SASKATOON — Spring is in the air and temperatures will continue to rise and fall below freezing. In preparation, City of Saskatoon crews are uncovering catch basins and thawing frozen locations that aren’t draining on the street.
After more than 50 centimetres of snow in six days to start the month of March, there is still a lot of snow piled on residential and business properties. The City encourages residents and businesses to prepare their property for the spring melt; spend time digging out covered catch basins and making a path for snowmelt to drain where it’s safe to do so.
The city urges caution when encountering puddles. Pesky potholes can pop up as moisture gets into cracks in the road, and when they fill up with water, can cause damage to vehicles, as well as a tripping hazard. Drivers also need to pay attention to avoid splashing people on the sidewalk and at bus stops.
What you can expect from the city:
- The storm sewer system can easily carry the flow of snowmelt. Most ponding and flooding around catch basins are caused by ice blocking the drain.
- Crews are defrosting catch basins and clearing gutters to improve drainage, keeping a close eye on intersections prone to flooding.
- City crews will respond quickly to reports of flooding on major streets that is interfering with traffic or has potential for any property damage.
How you can help:
- Clear snow and ice from sidewalks and paths to reduce ponding and dangerous ice during the thaw/freeze cycle.
- Keep snow in your yard. If you throw it on the street, it can create issues for rutting or affect drainage.
- Where possible, safely clear snow, ice and debris from the catch basins in your area.
- Report locations where water is collecting and impacting traffic or crosswalks on busy streets at saskatoon.ca/frozendrain.
- For more urgent situations, call the Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476.
Protect Your Property From Flooding
If the snow melts quickly, your home may be at risk of flooding, even if you haven’t flooded before. We hope that doesn’t happen, but just to be safe, please watch our video on Snowmelt and find more tips to help reduce the risk of a snowmelt flood in your home at saskatoon.ca/snowmelt.
