As snow melts and streets flood, here’s how to handle the deluge

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Rapidly warming temperatures are melting the snow in Regina and creating giant puddles in city streets.

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That comes after a recent extreme cold period which led to frozen water mains and flooded streets. In just one week, water main breaks in Regina doubled from 17 to 35, said Helene Henning-Hill, the city’s manager of sewer and drainage operations.

“The frost is deep into the ground and that actually is hard to manage, and that’s when water mains start to break and some of these larger leaks start to happen,” Henning-Hill told reporters outside of the waterworks building on Tuesday afternoon. “And that water also needs to get into our system, so that’s kind of dual-fold there.”

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The melting snow is a situation the City of Regina faces each year.

Right now there’s a large amount of accumulated and compressed snow — called snowpack — which needs to melt and be cycled through the water system.

One way the city mitigates that issue is by having road crews proactively remove snow or create paths for the melted snow to drain into the nearest water channel. This takes place in areas with high snowpack or in newer parts of the city that might lack drainage ditches.

While noting there is no particular area of concern at present, Henning-Hill said the creek and storm channels are designed to move the snowmelt through the city safely.

Residents can help prevent pools of water on their streets and near homes by clearing storm drains when possible. However, people should be cautious in case of debris.

If storm drains cannot be cleared, residents should call city services for jet trucks to steam the drains open. But Henning-Hill noted the city is likely to experience an ongoing freeze-thaw cycle that might plug and unplug drains.

Residents can protect their homes from snowmelt by shovelling it away from the foundation, leaving about six feet of space. It also helps to create paths for melted snow to drain into the city’s water system.

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It’s important to ensure that eavestroughs are cleared of debris while downspouts should be directed away from the foundation to prevent water from seeping into the home.

Residents can also exercise another layer of caution by moving valuables out of basements or into plastic totes in case of leaks.

Some homes may have a sump pump in the basement to collect and expel accumulated water. Residents should ensure their pumps are in working order to avoid flooding. The same goes for backflow devices that prevent water from moving in the wrong direction in household pipes.

Henning-Hill reminded people to avoid walking on frozen storm channels and Wascana Lake as the weather warms and ice thins. Parents should also be wary of children playing in puddles since deep water can dislodge storm drain lids, she added.

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