Washed-out residents of north-end Cartierville used fans, mops and dehumidifiers to clean up soaked basements Monday after the latest deluge that has once again shone the light on Montreal's aging infrastructure.

Some people accuse the city of ignoring complaints about blocked sewers that spill over every time there's a major downpour. The mayor says anyone who has been washed out can sue the city.

Heavy rain created flash floods in parts of the north end on Sunday evening, closing streets and sending water coursing into the basements of about two-dozen homes. Some homeowners suffered $25,000 worth of damage.

One of the worst-hit areas was the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough where the downpour caused sewers to back up at around 9 p.m.

About three feet of water accumulated under the overpass at Marcel-Laurin near Henri-Bourassa. Several drivers were caught by surprise and needed tow trucks to rescue their cars.

Write-off

Some residents were forced to throw out ruined belongings when water gushed into garages from sloping driveways.

Homeowner Isaac Haroutounian said his garage resembled "a small lake."

"It was flooding, flooding, flooding in the basement," he told CTV's Herb Luft.

"(Water) was almost five, six inches high to the legs, to the furniture, the chesterfields."

Another homeowner, who didn't want to give his name, says he's been flooded out four times in 15 years and is fed up.

"I'm moving, that's for sure," he said.

The man says he has complained to the city and even attended borough council meetings to voice his concerns to local politicians, but to no avail.

"I took photos, I give them the files, and nothing (was) done."

Mayor wades in

Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay said the city is fixing sewer pipes but he adds that people who have constant flooding problems can sue for damages.

"Every citizen that has a problem, we do everything that is possible to accommodate them," he said.

"We're telling them that they might have a legal recourse against the city of Montreal ...we will evaluate the different claims on an individual basis."

Petition preparations

Some soaked and frustrated Ahuntsic-Cartierville residents say they'll pass around a petition to push for improvements to the sewer system.