WAKAW — The dramatic melting that began one week ago is continuing to negatively impact local infrastructure.
On Monday, May 4, the Town of Wakaw issued a mandatory water restriction notice. Residents were instructed to limit water use to reduce the volume of water entering the town’s drainage system, as the lift station was operating at maximum capacity. The town warned that without a reduction in water flow through the drainage system, there could be sewer backups. A previous social media announcement requested that residents immediately cease discharging sump pumps into the town sewer system and instead discharge to the front street or back alley. The town has been consulting with engineers and the Water Security Agency daily in an effort to mitigate sewer backups.
In addition, residents of Cudworth were asked to conserve water usage due to high levels of water entering the lift station, which was straining the pump. Residents were reminded to ensure that sump pumps discharged outside of homes rather than into residential drains.
Over the weekend, new washouts affecting roads in the Rural Municipalities of Fish Creek, St. Louis, and Invergordon were reported. Signage has been placed to warn motorists of potential dangers. Cooler overnight temperatures over the past couple of days are expected to slow the rate of runoff.
The RM of Fish Creek advised residents and ratepayers with property damage due to flooding that is not covered by their private insurance to keep records, take pictures, and contact the RM. The RM will be applying to the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program, and any allowable claims can be submitted through the RM to PDAP. For further details, residents are encouraged to contact the office.
Public works crews continue to actively monitor road conditions and address problem areas as quickly and safely as possible. An updated map of road closures is available on the RM’s website and social media, as well as in the RM office.
‘Road Closed’ signs and barricades are placed for public safety reasons and to prevent further damage to municipal infrastructure, as additional damage to compromised roads may lead to longer closures and increased repair costs. Removing or ignoring barricades and signs also puts other drivers at risk of personal injury and damage to vehicles. Driving on a closed road can bring serious consequences, starting with legal and financial penalties. Depending on the province, fines for ignoring a road closure can range from about $100 to $500 or more, and drivers could also get demerit points added to their driver’s license.
If an individual is involved in an accident or damages their vehicle while driving on a closed road, their car insurance is generally unlikely to cover the costs. Driving on a closed road is typically considered a violation of traffic laws and is often classified as “risky behaviour” by insurers. Insurance policies usually include clauses that exclude coverage for accidents resulting from illegal or reckless actions. Even if the road appears safe and there is no visible danger, the fact that it was officially closed may be sufficient grounds for an insurer to deny a claim.
