City residents are encouraged to contact city hall to report large puddles or flooding as the March melting season gets underway.
That can be done by calling 311, sending an email to [email protected], submitting a service request through the city website, www.princegeorge.ca, or the CityofPG app, or by dropping by the service centre on the first floor at city hall, 1100 Patricia Blvd. Those calling from outside city limits can call 250-561-7600
Taking the step helps the city prioritize and plan, city utilities manager Wil Wedel said.
The utilities division has a crew of about 40 people who keep their eyes on more than 5,500 storm drains to keep them as clog-free as possible and to prevent traffic issues and localized flooding.
The city's roads and fleet division also provides crews and equipment, including snow plows, to address open ditch and culvert flooding and drainage issues.
Workers use a variety of means including GPS mapping and metal detectors to locate drains and steel grates buried under snow and ice.
At this time of year, they may use vacuum trucks to remove water from puddles and expose drains and melt ice with steam units to allow meltwater to drain freely down drains, culverts, and storm inlets.
It is the responsibility of property owners to procure pumps and other materials and tools necessary to protect their properties from damage due to flooding.
They can work to prevent large puddles and ponding near their homes by ensuring that debris such as leaves, plastic, or paper are not covering nearby storm drains.
Residents are also reminded not to use sprinklers to melt snow and ice, and that those who do may be subject to a fine as per city bylaws.
"Sandbagging, tarping, ditching, and clearing clogged drains and culverts are all effective measures for reducing the risk of flooding," said Wedel. "Residents with houses at risk for basement flooding are advised to have sump pumps available and to be prepared to work with neighbours to divert water to the closest storm drains."
