Boil water advisory issued as water levels rise

Residents downstream of the city’s wastewater treatment plant who draw water from the Otonabee River are being advised to boil their water after Friday’s heavy rains forced the city to start dumping raw sewage into the river without secondary treatment.

The city wastewater treatment plant in secondary bypass mode and its Park Street pumping station in full bypass mode due to the high amount of storm water being collected.

Environment Canada says that as of 10 p.m. Friday 45 millimetres of rain has fallen in Peterborough since 5 p.m. Thursday, but more is on the way and it could reach as much as 70 mm by the time it’s over Saturday. About 55 mm fell from Sunday to Tuesday.

The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority warned that the Kawartha lakes and the Otonabee River could reach “unprecedented heights in the coming days.”

“City residents in low lying areas along the O to na bee River are encouraged to monitor water level changes on their properties, and to take necessary precautions to protect life and property,” tated Jodi DeNoble, emergency and risk management division manager at the city.

“Docks and structures close to the water should be secured or moved, and other personal effects should be moved to higher ground and may wish to move personal belongings from lower levels of their home.

“Residents are advised that they should have sufficient and appropriate emergency supplies at the ready, and sump pumps and backflow preventers should be checked to ensure that they are functioning properly.

“If at anytime city residents feel that they are in immediate danger by rising water, they should call 911.”

A rainfall warning from Environment Canada and a flood warning from Otonabee Conservation remained in effect all day Friday.

The Otonabee River flow rates are now approaching the rates experience in 2013 and 2008, according to Otonabee Conservation.

The agency released a list of areas that could be prone to flooding. The list is available online at www. thepeterboroughexaminer.com, along with tips from several agencies on how to avoid flooding.

As flood and rainfall warnings continue, Parks Canada staff will be in constant communication with local conservation authorities, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and other agencies to ensure public safety, Parks Canada stated.

It actively monitors water levels and flows and weather forecasts across the Trent-Severn Waterway and manipulates dams to reduce flooding.

A number of factors influence the water levels along the waterway, such as the drainage basin and the volume of precipitation. They’re mitigated by a water control team.

Data is collected from gauges across the Trent and Severn watersheds daily and decisions on water level management are made based on climate forecasts, historical averages, mandated navigational ranges, and daily dam settings.

Some areas currently affected on the Trent-Severn Waterway are Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, the Otonabee River, Rice Lake and Lower Trent.

The Haliburton area has received significant rainfall and the Gull and Burnt River reservoir lakes are full or overfull.

The Kawartha Lakes levels are high and will keep increasing because of the high flows from the Bull and Burnt rivers. The Otonabee River is already high and will continue to increase.

Rice Lake and Lower Trent are also high and expected to continue to rise.

Meanwhile, the city is asking residents to stay off local sports fields during this wet weather. If fields suffer damage, it would affect future use this spring.

NOTE: Flood information can be found at www.otonabee.com or by calling 705-745-5791 ext. 228