RAIN, ROADWAYS & YOU: INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS IN NEAR RECORD MOISTURE LEVELS Saskatoon is experiencing the second soggiest 30 day period on record, with the possibility of exceeding that record if rain continues. The past 30 days have brought nearly 200 mm of rain of which 100 mm fell in the past week. “Ground water is high, river levels are high, soil is saturated and storm sewers flow is increased,” Galen Heinrichs, Engineering Manager at Saskatoon Water says. “The rain is also preventing us from patching potholes, plus it contributes to the development of more,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. Roads where excavations occurred (utility cuts) that are covered with gravel waiting for paving can also become bumpy as moisture soaks in. Grader crews are packing and leveling gravel-covered locations on high-traffic streets until the area is dry enough for permanent paving. Gravel back lanes and rural roads may also be experiencing this, if possible, drivers are asked to avoid such areas until they dry further to prevent greater damage. The City of Saskatoon has infrastructure in place to reduce the frequency and severity of basement flooding and we also encourage residents to take necessary steps with their own home. These steps include: • Extend downspouts at least six feet from your basement walls to help keep water away from the foundation and weeping tile. • Clean debris from your eavestroughs to prevent them from overflowing. • Build up the ground slope around your home so water flows away from your basement walls. • Check the drainage paths on your property to ensure storm water flows to the lane or street, not towards your home. • Repair all leaks in walls, floors, windows and doors. • Install window wells around basement windows to help prevent window sills from rotting and leaking. • If you have protective plumbing such as a backflow valve and a sump pump, make sure they are working properly. For more information on flood prevention in your home visit saskatoon.ca and look under “F” for Flooding. Call customer service at 306-975-2476 if you have water in your basement or to report a hazardous location on the roads.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 19:55:12 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015