The Town of Altona’s Local Emergency Response Group met Sunday morning to assess the impact of the weekend’s weather event.

As was noted yesterday, the local sanitary sewer system is overwhelmed. To protect infrastructure and homes, the Town has made the decision to pump wastewater through the ditch systems. The Public Works team is monitoring

Pumping happening Sunday afternoon on Centre Avenue near Ecole Elmwood School this temporary measure closely, but residents are advised to keep away from ditches for their own safety.

Meantime, the Town says streets are draining well, but there is a high volume of water. As a result, the Public Works team is building a dike and sandbagging to protect against overland flooding from the Buffalo Creek. The town is also utilizing a variety of pumps, and the Altona Rhineland Emergency Services will be utilizing its pumper truck to move water as well.

Residents are asked to reduce strain on the wastewater system by cutting back on their water usage today, and by ensuring that sump pumps are moving water to the street or onto their yard, and not into a drain. If residents are pumping water away from their home, they are asked to pump it to the street to allow for drainage.

If your home or business is being severely impacted by these events, please contact the Emergency Operations Centre at 204-324-8190 or by emailing mec@altona.ca.

Residents can stay up to date with important information by following local media, and by registering for Altona Connect notification system at www.altona.ca/connect

Members of Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services monitoring pumping operations at the northwest corner of town

Pumping operations occurring in the ditch on the far west side of Altona just north of the corner of PR 201 and 9th Street NW

Pumping operations taking place on Centre Avenue in Altona Sunday morning