State of emergency may be lifted Tuesday for flooded Rigaud
CBC News | Posted: April 24, 2017 4:07 PM | Last Updated: April 24, 2017
Officials still concerned about local drinking water supplies due to overflowing septic tanks
The mayor of Rigaud, Que., says he expects the city will lift a state of emergency order Tuesday, six days after the community imposed the order to deal with flooding from the nearby Ottawa River.
The committee that's responsible for reviewing the state of emergency met Monday night.
Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr. said with water levels down about a foot in the community, the order is likely to be lifted tomorrow.
Once that happens, he said, insurance companies will be able to appraise the damage.
A total of 524 homes are affected by the flood, and Gruenwald said that many homes are still under water.
Thirty-three people are being helped by the Red Cross, he said.
The community is still concerned about the state of local drinking water supplies and it is not clear when the water will be safe to drink.
Most of the community's water comes from wells that city officials fear may now be contaminated by overflowing septic tanks.
Around 7,500 people live in Rigaud, which is located 25 kilometres west of the island of Montreal.