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​ How we're reducing the risk of flooding

We've been active in addressing stormwater flooding in parts of Edmonton where there has already been significant flooding. For example, flood mitigation improvements in the Millwoods area are ongoing, and four dry ponds in Parkallen and Steinhauer/Erminskin are in development.

Future flood mitigation work will include a combination of homeowner programs, drainage system improvements, green infrastructure and planning. In addition, we're creating a smarter stormwater network that will allow us to anticipate and react to storms in real time using monitoring and control technology.

The goal is to slow, move, secure, predict, and respond to flooding events to prevent or reduce the impact. The plan is detailed in the May 2019 Utility Committee report.

Have your say​ and stay connected

Community involvement is integral to the flood mitigation process, which will evolve over time as we continue to get input. We commit to consulting with communities on flood mitigation options where projects could have significant impact.

Watch for notices regarding any major projects planned in your area for details on how to get involved.

Contact us with questions or feedback:

​ Slow

We slow the entry of stormwater into the drainage network by absorbing it in green infrastructure and holding it in ponds, creating space in the collection system during storm events.

  • Dry ponds — green spaces that act as catch basins for excess stormwater during heavy rainfalls; we're proposing 31 dry pond-sites (#1 on the below image)
  • Low impact development — rain gardens, bioretention basins, box planters and tree soil cells that have both flood mitigation and climate change mitigation benefits to reduce impacts of drought and heat waves (#2 on the below image)

Move

We move excess water safely away from areas at risk, quickly and efficiently, by increasing capacity in the drainage system to handle peak water flow.

  • Tunnels and trunks (#3 on the below image)
  • Separation of storm and sanitary sewers — where there are combined storm and sanitary systems in high-risk areas, we'll separate them, increasing the amount of stormwater we can move in extreme weather and reducing the risk of backups to nearby properties (#3 on the below image)

​Secure

We help secure individual properties in higher risk areas against sewer backups, overland flooding and river flooding.

  • Enhanced Building Flood Proofing for residential, multifamily and commercial properties (6,000 high-risk properties) coordinating their flood-proofing with EPCOR investments on adjacent public lands (#4 on the below image)
  • Engage and educate owners of 40,000 homes in targeted high and medium-high risk areas to identify and implement flood-proofing measures on their properties, including backwater valve installation (#4 on the below image)
  • Additional control gates at outfalls (#5 on the below image)
  • Increased maintenance and repair priorities on higher risk assets to reduce inflow/infiltration (#6 on the below image)

Predict

We predict and manage the movement of stormwater through smart sensors and technologies that integrate into the collection system.

  • Sensors and automatic controls at ponds, underground storage pipes and underpasses (#7 on the below image)
  • Real time dashboard map incorporating data from sensors, controls and weather radar stations (#8 on the below image)

Respond

We respond through the fast rollout of flood barriers, traffic diversions and public communications to protect life, safety and property.

  • Emergency response in coordination with the City of Edmonton Office of Emergency Management (#8 on the below image)

 

​ What you can do to protect your home or business

Every Edmontonian has a stake in flood mitigation for our city. Beyond addressing risk, we have an opportunity to make our city stronger and greener, while protecting life and what matters most to us.

Our currently planned flood mitigation projects will take 20 years to complete — drainage projects are often complex and take time to design and construct. Where there is significant community impact we will be taking time to engage the community on the project options. However, you can take action to reduce your own flood risk today.

We offer:

Our future approach and timeline will evolve as we share our capital and operational plan with the City of Edmonton's Utility Committees and engage communities, starting this summer.

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