The City of Montreal and West Island municipalities announced new flood‑mitigation measures on Saturday, following the fourth flash‑flood event in the area since 2017. Torrential rains on June 24 caused rapid water rise that inundated homes across the West Island, prompting officials to outline a longer‑term response.
Municipal leaders said the plan will add additional sponge parks and retention basins to the existing network of flood‑control infrastructure. These green spaces are designed to absorb excess rainwater, temporarily store runoff, and release it slowly, thereby reducing the pressure on drainage systems during heavy storms. The inclusion of retention basins will complement the sponge parks by providing further capacity to hold water that would otherwise surge into residential streets.
The decision follows a pattern of repeated flash floods that have affected the West Island over the past decade. Since the first recorded event in 2017, the region has experienced three similar incidents, each triggered by sudden, intense rainfalls. The cumulative impact of these floods has highlighted the vulnerability of the area’s built environment and the need for measures that go beyond short‑term emergency response.
Officials emphasized that the new measures form part of a broader strategy aimed at improving resilience across the West Island. While the immediate focus is on expanding green infrastructure, the plan also calls for ongoing assessment of flood risk and coordination between the City of Montreal and the surrounding municipalities. The goal is to create a sustainable framework that can better protect homes and neighbourhoods from future flash‑flood events.