Residents of Toronto’s Beaches-East York Ward have demanded infrastructure improvements after decades of sewage flooding, according to a Toronto Sun report. Joanne Dicaire, a Kew Beach resident, described the recurring issue as “very stressful and very dirty,” adding, “It’s unhealthy!” The problem, she said, has persisted for 20 years, with basements flooding during heavy rains. Steve Roberts, Dicaire’s husband, attributed the issue to the neighborhood’s position as a sewage “juncture” on the way to the Ashbridges Bay treatment plant, where pipes are among the city’s oldest and smallest.
The geographic layout of Toronto, described as a “bowl” sloping toward Lake Ontario, exacerbates the flooding, with rainwater flowing toward the lake and stopping at Kew Beach or similar neighborhoods. Roberts also cited densification and development as contributing factors, noting that modern condos and townhouses lack the lawns of older single-family homes that once absorbed rainwater. The group is using the municipal election to push for changes, framing the issue as a call for better infrastructure and waste management.
Resident Accounts Describe Chronic Sewage Flooding
Dicaire emphasized the “unhealthy” conditions caused by sewage backups, while Roberts highlighted the aging infrastructure. “Our neighborhood is at a sewage ‘juncture’ on the way to the Ashbridges Bay treatment plant,” he said. The couple’s account aligns with the Sun’s report that the pipes in Kew Beach are “among Toronto’s oldest and smallest.”
Geographic and Infrastructure Challenges
The city’s topography, with water flowing toward Lake Ontario, has led to repeated flooding in low-lying areas like Kew Beach. Roberts linked the problem to urban development, stating that “large front lawns of single-family homes” have been replaced by denser housing without green spaces to absorb rain.
The Sun’s report underscores the residents’ frustration, with the group using the municipal election to amplify their demands for systemic changes. A 2017 flood at Woodbine Beach, captured in a photo by Ernest Doroszuk, highlights the recurring nature of the issue. Basements near Kew Beach have flooded “every few years for the past two decades,” the article states. The group’s campaign, titled “They’re trying to get the ‘ew’ out of Kew Beach,” reflects their urgency.
Toronto Sun: Kew Beach Flooding Election City Infrastructure
Development and Aging Systems
Roberts noted that “much of what sits uphill from Kew Beach is a condo or a townhome – some with no lawns at all.” This shift in housing has reduced the natural absorption of rainwater, exacerbating the sewage overflow. The city’s “bowl” shape, with water flowing toward Lake Ontario, has made Kew Beach a frequent flood zone.
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