Flood victims warn of sewage-contaminated items vanishing from Nepean curbs

Strangers are picking items off Nepean curbs that were damaged in last month's Canada Day storm, and flood victims are warning that many of those belongings are contaminated with sewer water and pose serious health risks.

The Bard family threw out roughly $30,000 worth of household items after sewage-tainted floodwaters ruined them. They placed the contaminated goods on their lawn for pickup, but within days, people were taking weights, Lego sets, and luggage — items the family had warned were filled with "poo-water." The couple has been checking Facebook Marketplace to see if the distinctive R2D2-printed American Tourister suitcases show up for resale.

Health Canada guidelines state that sewage-contaminated products pose a "severe biohazard risk due to dangerous pathogens" and cannot be reliably sanitized for safe use. Exposure can lead to bacterial infections. Products contaminated with sewer water must be immediately disposed of and cannot be salvaged.

Lisa Gee, who lives in the College ward — one of the three hardest-hit neighborhoods — has also witnessed multiple strangers picking furniture and belongings from her and her neighbors' front lawns. She shares the concern that these items may be resold online to unsuspecting buyers.

The city waived its three-item garbage limit for curb pickup in the three most affected wards after the storm and has collected more than 2,600 tonnes of debris since July 1. While the city's efforts accelerated cleanup, scavenging has also cleared some piles — but not before posing a risk to whoever takes those contaminated goods.