Ottawa snowbanks piling higher with no thaw in sight

Snow removal companies in Ottawa say they are running out of room to dump the white stuff in people's yards.

Ottawa has seen 174 centimetres of snow this winter and only one significant thaw.

Dave Fiegenwald is still shovelling at his parents' townhouse in Orleans after Saturday's snowfall. In that neighbourhood, many snow banks reach over people's heads.

"It just feels like there's not enough room to put it, we'll just keep piling it on top because there's not much else you can do," said Fiegenwald.

Green Acres snow removal owner Scott Yates said smaller lots are running out of space.

"We just don't have anywhere to put it so it has to go upwards or vertically," said Yates.

Cost of removal pricey

"We'll reach a point a maximum height and then it will start encroaching on the laneway itself and your laneway will become skinnier and skinnier."

Snow removal companies are advising clients with small yards to have snow removed.

But the bill for moving one truck of snow is pricey — about $300.

Environment Canada's forecast for Ottawa predicts some snow on Wednesday and chance of flurries on the weekend, with temperatures not getting higher than -6 C for the next week.

Paul Cudahy, owner of Sky High plowing, said with another snow fall, many residents won't have a choice.

"There's not a lot of melting that's occurring, so the piles are just staying gi-normous," said Cudahy.