Drainage

Ditching & Drainage

We regularly monitor ditches in the spring, particularly the known problem areas but conditions can vary from year to year and blockages can pop up anywhere. Due to the large accumulation of snow some winters, we will see the ditches doing their job and redirecting water in much of the municipality as the snow melts. This is a good thing and seeing water in ditches is not necessarily a bad thing! Although it is our residents responsibility to protect their properties against flooding, it is our priority to assist in taking steps like ditching to protect our residents and their dwellings. If you have drainage problem concerns, we would appreciate hearing from you by email or by phone 204-482-3300

When contacting us, please be prepared to provide as much detail as possible so that we can assess the situation and clear it strategically as necessary, such as:

• Name, civic address and contact information (email, phone number)
• Estimated distance of the water to the house 
• If culverts seem to be frozen;
  • is there snow in the ditch or water by the culvert
  • if you can see a noticeable difference in the height of the water from one side of the culvert to the other 
• If water seems to be backing up on your property and is threatening your home;
  • let us know roughly how far away the water is from the home

Some Background on Drainage

*From Manitoba Water Stewardship Regional Operations Drainage Infrastructure Water Rights Licensing

Land drainage is a partnership between landowners, municipalities, Conservation Districts and the Province. Basic agricultural land drainage works in the province were completed in the early 1900’s, under the jurisdictions of various municipally-based entities known as Drainage Districts. In the 1930’s and 1940’s provisions were made for the maintenance of the drains through the establishment of Drainage Maintenance Districts, again established on municipal boundaries.

In 1965 Manitoba took a proactive approach to resolving inter-municipal drainage issues by being the first of all surrounding jurisdictions to take on the responsibility for Provincial Waterways (the major drains) based on a watershed systems approach. In general, municipalities became responsible for those components of the tributary system which outlet into the Provincial Waterways.

During the 1960’s and the period between the late 1970’s and the mid 1980’s, a number of cost sharing programs between federal, provincial and municipal jurisdictions resulted in significant temporary boosts to drainage system reconstruction and development. The dryer cycle in regional weather of the late 1980’s, resulted in drainage issues becoming less prominent. A commensurate loss of federal support saw provincial technical and financial resources dedicated to drainage significantly reduced.

In 1989 the provincial government held a series of public consultations which resulted in the publication of Manitoba’s Water Policies. Drainage was raised as a significant issue. Drainage priorities were outlined as follows: maintenance of the existing system -first priority, reconstruction -second priority, and new construction -third priority. The policies further stated that drainage should be undertaken on a watershed basis in order to encompass issues related to water retention, control and timing of runoff.

During the 1990’s, a wetter than normal cycle predominated, revealing the effects of the deteriorated drainage infrastructure across the province, i.e. attendant crop and other flooding related damages. The increased profile of drainage issues also highlighted regulatory shortcomings. The Province responded by transferring staff to regional postings so that drainage regulation could be administered at the local level. Enforcement of The Water Rights Act was actively pursued for the first time. The result of these changes was quicker action on enforcement and a shorter turn around time on licensing. There was also a significant increase in drainage license applications.