Spring thaw raises flood concerns

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental.ca

With the spring thaw slowly loosening winter’s grip on the area, some West Island municipalities are keeping their eyes open for flood warning signs.

According to Pierrefonds-Roxboro communications officer Johanne Palladini, the borough’s public works crews are continuously working to make sure manholes are clear.

“That’s to prevent accumulation of water. So, in the streets, we’re trying to clear as much as we can to make sure the water will go down fast in case the snow starts melting very fast,” Palladini said.

Palladini pointed out the borough’s Chateau-Pierrefonds snow dump – which is full to capacity and has avalanche-danger warning signs posted on the fence surrounding it – does not pose a flood risk for nearby homes, as the site was built according to environment ministry standards.

“The soil was worked to make sure that, when it melts, it will go into the ground,” she said. “If it goes slowly, like it usually does, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

The borough is, however, keeping and eye on water levels in the Rivière des Prairies.

“They’re on alert that we might have a problem,” Palladini said, adding the risk of flooding occurs mostly when the snow up north melts later in the spring and then comes down the Ottawa River into Rivière des Prairies. “But if everything melts slowly, it will be OK.”

Environment Canada meteorologist René Héroux said, while temperatures were somewhat above average at the beginning of this week, the mercury is expected to drop back to seasonal norms over the next few days, which means temperatures slightly above zero during the day and below freezing overnight.

“So, the melting is progressive. But when temperatures are above zero and they remain above zero overnight, the melting is accelerated, and that could cause some problems,” Héroux said, adding although April’s forecast points to below-average temperatures, such long range estimations are not always accurate. “Beyond that, we cross our fingers and we have to wait and see.”

Beaconsfield has a seven-member team and two trucks set to go if residents need help pumping out their basements in case of flooding. This group has been replacing the Beaconsfield Volunteers Rescue Squad since its resignation in January.

According to urban planning director Denis Chabot, Beaconsfield’s Pump Patrol initiative done over the past two summers – which has so far visited two thirds of all homes in the city to make sure residential sump pumps are not connected to the sanitary sewer system – has been successful. About 15 per cent of homes were found to be illegally connected and have since been fixed.

“That made a huge difference,” Chabot said, adding sewer back-ups have been the main cause of flooding in Beaconsfield. “So far – we’re crossing our fingers – there has been no flooding because of back-ups.”

Chabot suggested residents invest in a battery powered backup for their sump pumps in case of power failures.

“The only thing we can’t control is if there is a power failure. If people don’t have a battery backup or a generator, you’re stuck,” he said, adding such battery systems cost about $400 to $500 with installation. He also suggested people who are prone to flooding at this time of year should protect their belongings stored in their basements. “We always suggest they put their stuff higher, maybe a foot off the ground, in plastic boxes or something like that, just to ensure they don’t lose precious belongings in a case of flooding.”

Beaconsfield residents who need help pumping out flooded basements can call public security at 514-630-1234.