Local

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.

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.