After the snow … comes the melt!

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Catch basin covered with snow

Following the major winter storm on Friday evening, warmer weather is in the forecast. And that means the 30 centimetres of snow on the ground is going to melt. Let’s work together to prevent flooding. 

You can help by clearing the catch basin near your property of snow, ice and other debris, if it’s safe to do so. As snow melts, blocked or concealed catch basins can lead to water ponding or street flooding.

Catch basins are typically found curbside and covered with a slotted lid or grate to collect stormwater run-off and move it to a stormwater management pond. To do this, they must be kept clear to allow melting snow and rain to drain. 

To report sewer or street flooding, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or email service@vaughan.ca

When you’re outside, please also ensure fire hydrants are accessible. Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can delay emergency fire response. In an emergency, every second matters. 

As outlined in the City of Vaughan’s Water By-Law 106-2022 (PDF), residents who have a fire hydrant on their property or City property adjacent to theirs are responsible for ensuring the hydrant is always visible and unobstructed. Ensure snow, ice and other debris are not blocking the area surrounding a hydrant and an accessible path from the street to the hydrant is always maintained. 

To learn more about the City’s fire hydrants, visit vaughan.ca/water. 

For winter safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/snow. 

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