MONTREAL -

The water is gone, but the damage is still there.

Residents and businesses are cleaning up after a major water main break Sunday in the Snowdon area of Cote-des-Neiges.

A 45-year-old pipe burst along Decarie Blvd. – the south-side service road to the Decarie Expressway -- between Queen Mary and Cote St. Luc Rds.

One lane of the Decarie Expressway was also closed.

The water main broke at about 6 a.m., causing thousands of litres of water to gush into several buildings over a two-block span, forcing at least two families our of their homes.

While the repairs have started, local businesses are concerned this could lead to a drought in customers.

The Decarie South service road was blocked off to traffic Monday between Queen Mary and Cote St Luc.

The city expects to keep the service road closed for about a week and a half.

Residents, business owners mop up

Business owner Moo Wong said she was too upset to speak when her below-street-level dry-cleaning business, which she has owned for 20 years, was heavily damaged by the flood.

"It's hard for her, because as you can see there's a lot of damage and a lot of cleanup and she can't do that on her own," said her friend Philip Shun.

Owners of cars parked along the service road were instructed by city officials not to move them, because the city inspectors are unsure if the infrastructure is solid and is at slight risk for a minor collapse.

Nearby Coolbrook Ave. resident Arthur Adrien said he lost everything in his basement apartment in less than two hours.

"I heard water dripping, and I got off my bed and there was one foot of water already on the floor," he said.