It could be six weeks before residents of a Laval neighbourhood are allowed to return home after a flood.
Excavation crews cut through a 16-inch pipe around 3 p.m. Tuesday, forcing 90 residents to leave their homes.
The pipe, which is located on the service road on the north side of westbound Highway 440, was connected to a series of quadriplexes on Bedard St.
Up to two metres of water filled basements and, power to the area was cut off to prevent injury.
The city and fire department worked overnight to stop the leak.
In the meantime the residents were taken in by the Red Cross, but many will need to find longer-term accommodations.
"I know that it's a health issue at this point because the water aqueduct that broke went into the sewer pipe and everything was flushed backwards, so everything has to be cleaned and decontaminated," said Franco Di Genova of the Laval police department.
Up to 90 residents had to leave their homes on Tuesday, but several houses were empty.
"I was told earlier this morning that there are a couple of houses where the residents are out on vacation somewhere," said Di Genova.
One resident told CTV Montreal she doesn't think she will be allowed home until June, and at this point is just relieved that she has extensive flood insurance.
