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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

City advises installation of sewer backup valves

By: Bartley Kives

Posted: 03/1/2013 10:32 AM | Comments: 0

The City of Winnipeg has once again advised property owners to install sewer backup valves in the face of high river levels expected this spring.

Earlier this week, the province projected mild to moderate flooding along the Red and Assiniboine rivers this spring.

Given average precipitation over the next two months, the Red in Winnipeg is expected to crest at 17.4 feet above normal winter ice levels at the James Avenue monitoring station, a level which would lead the city to take some flood-mitigation measures but would not threaten many properties.

If little snow and rain falls in the coming weeks, the crest could be as low as 14.1 feet James, a level the city would not even record as a flood.

Conversely, a lot of snow and rain could push the crest up to 19.7 feet, a level that would likely require dozens of properties outside the city's primary dikes to require sandbagging. But that level is still below the crests of the 2006, 2009 and 2011 floods.

The city is monitoring forecasts to determine what, if any measures need to be taken this spring, public works announced this morning.

The department also advised property owners to install sewer backup valves, inspect existing ones and ensure sump pumps are working properly.

Property owners along rivers have also been asked to remove or secure low-lying structures such as docks or sheds.

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