Published May 19, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
![\"Flood,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0514-cd-drainage3.cd_-e1778595849626-2.jpg\")
Blenheim resident Greg Bayly took this photo of flooding in his backyard following a massive rainfall in mid-April when rain water flowed of a farm field behind his home. (Supplied photo)Article content<\/p>\n
Some help is on the way for homeowners in a Blenheim subdivision that have experienced significant flooding in the past during massive rainfall events from water flowing from a nearby farm field.<\/p>\n
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Following a massive rainfall in mid-April, several homes on Mango Lane in Blenheim had ankle-deep water in their backyards that included run off from a 18 hectare (40-acre) farm field behind their properties.<\/p>\n
Storm water master plans for Blenheim and Wheatley will be initiated this year \u201cto identify upgrades and long-term strategies to improve storm water performance and reduce flooding risk,\u201d said Marissa Mascarro-Amyotte, director of engineering in an email.<\/p>\n
Residents will receive more information as these projects are initiated later this year that will include public consultation to identify concerns, receive input and help inform the study process, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile these plans support long-term improvements, storm systems cannot be designed to prevent all flooding,\u201d Mascarro-Amyotte said.<\/p>\n
She noted the municipality has completed storm water master plans for Tilbury, Ridgetown and Shrewsbury and continues to implement their recommendations.<\/p>\n
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Blenheim resident Greg Bayly stands near a catch basin on the edge of a farm field behind his Mango Lane home that he said gets overwhelmed trying to drain the 18 hectare field during heavy rainfalls. (Ellwood Shreve\/Chatham Daily News) jpg, CD, apsmc<\/p>\n
The Chatham Daily News previously reported concerns by Mango Lane resident Greg Bayly that the recent incident was the fourth time in 16 years his backyard and basement have been flooded from water flowing off the nearby farm field.<\/p>\n
Noting a storm water masterplan is a \u201cnice title,\u201d Bayly said, \u201cfirst of all, I\u2019d have to see the plan, see the details.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also wants to know what the timeline is and if the plan can be executed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m worried that, eventually, I\u2019m going to have a mass flood,\u201d Bayly said.<\/p>\n
So far, water has only seeped in through the weeping holes in the brick of his house, but he said if a stick floating in flood water breaks his basement window \u201cmy basement is done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bayly said he is planning to circulate a petition in the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
During large rain events, storm sewers and ditches can become full, and pump stations may reach their maximum operating capacity to move water downstream, Mascarro-Amyotte said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen this occurs, sump pumps and private storm water systems may not be able to discharge properly into municipal storm sewers, increasing the risk of basement flooding,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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Information on basement flooding and steps homeowners can take to reduce the risks on private property can be found on the municipality\u2019s website at www.chatham-kent.ca\/services\/maintenance\/Pages\/Basement-Flooding-Information.aspx<\/a>.<\/p>\n Storm water infrastructure is managed through a combination of systems, Mascarro-Amyotte said.<\/p>\n She noted the Ontario Drainage Act provides a framework for drainage in rural areas, where shared systems are designed, constructed, and maintained with costs distributed among benefiting landowners.<\/p>\n \u201cThese systems are designed based on typical storm parameters and in accordance with provincial regulations and best practices, and they cannot be designed to prevent flooding in every condition,\u201d Mascarro-Amyotte said.<\/p>\n Additionally, not all ditches and storm sewers fall under this Act, she said.<\/p>\n In urban areas, infrastructure may include municipal systems and Drainage Act systems, Mascarro-Amyotte said.<\/p>\n In addition, some drainage systems may be privately owned and maintained between properties, and do not fall under either framework, she said.<\/p>\n Private property conditions also play an important role, features such as private drain connections and grading can affect performance, so homeowners are encouraged to review available resources and take steps on their properties to help reduce their risk as well, Mascarro-Amyotte said.<\/p>\n