Residents’ homes, farmers’ crops and various town, organizational and rural infrastructure are paying the price of an incredibly high water table this summer.
Gary Edom, administrator for the Town of Davidson, said to try and help people recover these costs they have sent an application in to the Saskatchewan Department of Government Relations to have the town declared a disaster area due to the numerous property owners who have suffered damage to their basements from excessive groundwater seeping in. He said if the town qualifies as a disaster area then residents, businesses and community building owners who have experienced flooding problems can apply for help through the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) to get back some of the costs associated with replacing items that are lost.
According to a Saskatchewan Government news release, the PDAP covers uninsurable and essential property and is designed to help residents, small businesses and community organizations among other groups recover from the effects of natural disasters. Eligible claims can include clean-up costs, the replacement of essential household items, structural repair and restoration and preventative measures taken during a disaster.
“The program is meant to help people,” said Davidson Mayor Clayton Schneider. “A lot of problems in town were due to water seepage and a lot of that is not covered under insurance. It’s a program that will help our town or the residents of our town when they need it. They’re going to be buying sump pumps…and this is just a program where they can get some money back and help with such a disaster.”
An employee with the Town of Davidson confirmed the problem of groundwater seepage is widespread among its residents. This flooding ranges from gallons of water flowing into some property basements to small dribbles coming into others.
The government release states a resident who applies for assistance through PDAP and is accepted would have up to 95 per cent of all eligible expenses, minus taxes, incurred because of a natural disaster covered. Homeowners may be eligible for up to $240,000 in compensation and small businesses and nonprofit organizations may be eligible for up to $500,000.
Edom said the town has been dealing with groundwater seepage at their library building on Washington Street, but wouldn’t use the program to get back any costs associated with fixing it due to the small amount of damage received. He said they are currently using a “little gear pump” to suck out the water and have put in a sump pump in the furnace room to try and get water out of the ground.
To read more please see the July 7 print edition of The Davidson Leader.