Weekend downpour floods Winnipeg basements

Plumbers and homeowners in Winnipeg are scrambling to deal with basementfloodingthanks to this weekend's heavy rainfall.

Environment Canada says thesoggy weekend was causedby two weather systems that spread rain from Friday to Sunday.

Upwardof 71.8 millimetres of rain fell at The Forks in Winnipeg over the weekend, according to Environment Canada.

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The City of Winnipeg says as of Monday morning, it has received27 reports of sewer backups.

But Dino Sylvestri of Mr. Rooter says the realnumber of basements with sewer backupsis probably closer to 300.

Sylvestri told CBC Newshe and other plumbers across the cityhave been inundatedwith emergency calls from homeowners since 5 p.m. Sunday.

"An overwhelming number of calls probably in the neighbourhood of 30 legitimate calls for drain backup," he said, adding that he has had to bring in more plumbers to work Monday evening to keep up with demand.

Sylvestri said some people now have damaged furnaces and hot water tanks, as well as contaminated carpets and furniture.

Failed sump pumps and leaking foundations are causing flooding in some basements, he added.

The city saidit has received at least83 reports of clean water leaking into properties and100 reports of plugged or slow-draining catch basins over the weekend.