All about Flood Mitigation

by Wayne van Meter of Yard Busters Landscaping

Hello Team Calgary,

With this snowy and cold winter we can honestly say having a snow removal service was an amazing investment. It seems with each passing month we set new records for cold, precipitation and snow removal. With the increasing warmer climate and water evaporation in the atmosphere I suppose we may be in store for more snow clearing winters just like this past one. With all snow clearing observations aside a rapid spring melt could bring big trouble for many home-owners in our yard care network. Take a trip with me on how an ounce of property care is worth a pound of cure.

Debris should be free and clear of all catch basins. Debris can get caught in gutter basins effectively reducing the flow of drain water. This now becomes a down stream problem for lowest property in the neighborhood.

Check your window wells. The frost line changes from year to year, so what may have been a low frost line in past years could have changed. If you combine a snow packed window well with a frozen weeping tile or no weeping tile you may end up with a wet basement. When time permits check the window wells and remove any snow that potentially could be a problem in your landscape.

Low areas near your foundation will collect water. Low areas are formed through a combination of soil density, gravity and object weight. Even though it takes time to a form a sinkhole catastrophic failure can happen at any time. It might be a good time to get your wheelbarrow, shovel and move some snow. However wheelbarrows are difficult to move in the snow. Try using a tarp, shoveling on to it and then dragging the tarp to the disposal location. In the spring and summer make corrections to your low spots by top dressing your yard. Or if your problem is more severe Yard Busters Landscaping can help you re-slope the problem areas.

Inspect your downspouts and eaves troughs. Ice-jams melt will and go straight down to your foundation. Unclog downspouts so water has somewhere to flow. If it seems like a yearly problem consider installing a heated wire along your shingles. A heated wire placed along shingles and snaked through down spouts insures flowing water through winter.

Finally when things are beyond prevention consider a water pump. Submersible utility pumps can range in price from $70 upwards of $200. When it’s time to starting pumping water have a broom and long handle squeegee on hand. Using all 3 together make a formidable combination for a fast forming pool.

A lower tech way of dealing with water and traction are wood pellets. Wood pellets will expand in with water and help provide traction by night fall. Once the pellets have expanded to their maximum size you can move them to a sunny side of your yard to dry out and re-use again