Vancouver Apartment Parking Flooded by Water Main Break, Sustaining Major Damage
The recent water main break in Vancouver caused significant flooding in an apartment building’s underground parking facility. Residents of the Arbutus Ridge complex experienced a startling scene on a weekend morning when they were awakened by car alarms.
Major Flooding in Vancouver Apartment Parking
As much as three feet of water filled the parking lot, converting it into a temporary pool. “Stored tires were floating in the basement,” described resident Ingrid Kastens, highlighting the unusual circumstances. Cars were submerged, with one resident’s vehicle becoming stranded amid the flood.
Impacts of the Flood
Among the damaged vehicles was a collector’s edition Ferrari, signed by Michael Schumacher, which suffered substantial water damage. Kastens remarked that in her two decades of residency, she had never witnessed something like this.
- Location: Arbutus Ridge Apartment Building, Vancouver
- Depth of Flooding: Up to three feet
- Sample Vehicle Damaged: Ferrari signed by Michael Schumacher
- Damaged Areas: Four basement units, water heaters, and furnaces
- Outcome: Electrical room remained unaffected
Cause of the Water Main Break
The flooding was traced back to a burst water main near Yew and West 32nd Avenue. Water gushed half a kilometer down the road due to this failure. City officials indicate that the rupture was likely caused by aging infrastructure and specific ground conditions.
City Response and Concerns
The City of Vancouver announced that repairs to the water main have been completed. With one of the oldest municipal water systems in Canada, residents are concerned about future incidents. The risk of similar flooding may increase with ongoing urban densification.
