Niagara-on-the-Lake is reassuring residents that their drinking water remains safe after a major overnight rainfall event caused flooding across parts of the community, including the hardest-hit area of Virgil.
More than 146 millimetres of rain fell on Virgil in just five hours, the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake said, overwhelming drainage systems that were already strained by saturated ground, high lake levels and full waterways.
Municipal crews have been on the ground since overnight Monday, monitoring conditions, operating pumps, clearing hazards and responding to flooding concerns from residents.
Despite the heavy flooding, the Town says there have been no watermain breaks or interruptions to the water supply, and tap water remains safe to drink.
"No infrastructure can completely prevent flooding during extreme weather events," officials said, noting that while investments have been made to improve stormwater systems, the scale of Monday's rainfall exceeded what drainage networks can handle.
The Town is urging residents to avoid flooded roads and waterways, and to report any flooding or sewer backups to municipal officials.
The response comes as communities across the Niagara Region continue to deal with the aftermath of the storm, with saturated ground and elevated lake levels leaving drainage systems with little capacity to absorb additional water.
