What are superpipes?

Superpipes are sanitary sewer holding tanks designed to capture overflows during severe rain events and reduce the risk of private property damage from flooding. These large tanks, or "superpipes" as they are often referred to, are large diameter pipes located in the immediate vicinity of neighborhoods that have experienced severe or repeated basement flooding.

The superpipes are placed underground in parks or roadways at an elevation lower than the lowest basement. When rain water enters the sanitary sewer system during a severe rain event the overflows from the system are diverted in the local storage provided by the superpipes.

In addition to reducing the risk of basement flooding, this local storage also helps reduce the incidence and severity of sanitary sewer spills into the South Saskatchewan River, as the superpipes also help protect the wastewater treatment plant from overflows.

Why does basement flooding occur?

The City of Saskatoon has two independent and separate sewer systems. The storm water system conveys untreated rainwater from roadways to the South Saskatchewan River, while the sanitary sewer system conveys domestic sewage to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The sanitary sewer does not have any connections to street catch basins or roof leaders; however rainwater may still enter the sanitary system through weeping tile systems in private homes and through other means.

Residents can help reduce the risk of sewer backup by evaluating your home’s current plumbing and drainage system.

If your eaves troughs empty into interior plumbing, have them disconnected and add downspouts to disperse the water at least two metres away from your home’s foundation.

If you have a weeping tile system which diverts water to a floor drain in your basement, disconnect it from the basement drain and reconnect to a sump pump system. Ensure the sump pump pumps to a location on your yard where it can safely flow away from your home to the storm sewer system and not onto your neighbour’s property.

More flood prevention tips.

Which neighbourhoods have superpipes?

Superpipes have been installed in many neighbourhoods around the city.

2008 - Dundonald (Dundonald Park), Confederation Park (Parc Canada at Borden Place)

2009 - Rosewood (Rosewood Boulevard & Boychuk Drive, and Hyde Park at Ledingham Place)

2010 - Confederation Park (Parc Canada at Meighen Crescent), Westview (Senator Hnatyshyn Park at Hall Crescent)

2011 - Westview (Seager Wheeler Park at Byers Crescent)

Total: 7 tanks to date

Future locations:

Between six and 10 superpipes wil be constructed in the following neighbourhoods:

Eastside Saskatoon

• Area 2 – Lakeview, Lakeridge, Brairwood, Wildwood
• Area 3 -- Brevoort Park, Greystone Heights
• Area 4 – Sutherland, Forest Grove, Erindale, Arbor Creek

How are superpipes funded?

The superpipes constructed in 2008 & 2009 were funded by the Flood Protection Levy and in 2010 by the MEEP assistance program. 

For the superpipes being constructed in 2011 and beyond, Infrastructure Canada will contribute the following:

• $810,000 to the Westside superpipe project; and
• $1,715,852 to the Eastside superpipe projects.

The remaining funds will come from the Flood Protection Levy.

More facts about superpipes:

• Superpipes have been fabricated from locally manufactured high density polyethylene pipe
• Superpipes have a capacity of anywhere from 0.5 to 3.5 million litres
• When superpipes are installed, the location (park or open space) is disrupted for approximately one season. The area is returned to its original condition after construction is complete.