M.D. of Foothills No. 31
Country Lifestyle
309 Macleod Trail,  High River, Alberta
Phone:  (403) 652-2341 or (403) 931-1905

Water Conservation Bylaw

Basement Flood Handbook
 

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Overland Drainage Information

General

Effective drainage is one of the most important issues to keep in mind when purchasing an existing home and or developing land for any use. Poor drainage and planning can lead to ongoing costs associated with flooding damage both inside and outside the home. In addition, insurance may not cover damages associated with overland drainage. Therefore, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure that these crucial issues are addressed.

Typically, country residential lots are sold as is with minimal disturbance from natural state save for an approach or driveway to property line and a water well. Some lots even have significant permanent or seasonal drainage ditches that cross the property which can cause significant damage if not accommodated.

The following information is intended to aid home buyers and builders in developing their land such as to ensure that potential damage due to overland drainage is minimized.

Professional advice is recommended if unclear on any of the below items. Money spent upfront is well spent to avoid future problems.

Home and Building Placement

One of the most common mistakes made in new home construction is the building elevation. The building elevation should be established to achieve the following:

ü      Buildings shall be constructed on a high point of land to ensure that water will flow away from them,

ü      Ideally, the finished grade around a building should be higher than the adjacent road ditch bottom. In areas, where the lot is below or downhill of the access road or any road, the drainage from above must be redirected around the building to the downstream side to prevent flooding.

ü      Grades within 4 meters (13 ft) of the foundation must be maintained to at least 2%. That is, an elevation drop of 8 cm (3 inches) at 4 meters (13 ft) away from the home is required.

ü      Grades beyond 4 meters of structures must be maintained at a minimum 0.5% to ensure effective drainage.

ü      Avoid areas of high groundwater tables and ensure that at least 1 meter (3 feet) of elevation is present from the bottom of the foundation footings

ü      In areas that are in close proximity to a watercourse, a minimum elevation of 1 meter (3 feet) above the 100 year flood level for building footings is required. However, higher elevations are suggested as more intense flood events may occur as recently encountered. As a rule, the higher the better.

Lot Grading and Drainage

Lot grading can dramatically affect neighbours if natural drainage thru your property is not maintained. As a rule of thumb, utilize existing drainage paths and/or ditches on the land to accommodate your drainage needs. Blocking off or damming of natural water paths or ditches through your property is not allowed. Filling in of natural low areas within your land is also not permitted. Low lying areas serve to collect and buffer the effects of intense rainfall events. Ensure that if a low lying area is present that it has a release point to adjacent land at an elevation below that of your buildings foundation.

Roof drainage gutters downspouts must be installed and directed to the side of the home of lowest elevation and should have positive drainage away from the home. Gutter downspouts with extensions of at least 2.4 meters (8 feet) away from the foundation are recommended. 

Walkout basements must have positive drainage (2%) away from the walkout portion to prevent ponding and subsequent flooding.

Driveway Construction

The construction of driveways to buildings can often cause significant drainage problems if drainage is not considered. Natural drainage paths must be maintained if at all practical with the installation of a culvert thru the driveway. It is recommended that if this is the case, a professional engineer should be consulted to establish the culvert elevation and size of the pipe required.

Sump Pumps

Foundation drain sump pumps are recommended in all locations due to the possibility of groundwater level changes. Groundwater levels can change dramatically from year to year as well as seasonally.

Never pump foundation drains or sumps to the septic system. This increased flow to the field can cause it to fail and back-up prematurely.

Drainage has the potential to affect the supply of water from water wells and could pose a health risk. Wells must never be located in an area prone to flooding. Positive drainage away from the well is also required such as to ensure that no water ponds or collects around the well itself. If water collects around a well, there is a possibility that the water may seep down the well casing and contaminate the water supply.

As a minimum, the top of the well casing must be at least 0.2 meters (8 inches) above the finished ground level and at least 0.6 meters (2 feet) above the highest recorded flood level.

Should the safety of your water supply be in question at any time, contact the Calgary Health Authority to arrange for testing of your well water to confirm whether or not it is safe to drink. This service is available at a very economical cost.

Waste Disposal

Septic tank and field must comply with Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice 2009.

Never install a septic field in an area that does not have effective drainage. Poor drainage above a septic field could lead to the infiltration of rain water into the soil and saturation of the soil and premature septic field failure.

Audible or visual high level alarms on a septic tank are recommended to warn against high tank levels which may lead to back-up within your home.

Water and Sewer Information Sheet

The M.D. of Foothills is committed to ensuring that a safe and plentiful water supply is available for future generations to come.

The M.D. of Foothills provides water services to the Silvertip subdivision, the Hamlets of Aldersyde, Blackie, and Cayley and along the High River -Aldersyde Industrial corridor. Sanitary sewer service is currently provided in the Hamlets of Cayley and Blackie.

Water/Sewer Service Billing

Inquiries regarding billing rates and status can be directed to Marilyn Gordon-Cooper at the M.D. of Foothills administration office Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at (403) 652-2341. Current utility rates are shown below.  All billing periods are for two months.  (One cubic meter is equivalent to 1000 litres.)

Residential water, sewer and garbage rates for: 
Aldersyde and Silvertip , Blackie and Cayley

click here

Water/Sewer Service and Water Quality Complaints

Our Utility Officers are on call 24 hrs every day of the year should an issue arise regarding water/sewer service and/or water quality. They can be reached at
1 (888) 808-3722.

Inquiries can also be directed to the Municipal Engineer Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at (403) 652-2341.

Bulk Water Fill Locations

Water is available for purchase through a coin machine in bulk quantities from our Aldersyde and Blackie water plants. The Aldersyde plant is located on the northeast corner of Brooks and Alberta Avenue. The Blackie plant is located on the east side of John St. between Alberta and Railway Avenues. The facilities are open 24 hrs per day and the cost of water is $1.00/377.65 litres or $1.00/83 Imperial Gallons.

Residential Sewage Dump Station

A residential sewage dump station is located within the High River R.V. Corral and Mini Storage. Disposal service is available for a fee.

The 24 hr pager for the location is (403) 652-4853.

Well Water Quality Testing

For those residents using a well for their water supply, the Headwaters Health unit will perform checks on water supplies to access their suitability for human consumption. These tests include bacteria testing as well as chemical analysis. The cost for this service is $5.00. Arrangements for sampling as well as sample bottles can be obtained from the health unit at (403) 995-2600. They can be contacted Monday to Friday from 8:00AM to 12:00PM and 1:00PM to 4:30PM.

Water Well Information

Valuable information pertaining to monitoring, maintenance, troubleshooting and protecting your well from contamination can be obtained by contacting Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Engineering Services Branch and requesting a copy of Water Wells that last generations at (780) 427-2181. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8:15AM to 12:00PM and 1:00PM to 4:30PM. Alternatively, you can visit their website for an electronic copy of the guide at http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca under engineering/water/dugouts and wells/water wells.

Learn To Read Your Water Meter

The Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 uses water meters that read like odometers. Meters are not usually reset between readings. To find out how much water you’ve used in any given period, just subtract the reading from your last bill from the current meter reading.

Learn To Use Your Water Meter To Detect Leaks

Use your water meter to check for leaks in your home. Start by turning off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Take a reading on your meter and wait about 30 minutes, then take a second reading. If the dial has moved, you have a leak.

Water Conservation

The chart below shows a breakdown of where water is used in the average home.

75% of the water used in the household is used in the bathroom!

Conventional toilets use 16 to 22 litres per flush. New low flush toilets use only 6 litres to do the same job. Older toilets can be retrofitted to save as much as 40% of water by installing a water saving device available in most hardware stores.

Use a broom instead of a hose. Sweep driveways, sidewalks and other hard surfaces instead of spraying them.

Wash a car with a bucket and a sponge. Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose so water doesn’t run while you are washing the car. A free-flowing hose uses up to 300 gallons of water each hour.

Check for leaks. Look at pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings. Leaks waste a lot of water. Even a small leak in a garden hose may waste as much as 700 gallons a day.

Save two gallons of water per minute by turning off the water while brushing your teeth, washing your hands etc.

Tips for Gardens and Lawns

Deep soak your lawn. Water about one inch (2.5 cm) a week (twice if it’s hot for several days). Water infrequently, but thoroughly, so moisture soaks down to the roots. This creates deeper, healthier root systems that are more water efficient and drought-tolerant. To determine how much to water your lawn to achieve 1 inch or 2.5 cm, place a can in the lawn area being watered and allow it to fill with water for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, refer to the below chart for suggested watering times.

Water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation. Avoid watering on windy days. Position sprinklers so water doesn’t land on paved areas and run off into sewers.

Help soil hold water. Add organic materials such as compost or peat moss. Keep your lawn weed free. Weeds can rob plants of water and nutrients. Lay mulch three inches (7.5 cm) deep around trees and plants to retain moisture, slow evaporation, and discourage weed growth.

Consider installing drip irrigation systems around trees and shrubs. These systems allow water to flow slowly to the roots, encouraging strong, deep root systems. Drip systems also reduce evaporation.

If you don’t have an automatic sprinkling system, use a kitchen timer or buy a sprinkler timer. You can waste a lot of water in a short time if you forget to turn off sprinklers.

All other questions or concerns relating to water and sewer can be directed to Tom Gilliss, Municipal Engineer at Municipal District of Foothills No. 31  Administration Building, Monday to Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM or at (403) 652-2341.

Planning and Design

Check out the microclimate in your yard.  Where are the dry, windy spots and the quieter areas where the snow stays?  Match you mini-climate zones to the plants you want (dry land plants in dry areas, shade -loving plants in shady areas).  In those areas you plan on developing this year, start your pre-installation watering and weed control.

Soils

Our prairie soils generally need more organic matter to improve moisture-holding capacity.  Top up planting beds and gardens with compost (available at most garden stores and the Okotoks Recycle Centre) annually.  Aerate and top dress turf every year or so.  Raised beds extend the growing season while reducing maintenance.

Plant Selection

Prairie native plants are almost always a good bet. As well, there are plenty of tried and true trees, shrubs and perennials for dry landscapes and more are coming on the market all the time.

Turf

Reduce turf areas by cutting sod out (it composts well) or covering turf with landscape fabric and mulch (this can be a temporary situation or a permanent one).  Replace with ground covers, wildflowers, and mulch.

Irrigation

Underground irrigation systems should be designed so heads don’t spray on driveways or buildings and must be kept in good repair (leaks checked and fixed.)  Infrequent deep watering results in deeply rooted plants that can withstand drought.  Set timers for 1/2 hour per zone and water once a week, twice only if it’s very hot and dry.

Mulches

Mulch conserves soil moisture, minimizes weeds, stabilizes soil temperatures and prevents erosion. Wood chips in plant beds should be 2 to 2-1/2 inches deep, no deeper. Make sure the mulch is not touching the base of the trees and shrubs. Short lawn clippings left on lawn help to reduce the amount of water needed. If no chemicals are used on the lawn, the clippings are an excellent mulch in the vegetable beds and flower boxes.

Maintenance

Set the mower blades higher in dryer weather (2 to 2-1/2 inches). Don’t use too much fertilizer. Plan your applications based on plant growth and weather.  Dig tree wells and keep them mulched. Adequate spring and early summer watering helps the plants to make it through dry spells. Late fall watering while the ground is freezing helps plants to make it through our dry winters.