VIDEO: Threat of flooding looms over Niagara as heavy rain forecast | CHCH NEWS

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the Niagara Region today, forecasting upwards of 50 millimetres of rain.

While there is no significant rainfall reported this afternoon, the next 24 hours could see the same type of storm pattern that caused major basement flooding across the region weeks ago.

“Training storms” are back-to-back-to-back systems that bring heavy volumes of rain to a localized area over a short period. This dynamic drove the initial wave of storm damage in St. Catharines and the Town of Lincoln, and remains the primary concern for the incoming system.

“The special weather advisory today kind of feels like some cosmic joke.”

— Ashley Brown, St. Catharines resident

For the Brown family in St. Catharines, the first round of storms brought floodwater straight through their basement window. “I think it makes us all shudder just a little bit,” Brown told CHCH News as residents monitor conditions and prepare for another wet 24 hours.

Video & Report via CHCH News

The Rat Surge: What Niagara Floods Could Mean for Neighbourhood Pests

Just when we thought the worst of the summer storm cleanup was finally behind us across Niagara... another mess could surface.

Between late July and early August, our region was hit by two severe, back-to-back storms that overwhelmed municipal drainage, left heavy standing water across neighbourhood roads, and flooded basements across the area—mine included, twice. It was exhausting, frustrating, and pushed storm systems past capacity.

Now that the water has receded, if you put two and two together on where all that runoff went, we aren't the only ones dealing with disrupted spaces. When underground sewer lines and burrows submerge, rodents are forced upward to seek dry ground—and our yards, foundations, and garages could easily become their next stop...

Flooded municipal sewer lines and storm drains push subterranean pests upward toward residential areas.
Illustration by SCG NIAGARA

The Science of Displacement: Why Post-Storm Conditions Matter

You might not see pests darting down the sidewalk in broad daylight—rats are nocturnal and avoid open spaces whenever possible. However, basic urban pest biology explains why severe flooding disrupts their habitat so drastically.

Niagara's Tap Water is Ranked #1 in Ontario

For years, locals and visitors alike have poured a glass of tap water in the Niagara Region without realizing they are sipping an award-winning beverage. While most people take municipal utilities for granted, the unique infrastructure behind our local water supply recently brought home a massive point of pride for our community.

Niagara's local tap water supply consistently ranks among the highest quality in the province.
Illustration by SCG NIAGARA

The Tastiest Tap Water in Ontario

To the delight and surprise of many residents, the Niagara Region officially claimed the title for Ontario's Tastiest Tap Water. The prestigious award was handed out at the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) conference, where the Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant won a highly competitive blind taste test voted on by over 1,000 industry professionals. Proving it wasn't a fluke, the region's water team defended their crown the following year when the Rosehill Water Treatment Plant in Fort Erie brought home gold for a back-to-back victory.

St. Catharines - Not so Ratty After All

Hmmm... for some reason, we thought St. Catharines was one of the rattiest cities in Ontario.

Perhaps it stemmed back from an old 2016 article we read about a former GM property on Ontario Street in St. Catharines that was infested with rats (see more near end of post!)... and then later, our own experience with them outside an old townhouse we used to live in.

So needless to say, we were quite surprised when Orkin came out with their Top 25 'Rattiest' Cities in Ontario and discovered St. Catharines barely made the list. Yay for St. Catharines!

Image: Orkin

According to their website, Orkin ranked the cities by the number of rodents (rat & mice) treatments the company performed from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021. The ranking included both residential and commercial treatments.