News Releases

The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) has awarded the City’s mass alert system notifynow with a Connected to the Community award.  The presentation was made in Regina last evening.

“This recognition is a big pat on the back for the City and the Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization,” says Ray Unrau, Director of Emergency Planning.

The CWTA offers the Connected to the Community award to organizations that improve the lives of Canadians with wireless technology.

“As we’ve said all along, notifynow will let residents know what to do, where to go, and what to expect during an emergency with a message sent directly to their landline, cell phone, email or in a text message,” Unrau says.

Residents can subscribe or find more information on notifynow at: https://www.saskatoon.ca/services-residents/fire-emergency/emergency-preparedness/notifynow

The City of Saskatoon reminds residents that the third round of open public engagement for the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan) closes at midnight, Wednesday, March 18, 2015.

Have your say!  Visit www.growingfwd.ca to review project information and complete the online survey.

Input is being sought on the recommended long-term plans for a new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); a new river crossing at 33^rd Street combined with BRT lanes on the University Bridge; and redevelopment along major corridors like 8^th Street, 22^nd Street, and Preston Avenue.

The public also has an opportunity to provide feedback on the recommended implementation priorities for putting specific features of the Growth Plan in motion over the short-, medium-, and long-term.

The input gathered during this round of engagement will help to develop the long-term plans for corridor redevelopment, transit, and core area bridges, as well as set the direction for an implementation plan.  We will be back in the fall to share what we heard and confirm the final Growth Plan with the public.

Once complete, the Growth Plan will help to guide future infrastructure investments so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 to 40 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan or to sign up for project update notifications, please visit www.growingfwd.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours, and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Water Week in Saskatoon is March 16-22, 2015; a time to celebrate the critical role water plays in our daily lives and how it contributes to the overall quality of life we enjoy in this city. This year’s theme is - Know your H2O.

“Water Week provides an opportunity for citizens to learn more about the processes we use to supply high quality, safe drinking water to residents, as well as manage wastewater and storm water,” says Reid Corbett, Director of Saskatoon Water. “It’s also a great time to remind residents how they can be water wise to reduce their impact on the environment.”

The average person in Saskatoon uses 233 litres of water per day for drinking, showering, washing dishes, clothes, watering the lawn and using the washroom. Simple water conservation changes can save energy, reduce greenhouse gases, and protect our water supplies.

Water Conservation Tips:

• Only water the lawn once a week, avoid watering during the heat of the day or during windy times, and skip watering when it rains.
• Repair leaky faucets and toilets immediately.
• Run your dishwasher or washing machine only when you have a full load. This can save between 1,800 and 3,000 litres each month.
• Use low flush fixtures such as water-saving shower heads and ultra-low flow toilets.

The Raw Water Intake & Pumping Facility, south of the Circle Drive south bridge, collects an average of 125 million litres of water each day from the river and pumps it to the Water Treatment Plant where it goes through an extensive multi-barrier treatment process before being pumped to individual homes and businesses.

After the water is used, a good portion of it goes down the drain into our wastewater collection system and sent back to our state-of-the-art Waste Water Treatment Plant where it is treated prior to release into the river. Our storm sewer system, which is a series of pipes, manholes, catch basins, ponds, wetlands and outfall structures, is also used to collect and discharge water into the river.

“A clean and safe water supply and environmental protection are top priorities for the City of Saskatoon, as we know they are too for our citizens,” says Corbett. “We take pride in these services and are committed to ensuring all precautions are taken to keep our citizens safe when work or construction is occurring on the water, wastewater and storm sewer systems.”

Get involved in Water Week!

• Join our live Twitter chat this week with #yxewaterweek.
• Like Saskatoon City News on Facebook for our daily contest, lots of cool prizes!
• Check out saskatoon.ca/waterweek to find daily blogs and take a video tour of the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant and Water Treatment Plant.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW SUNDAY

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB LANE CLOSED AT 25TH ST
(Electronic work)
Start: March 15, 7:00 a.m. End: March 15, 11:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR WB CENTER LANE CLOSED APPROACHING AIRPORT DR
(Light repairs)
Start: March 15, 7:30 a.m. End: March 15, 9:00 a.m.

COLLEGE DR WB EXIT TO CIRCLE DR NB CLOSED
(Light pole repairs)
Start: March 15, 9:00 a.m. End: March 15, 10:30 a.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Saskatoon is no stranger to big temperature changes at any time of year.  In winter, large temperature fluctuations can cause ground shifts resulting in small cracks in the asphalt. As a result potholes develop when the ground expands and contracts with the freeze/thaw of the water in the cracks. Vehicle traffic also breaks away the edges of the pothole, making the pothole bigger.

City crews are focusing efforts on priority streets and repairing potholes in the driving lanes with cold mix asphalt. This is largely a temporary measure until hot asphalt mix is available in late April or early May. So far this winter, 45 tonnes of cold mix asphalt has been used to repair potholes.

Reports received for residential streets that have hazardous or significant potholes in the driving lane will be investigated.  Warning barricades may be installed until either temporary or permanent repairs can be made. Residents are encouraged to report these locations by calling our Customer Service Centre at 306-975-2476.  An enhanced online Report a Pothole map will be available at Saskatoon.ca in time for the Spring Pothole Blitz repair program.

In addition to potholes, approximately 546 utility cuts, which are excavations required to connect, repair or maintain underground utilities, are being maintained as required with a grader until they can be permanently paved. Permanent repairs can only be made with hot mix asphalt once the ground frost has thawed.

With even warmer temperatures forecast for this weekend crews are actively engaged in clearing catch basins to prevent water ponding issues. Additionally, crews are busy clearing culvert systems throughout the city to prevent flooding.

Residents can find out more about how to prevent spring melt flooding around their home by searching ‘spring melt’ at saskatoon.ca.

If drivers encounter severe rutting, hazardous potholes, blocked catch basins or other emergency road conditions, they’re asked to report it by calling Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

For more information on the City’s snow management programs visit saskatoon.ca/snow.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City on Twitter and Facebook.