Edmonton reviews safety of storm water facilities
14-year-old girl drowns after trying to rescue neighbour’s dog from a pond
The City of Edmonton will be conducting an internal review of safety around its storm water management facilities following the drowning death of a 14-year-old girl who tried to rescue the dog she was walking from a pond Saturday.
Meanwhile, the president of the Lago Lindo community league is raising questions over the signage of the ponds.
Krystyna Maksymova, 14, was walking a neighbour’s dog with her younger sister when the animal chased after some geese in the pond near 82 Street and Chrystallina Nera Way. Maksymova tried to rescue the dog, but drowned. The dog survived.
Ellen Tian, the city’s acting branch manager of drainage services, said Monday residents in the past have opposed fencing as a safety measure and the city has posted multiple signs around all of its 183 storm water management facilities.
“Our hearts go out to the family,” Tian said.
The lakes are designed to collect water runoff and improve water quality by collecting sediment, but are not to be used for recreation in the winter or summer.
“In our bylaw, it says very clearly a person shall not wade, swim, boat, fish, skate or carry out any other recreational activity on the pond itself,” Tian said.
There is also a two-metre strip in between the walkway and the edge of the lake as a buffer to make sure people don’t get too close to the water, she said.
Residents should avoid ponds because of water quality, rapid changes in water levels during a storm, flowing water underneath ice in the winter, and silt and vegetation buildup.
The city said Tuesday in a statement that crews have inspected the Lago Lindo pond for safety gaps and it meets all current standards for water level, vegetation, bank erosion, signs and drainage.
Community league president Chris Buchanan said in an email Monday the storm water ponds are part of what attracts residents to Lago Lindo. He thinks signs could more clearly indicate that the man-made lakes aren’t just dangerous for swimming, but to wade in, as well.
“I will say, what surprised me the most about this whole situation, and I would consider myself to be better informed than most, was that walking into the lake would present such a danger,” Buchanan said.
“I know there are signs around all of the lakes in our communities indicating they are not intended for swimming/boating in the summer, or skating in the winter, but I suspected that was a result of the water being storm water, not that an individual could become trapped in the mud.
“If my dog had wandered into the lake, I wouldn’t have considered this swimming, and I wouldn’t have even thought twice about walking in to rescue her.”
Bystanders tried to pull the girl from the lake, but became stuck in the mud and vegetation.
In our bylaw, it says very clearly a person shall not wade, swim, boat, fish, skate … on the pond itself.