Resident says broken Lebanon City water main flooded basement; asks city about reimbursement

John Reardon, a Lebanon resident, told the city council he spent more than 12 hours pumping water from his basement after a water main broke near his home early Friday.

"Our basement was flooding," Reardon said, describing that water began appearing in his driveway about 7 a.m. and that by 10:30 a.m. water was visibly coming up through a floor drain. He said a plumber and city crews eventually attended and that later testing showed the water to be chlorinated, indicating a broken water main.

Reardon said the leak continued through the night until the city repaired the main about 1:15 a.m., and he asked whether the city has a policy or would create one to reimburse homeowners for professional cleaning and pumping costs.

City staff acknowledged the incident and described the response. A public-works representative noted the initial assessment did not show sewage and that crews had difficulty locating underground utilities before digging, which delayed excavation. "There was no sewage coming out of this," the staff member said when describing on-site observations.

Council members and staff encouraged Reardon to remain after the meeting to file a formal claim and submit documentation. Staff also said they would follow up with him about next steps; the council did not vote on any reimbursement policy at the meeting.

The matter remains under follow-up by city staff, who were asked to clarify when and how field tests were performed and whether the city will adopt or publicize a policy for compensating homeowners for damages caused by utility failures.