CALGARY – This weekend’s warm weather may have thrilled some Calgarians, but for others it caused nothing but trouble.
The climbing temperature caused large piles of snow to melt rapidly, flooding some city streets.
Hundreds of concerned residents called 311 to report plugged storm drains and water pooling along residential roads.
Some homeowners complained that the water eventually started to seep into their garages and basements.
“I’m wondering if this might be spring. Maybe our seasons actually came in order this year?” questions Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “We are getting some localized flooding. I don’t think it’s havoc. but we are getting some localized pooling.”
The City of Calgary says it is responding to these complaints on a priority basis.
The priority in which calls are responded to is as follows:
- Property damage – water entering houses or garages or business causing damage
- Accessibility – open manholes, playground zone, school zones, hospital zones, handicap access and bus zones
- Flooded roadways including intersections
Since Friday, Water Services has received approximately 1,200 storm drain-related calls. Ten per cent of the calls were property damage-related and 30 per cent are considered high priority issues. There are approximately 48,000 storm drains in Calgary.
“We’ve had a lot of snow, and now it’s all melting at once so there’s quite a bit of water,” say Ryan Kidd, City of Calgary water services. “But it’s something we deal with every year, with Chinooks and the spring coming. It’s just a reality of living in Calgary.”
Residents are asked to not try to clear clogged storm drains by themselves, but to call 311 instead.
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