London is still cleaning up from weekend flooding, but more rain is on the way

Keep your rain boots by the front door this week, Londoners.

The region is still recovering from flooding alongstreets, walkways, fields and basements from the rainfall this weekend, but more rain is in the forecastfor this week.

Along the Thames River in London, water levels peaking Sunday and remain higher than normal but are now dropping fairly quickly,said a spokesperson for theThe Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).

TheUTRCAis urgingthe publictostay away fromrivers, pondsand standing water.

"They're fun to watch at this time of year when they're flowing so high and fast, but they are also quite hazardous," saidEleanor Heagy, spokesperson fortheUpper Thames River Conservation Authority.

"The banks are really slippery. Water is very cold, very fast moving now," Heagy said."Look at it from a distance.Stay away.Make sure children and pets stay out of it as well."

Showers are expected to start Monday evening and continue with periods of rainthrough Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Environment Canada.

The three-day forecast is calling for about30 to 40 mm of rain, saidHeagy.Rivers and streams are expected to rise again if the precipitation comes, but the UTRCA doesn't expect levels to reach as high as last week,she said.

"The ground is so saturated right now. If we do get rain, the streams and rivers are responding really quickly because that's just running off, it's not soaking into the ground," Heagy said.

Londoners dealing with weekendflooding

Old South resident Stephen Turnerwoke up early Saturday morning to find his basement filled with about two feet of water. It's the first flood he's had in 18 years living in the house.

"My couch was floating past me," saidthe former London city councillor, who lost sentimental photos and baby books in the flood.His sump pump was working, he said, but his backyard was filled with water, so there was nowhere for the water to go.

The City of London has basement and yard flooding programsand grants to help prevent flooding, he said.

Water problems meanlocal plumbersand restoration companies aredealing with the aftermath offlooding in homes across the region.

Aron Oretan, the owner of Triton Plumbing in London, said he's been busier than normalresponding to the calls of wet basements, failed sump pumps and drain issues.

"We'remostly seeing old sump pumps failing," he said.

He suggests replacing sump pumps every seven to 10 years, and installing a battery-powered back-up in case power goes out. "Ifyour primary pump fails to go on in, the secondary pump can go on," he said, adding water alarms and backwater valves can also help.

Take extreme caution near the river, fire platoon chiefwarns

Fire fighters spent hours searchingthe Thames River in London Saturday afternoon after reports of heavy rains washing away homeless encampments.

After an extensive searchlasting hours, no one was found, Shewell said."Individuals were able to move away from the river, so fortunately, no one was hurt," he said.

Fortunately, the search was a precaution to make sure everyone was accounted for and safe, he said.

London's Fire Departmentis urging Londoners to take "extreme caution" near the Thames River.

"It's very enticing to get close to the river and get that selfie or get that picture. But be very mindful that the shores are very soft with the rain that we've had in the past few days," saidColin Shewell, platoon chief with the London Fire Department.

He asks Londoners to remain cautious."Enjoy the great river from a bit of a distanceto make sure you and your family are safe," Shewell said.