City of Surrey urges residents to clear catch basins ahead of rainy weekend

Heavy rain is expected from Friday through the weekend, and the City of Surrey is reminding residents to help prevent flooding and road hazards. In a post on X, the city said crews would work to keep roads safe and asked people to clear debris from nearby catch basins. It also linked to flood prevention tips.

The tips advise residents to clear gutters and storm drains, and not to rake or blow leaves onto the roadway, where they can contribute to flooding. Check the city gutters and storm drains, also called inlet drains, around your property for leaves, garbage and other debris. During a rainstorm, it can take city crews several hours to remove material blocking water from a storm drain. Clearing debris from nearby gutters can also help prevent neighbourhood flooding.

Residents should clean their foundation drains as well. Most homes have perimeter drains installed slightly below the foundation; they collect water from the home and property and direct it to the city storm sewer. Leaves, pine needles, silt, dirt and roots can block the pipes.

If there is an open ditch beside your property, check that both the ditch and culvert are clear, including inside the culvert. City crews commonly remove milk jugs, soccer balls and other items from blocked driveway culverts.

The city’s tips also address roof drains and splash pads. If a downpipe connects to an opening near the house foundation, it is likely connected to the perimeter drains. Those pipes carry rainwater from roof gutters to the drains around the foundation. This can send too much water into the foundation drains and cause flooding in the home. The city advises directing downpipes onto splash pads so rainwater can soak into the lawn and garden.