A report, set to go before a City of Edmonton committee next week is outlining ways the city could prevent serious flooding in a number of neighbourhoods.
Officials with the city’s Drainage Department say they need about $2.4 billion in total to help deal with flood mitigation – a program that is expected to cost between $25 million and $50 million each year – and there’s a chance that work could continue for up to 100 years.
The department wants to see additional drainage ponds added to some neighbourhoods, improved drainage routes and upgrades for storm sewers.
“It’s adaptation for climate change and also adapting to changes and needs in expectations as a result of society’s expectations of a higher level of service,” Chris Ward, Branch Manager with Drainage Services said.
It’s hoped money for the project would come from grants, but if that falls through, officials said Edmontonians could see their utility bills increase between 2 and 3 percent annually to cover costs.
“If a customer is paying $25 a month now, we would be taking about $25 this year, $26 next year, $27 the year after, $28 the year after,” Ward said.
The program would start in 2019, but a rate increase could go into effect as early as January, 2015. In their business plan, the department said they intend to spend between $20 million and $50 million over the next four years.
Details on those costs will be released when the Capital Budget is unveiled in the fall.
The report will go before members of the Utility Committee Thursday, September 18.
With files from Nicole Weisberg
