Michael Olson (left) and Jag Sekhon clear one of several Rock City Rd. storm drains. (File photo, Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

the big melt

Keeping storm drains clear crucial step in Nanaimo flood prevention

Jan 7, 2022 | 4:40 PM

NANAIMO — As Nanaimo continues to dig out from multiple winter storms, the City’s priority now is making sure its storm drains are clear.

The City’s drainage foreman Wayne Roulston said crews have worked around the clock removing snow and ice from city streets, and now the focus is making sure drainage basins aren’t plugged.

“We got crews out in the south and north end, and central area clearing catch basins along with plows assisting with any issues around these basins” Roulston told NanaimoNewsNOW.

He said they prioritize places that are more prone to flooding, such as areas along Bowen Rd. which are slowly being upgraded to better deal with flooding situations.

They also have several priority spots mapped out where crews routinely clear the snow and ice so the water can flow unimpeded from the top of Nanaimo down to sea level.

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“Two crews go out with a wand and they catch where the actual drain is, unplug it, and carry on to the next one.”

Roulston said it’s been a real team effort with plows from the highway crews helping to clear snow and ice, while the public has been very helpful alerting crews of basins that need clearing.

“Watch your drainage coming down your driveways, if you got drains in your carports, drains from your eavestroughs so you don’t put extra weight on them, and watch out for your neighbour too.”

He said if the basin in front of your home is plugged it creates a flooding zone, which can affect the drainage downhill from you.

It can also lead to dangerous situations like vehicles hydroplaning across large pools of water, or creating dangerous ice if the temperature dips below zero.

Roulston said primary and emergency routes top their drain clearing to-do list, followed by the downtown core and all other areas of concern around Nanaimo.

He encouraged people concerned about flooding on their property to bring a shovel and take home free sandbags 24-hours-a-day from the public works yard on Labieux Rd.

More information about all the City of Nanaimo’s does to ensure can be found here at the City of Nanaimo’s website.

More than 13,500 storm drains are located on about 600 kilometers of roadway in Nanaimo.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow