Little can be done to prevent flooding: Saskatoon official

Saskatoon city officials are throwing their arms up in resignation following the recent flooding, suggesting there is little that can be done when heavy rain hits.

"There is definitely a limit to what the storm sewer can take," Galen Heinrichs, Saskatoon's water and sewer manager, told CBC News. "I would say there are very limited things that can be done."

Saskatoon was hit with another whopper of a storm on Tuesday, the second major downpour this summer, leading to extensive flooding at key intersections around the city.

• City of Saskatoon reports 1-in-25 year rainfall from Monday storm

• More wild weather batters Saskatoon, Warman continues cleanup

Storm pounds heritage neighbourhoods 

The heaviest rain fell in the city's Nutana neighbourhood. According to Environment Canada, it received 57 millimetres — most of it in less than an hour. Only about six millimetres fell at the airport.

"There is no way to build infrastructure for these types of storms in terms of catch basins and pipes that can solve it," Heinrichs said. "Generally the solution for these types of storm events is to store the water in a pond, and so that's why it is such a challenge in built up areas."

Heinrich said it might also be possible to build ponds to store water from heavy rainfalls, but that would come at a high cost, amounting to between $3 million and $6 million to prevent flooding at a single intersection in the city.  

The City of Saskatoon is asking homeowners to report any flood damage so that it can apply for money under the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program.

So far, just a handful of homeowners have contacted city hall.