County officials lifted the state of local emergency for Rocky View County June 26, but the end is not in sight yet for many residents hit hard during the flood.
The Hamlet of Bragg Creek was under mandatory evacuation and West Bragg Creek under voluntary evacuation as heavy rain fell in the area between June 19 and 21. The mandatory evacuation was moved to voluntary evacuation in Bragg Creek June 22 as Alberta Transportation determined the Balsam Bridge that had been flooded, was safe.
Acting County Manager Kent Robinson said in a press release water was returning to manageable levels and focus was shifting to flood recovery and rebuilding.
“Homes, businesses and roads were damaged or destroyed, and there are large areas full of debris that will need to be removed,” said General Manager of Infrastructure and Operations Byron Riemann, who led the County’s emergency response team.
The County designated the Bragg Creek Transfer Site, located at 90 Elbow Rise NE, as a free flood waste disposal site and is the only location residents can drop off debris.
Intended for residential use only, the Transfer Site will accept drywall, wood, insulation, electronics, appliances, spoiled food or any similar debris. Operation hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice with regular operating hours on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Riemann said administration logged about 450 calls dealing with people requesting information, wanting updates and reporting problem areas. He added County officials are still assessing reported damage, but have already begun rebuilding some of the damaged infrastructure. Despite the damage, no local residents were injured during the flood.
“It will be some weeks before the total cost of the rebuilding and cleanup will be known,” he said.
Staff at Alberta Water Well Drilling Association (AWWDA) is urging landowners with water wells that have been topped or surrounded by floodwaters to have the well disinfected by industry professionals prior to it being used for drinking water supplies.
President of AWWDA Chris Gerritsen said floodwaters contain bacteria from sources such as feedlots, overflowing septic tanks and manure. He added the contaminants can enter water wells as well caps are not waterproof and surface waters can flow down the outside of the casing.
“You can essentially be drinking surface water from your well if the flood waters have risen over the top of wells,” says Gerritsen.
He explained treatment is done using a shock chlorination method, with a mixture of chlorine, water and acidity controlling chemicals circulated throughout the water supply system.
Riemann said residents of Bragg Creek are being advised to have their wells tested through Alberta Environment.
The hamlet is under a boil-water advisory and potable water is being provided to residents at Bragg Creek’s Community Association.
Riemann said he doesn’t anticipate water contamination being an issue but individual cases “may come up.”
Landowners can contact AWWDA or Alberta Environment for more.
