Damages resulting from water main break

Remember that huge water main break a few weeks ago in Niagara Falls that spilled more than a million gallons into the streets?

It left behind thousands of dollars in damage to some homes, and tonight homeowners are calling on the city to pay up.

The water main break dumped 12 million gallons of water into the Lasalle neighborhood.

Basements were flooded, appliances destroyed.

In the case of Thomas Pappineau and his wife, it caused $5,000 in damage to the home they just moved into 4 months ago.

Pappineau said, "Everything was brand new and remodeled down cellar. I was putting the installation in myself."

Matthew Fleming, a Niagara Falls Resident, said "I was just amazed. I had never seen water that high in a basement, probably up to my chest."

Between 30 to 50 homes have some kind of damage.

Now, people who live in those homes want to know if the Water Board is going to reimburse them.

"I believe the claim they'll have to make is a negligence claim and the basis is that the water board didn't follow its duties in maintaining its water pipes," said Attorney Thomas Weber.

The Water Board declined an invitation to speak at Tuesday night's neighborhood meeting.

The board sent a letter instead,which in part, states the water main break did not happen as a result of the board's negligence.

A Judge or jury will make the final decision if home owners decide to sue.

"They're gonna look at all the circumstances, the status of the pipe, was it repaired before, did they have previous knowledge that there had been breaks in that pipe."

Home owners have until June 23rd to file a notice of claim for their damages.

The municipality then has 30 days to investigate those claims and if homeowners decide to file a lawsuit, they must do so before June of next year.