Protect your property from overland drainage! Consider the tips below to avoid damage to your property due to uncontrolled overland drainage and freezing conditions.
Urban Properties
- Test your sump pump to ensure it is working properly.
- Re-attach your sump pump extension hose and ensure it is directed away from your and your neighbour's homes.
- Note: Sump pump discharge should be directed towards public property, with the hose ending a minimum of two metres within the property line.
- Clear any snow and ice build-up in eaves troughs and at downspout ends and re-attach extensions and rain barrels.
- Remove snow from and directly around any deck.
- Move excess snow away from foundations and window wells.
- If applicable, ensure the concrete swale in your rear yard is clear of snow and ice build-up.
If you notice a catch basin that seems clogged with ice and is not draining, please contact us to report the issue.
- Test your sump pump to ensure it is working properly.
- Disconnect your sump pump extension hose.
- Instead, install a 90º elbow with a splash pad on the ground below, or
- Install a 4-6" perforated pipe draining away from your and your neighbour's properties.
- Clear your eaves troughs and window wells of leaves and other debris.
- Remove lengthy downspout extensions and detach and drain all rain barrels.
- Assess your lot grading to ensure water drains away from your foundation.
- Drain exterior faucets and store garden hoses.
- If applicable, winterize your sprinkler system.
Rural Properties
- Test your sump pump, as well as any back up power, to ensure it is working properly.
- Re-attach the extension hose and ensure it is directed away foundations.
- Seal all foundation cracks and any gap around basement and ground floor windows, doors, and walls.
- Move excess snow away from foundations and window wells, clearing a path for the runoff to follow.
- Clear any snow and ice build-up in eaves troughs and at downspout ends and re-attach extensions and rain barrels.
- Ensure you have sandbags and/or a pump on hand, or other means of protecting structures.
- If applicable, test any water alarm you have in your home or outbuildings, to ensure it is operating properly.
- Inspect any berm on your property to ensure it is intact.
- Check culverts for ice build-up and thaw to ensure capacity
- Check for information on Alberta Rivers and consider signing up for alerts with their mobile application.
If you notice ice build-up in City culverts, or any beaver dam or other obstruction in public ditches, rivers or streams, please contact us to report the issue.
- Test your sump pump, as well as any back-up power, to ensure it is working properly.
- Disconnect all sump pump extension hoses.
- Clear your eaves troughs and window wells of leaves and other debris.
- Install a water alarm in your home or outbuildings to alert you when water is accumulating.
- Securely anchor fuel tanks to the floor or ground, make sure vents and fill-line openings are above high-water levels.
- Assess the grading on your property to ensure water drains away from all structures.
- Relocate vehicles and equipment to higher areas on your property.
- If you have a livestock farm, ensure there is adequate room and access to high ground as livestock will naturally flee to these areas to avoid high water.
- Check culverts for debris and, if necessary, clear them to ensure capacity.
For assistance with culverts on City property, or if you notice any beaver dam or other obstruction in public ditches, rivers or streams, please contact us to report the issue.