Protect your property from flooding

The City of Whitehorse is reminding residents to take steps to ensure their properties are protected from snowmelt flooding.

Whitehorse has seen another record amount of snow this winter. As daily temperatures continue to rise, some properties may be at risk of flooding.

You can reduce the risk of flooding on your property by:

• Placing snow piles downhill from buildings and in areas with good drainage;
• Removing snow that may trap snowmelt and provide a route for drainage away from buildings; and
• Ensuring downspouts are free of obstructions and pointed away from buildings. Downspout extensions should be long enough to discharge water away from the foundation walls and should discharge onto a splash pad. Downspouts cannot discharge directly onto a neighbouring property and should be directed towards a drainage swale.

If your property has a history of drainage issues, then having sandbags and a small pump are useful tools to help prevent flood damage. Consider hiring a professional to remove snow from your roof or to haul snow away from your property to an authorized snow dumping area.

When clearing snow and ice, place the snow elsewhere on your property; do not move it onto roadways, sidewalks or adjacent properties. Also, do not place snow against fire hydrants, utility boxes or road signage.

It’s important that snow is not piled over storm drains, as this can prevent drainage.

In the event of drainage issues on City of Whitehorse property, please call:

• Water and Waste Services at 867-668-8350 for urgent issues related to frozen storm drains;
• Fleet and Transportation Maintenance at 867-668-8345 for urgent issues related to a blocked ditch or drainage course that may affect private property; and
• Engineering Services at [email protected] for non-urgent drainage-related advice.