Retention ponds allay Greenvale flood fears

Life at the Greenvale Housing Development returned to normal and residents seemed more relaxed on Monday after mild flooding, caused by heavy rain on Sunday morning, sent them into panic mode.

When Newsday passed through the area on Monday morning, the water had receded and the pumps were on, moving water from one retention pond into the other.

Though some water managed to get into one house on Sunday, it didn’t damage appliances or furniture. Residents didn’t want to take any chances, so they moved items upstairs. Many were preparing for a possible repeat of the 2018 flooding, which affected around 300 homes. Homeowners took their pets inside and moved their vehicles out of the development. Others were seen walking to the muster point at the entrance around noon as the drains started to overflow.

Shortly afterwards, the Housing Development Corporation asked residents not to panic but to trust the mitigation system installed after the 2018 flood to prevent the water from entering the development. The mitigation system includes two retention ponds and three pumps near the entrance of the development.