City responds to rising river levels

WINNIPEG - March 31, 2004 - Substantial rainfall across the southeastern portion of the Red River basin this past weekend has resulted in considerable runoff and rising river levels.

As of 9:00 a.m. this morning the river level was 14.8 feet above James Avenue Datum (James). The river is expected to continue rising rapidly to approximately 16 feet James by the weekend and then rise slowly to a predicted crest of 17-18 feet James on April 8.

Dave Wardrop, Field Service Operations Engineer with the Water and Waste Department says “At 18.0 feet James, the City will have activated 18 of the city’s 34 flood pump stations, nine temporary pumps and 107 of the total 258 sewer gates.” When closed the sewer gates located at outlets to the river block the river from flowing back into the sewer system. The pumping stations and temporary pumps, pump runoff from the sewer system into the river.”

Wardrop says as a result of last weekends heavy rain, combined with melt water from snow cover, sewer flows are high. This combined with decreased capacity in the system as a result of elevated river levels, has increased the potential for sewer backup in the event of another heavy rainfall.”

He says the best defense for property owners against sewer backup is to have a licensed plumber install a backwater valve and sump pit. In addition, homeowners should ensure water drains away from exterior basement walls by building up the ground adjacent to the walls and extending eaves trough downspouts to direct water away from the basement walls.

Wardrop says river levels of 18 feet James also requires sandbagging at 13 locations in the city using a total of 29,000 sandbags. In response the City has set up one of its “SandBagger” machines, which can produce 23,000 sandbags per eight-hour shift.

Affected property owners are being contacted and sand bags will be delivered to the required sites beginning today. Property owners are responsible for constructing the required sandbag dikes. City staff will provide technical information regarding location and height of dikes, as well as instructions on proper dike construction.

Property owners who require sandbags to deal with runoff water from adjacent fields or similar situations may pick up bags at the following locations:

Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
1539 Waverley St., 849 Ravelston Ave. or 1220 Pacific Ave.

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
1539 Waverley only

In related activities, city crews have removed the approximate 70 light standards from along the Assiniboine River Walkway to prevent damage from ice and debris in the river. The elevation of the river walk is 8.5 feet James.

In 1997 the river peaked at 24.5 feet above James Avenue Datum. Normal summer water level is 6.5 feet James.

List of locations requiring sandbags & quantity for diking: