prevention did not fill up with water.

"I thought that the dry pond should have pooled water and held it there instead of in between lanes of traffic or in my basement," he said.

City officials say the ponds worked as designed.

Nonetheless the city is spending $50 million in further flood protection in Mill Woods, including a new storm sewer relief pipe which should be ready by next May.

"The new storm tunnel should provide a much greater capacity for flood relief in this neighbourhood," said drainage services manager Chris Ward.

The city is also applying to the province for disaster relief.