Drinking water is poured into a glass from a faucet in North Vancouver on July, 30, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward – The Canadian Press · The Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Days of heavy rainfall has Alberta’s capital and surrounding communities dealing with localized flooding and wastewater systems operating over capacity in one of Edmonton’s wettest Junes on record.
Utilities provider Epcor said Monday that with more rain in the forecast for the Edmonton area, the stormwater system was under pressure.
“We are actively monitoring the system and responding to customer inquiries, whether they are seeing water pooling or experiencing flooding at their property,” the company said in a statement.
Epcor said it received more than 600 calls Sunday and that it continued to respond to priorities including public safety.
The City of Edmonton issued a water supply alert Sunday evening, asking residents to avoid unnecessary indoor water use, limit showers and baths, delay laundry and dishwasher use, and ensure sump pumps and downspouts are functioning properly.
The water supply alert was still in effect Monday in Edmonton, with similar ones in place for nearby cities and towns, including Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Beaumont.
St. Albert, northwest of Edmonton, ended its advisory Monday afternoon.
Tofield and Beaver County were also under a flood alert, although there were no evacuations as of Monday afternoon.
“Municipal emergency services are at risk of flood and becoming inoperable,” the alert said.
In Edmonton, Epcor said obeying the water restrictions “seem like small steps,” but they “can be the difference in helping neighbours avoid flooding and sewer backups.”
It also warned residents living near stormwater ponds to keep a distance as water levels continue to rise.
“These ponds are doing their most important job right now, collecting excess rainwater, slowing its entry into the system and improving the quality of water that will eventually enter the North Saskatchewan River,” it said.
Chloe Katsademas, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said 104 millimetres of rain fell in the city over three days.
She said more showers were expected in Monday evening, with a risk of a thunderstorm.
So far this month, Edmonton has had 199 millimetres of rainfall, close to the record set for June in 1914 with 216.5 millimetres, Katsademas said.
“So we are still in second place, but the month isn’t over,” she said.
The weather is expected to improve but more rain is in the forecast starting Friday.
“More precipitation is possible for next weekend,” Katsademas said.
“We don’t have a timing for when it will end, but it’s definitely possible for Saturday and Sunday to rain both days.”