I want to get rid of furniture and other materials soiled due to water in my basement.  What do I do?

Call 311 and request a bulky pickup.  Please tell the 311 operator:

• that the pick up is the result of water in your basement – we will not charge a service fee for the pickup,
• the approximate number of larger items (e.g., tables, couches, mattresses) you are placing out for collection.

Note:  Flood damaged appliances containing ODS (ozone depleting substances such as Freon), such as fridges and freezers, will be picked up but a fee will be charged.

When can I expect pickup of my furniture and other soiled items?

Collection crews are working long hours to pick up the items as quickly as we can starting Tuesday, June 1, 2010, in the south Transcona area.  The pickup may not occur on your regularly scheduled collection day – it may be after hours or on the weekend.

I have water on my street.  What do I do? How long will the water take to drain?

Ponding water on streets will clear as soon as the sewer system, ditches and retention ponds drain, which they are doing right now.  If ponding water persists it could be due to a plugged catch basin or lead pipe.  We are attending to those as quickly as possible.

If another rainstorm hits again later this week, will I get water on my street or in my basement? How can I prepare?

We are vulnerable to another rainstorm because of saturated ground conditions, the system has not fully drained as yet, and the river levels are very high.  To reduce the risk of basement flooding, ensure backwater valves and sump pumps are clean and working, direct downspouts away from your home.  More information is on our web site at: winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/drainageFlooding/basementFlooding.stm

When will the water level in the retention ponds go down?

We expect the water level in most ponds will return to normal levels by the weekend, as long as there isn’t any more significant rainfall.

What safety precautions should I take when cleaning up water and sewage in my basement?

Safety is of the utmost importance when cleaning up water and sewage.  The following websites contain detailed information on how to clean up safely.

• www.winnipeg.ca/emergWeb/Flood/CleaningUp.stm
• www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/2010flood/after_flood_booklet.pdf
• www.wrha.mb.ca

The river levels are high, should I stay off the rivers?

The Winnipeg Police Service is recommending that people stay off the river until further notice. The river levels are extremely high and fast with a lot of debris.

Would standing water and water in ditches have any sewage in it?

Ditches should not have raw sewage in it.  However, runoff from roadways contains many pollutants that drain from the street (e.g., gasoline, oils, antifreeze, street salts) and neighbouring lawns and gardens (e.g., animal waste, geese droppings, herbicides, fertilizers).  Direct contact should be avoided.

Will the standing water be pumped out?

Generally not.  Most ponding water will disappear as the system drains.

My basement has never been flooded.  Does this mean that my home is not at risk?

No.  Even if your neighbourhood has never experienced problems with basement flooding, your home can still be at risk.  Heavy rainstorms that fall over short periods of time can overwhelm any city sewer system.  Overloaded sewers can back up through house sewer lines and flow into basements that aren’t protected.

Since 1977, we've spent more than $290 million improving the City's sewer system. Along with our improvements, the following protective steps that you can take greatly reduce the risk of sewer backup and basement flooding:

• Install a backwater valve and sump pit drainage system
• Check and maintain your backwater valve and sump pit drainage system regularly
• Improve drainage around your house

Is there financial assistance for damages?

Homeowners should contact their insurance company and refer to the Province of Manitoba’s Disaster Financial Assistance program at the Province of Manitoba for possible compensation. The City of Winnipeg does not offer financial assistance for loss or damage resulting from an excessive rain event.

For more information about the Disaster Financial Assistance program visit:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/emo/community/dfa/index.html

Where does the sewage in South Transcona go and how does it travel to the main interceptor?

South Transcona sewage drains by gravity to the interceptor on Dugald Road and eventually to the North End Water Pollution Control Centre.

Why were there water drainage issues in the Transcona area?

Like many locations in the city, even separate sanitary sewers can be overloaded during a rainstorm. This is because a lot of drainage finds its way into the separate system through weeping tile flow, infiltration into sewers, flooded manholes on streets or in ditches, or even through the basements of homes flooded by overland flow. The City continues to recommend properly installed back valves, sump pumps and proper drainage around the house to prevent backup.

Does the City clean debris from private property around the retention ponds?

No. City staff perform the following maintenance activities on retention ponds:

• maintain and operate valves, fountains, and underground structures in the ponds (such as pumps, wells, and gates)
• maintain park areas near the ponds
• pick up debris periodically from the pond and surrounding public property
• control the grasses and weeds that grow through the stone shoreline
• treat aquatic vegetation (algae and water weeds) if necessary