AREAS OF HIGH FLOOD RISK.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Infographic Courtesy of Sarah Lennox
With spring around the corner and snow banks melting, people must be careful, says the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
“Make sure the gutters are not blocked, drained on their property, and make sure there are no debris that could block drains,” said Michael Heralall, supervisor for flood risk management at the Toronto and Region Conservation Society.
Heralall also recommends staying away or walking with caution around rivers and streams, as grounds in those areas can be soft and highly saturated.
Some of the areas that are at risk are by upper and lower West Don River and around Humber River.
The city said on its website that it has a five-year plan to protect basements from flooding which includes, replacing sewers where possible, introducing isolation valves which automatically close when the sewer backs up, and reimbursing for the disconnection of weeping tiles and downspouts.
The city is also planning more than 200 “end-of-pipe” facilities where the journey of storm waters end above ground, before the water enters Lake Ontario.
Heralall also said there has been an increase of rainfall during the winter season, which he links to global warming.
However, Heralall said, “we’ll see a change in the severity, it’s part of a long-term cycle.”