City of Merritt strategizing how to remove silt, clay that accumulated on flood-impacted properties

Photo: Castanet Staff

The Coldwater River spilled its banks in Merritt on Nov. 14 and flooded low-lying parts of the city.

The City of Merritt is working on a process for removing mounds of clay and silt deposited throughout low-lying areas of the city by November’s devastating flood.

In a virtual information session hosted last week by the City of Merritt, Greg Solecki, the city’s recovery manager, was asked what residents should do about silt, clay and mud that accumulated on their driveways and in properties.

Solecki said he’s heard people have tried to get rid of silt and mud through the drainage system.

“We heard today even that there's reports from public works in Merritt that people have resorted to putting silt and dirt and other things into the toilet and the drainage system,” Solecki said.

“That's just not going to help the system at all, obviously, and [we] definitely ask them not to do that. But then we understand that, 'OK, what are people supposed to do?' To put it out front or gather somewhere else outside of the home is definitely what you want to do.”

In early December, city work crews constructed a lined pit near the airport to collect mud and silt left behind by the floodwaters.

Rick Wagner, an environmental management specialist working with the City of Merritt, said a pile of sediment has been collected from residents and contractors cleaning out properties, and from city crews cleaning streets.

As the ground thaws and cleanup efforts start up again, Wagner said contractors and the public can take mud and soil that is clean of other debris to the storage pit.

Wagner said he is also working on a process to help residents who might not be able to transport a load of soil to the site.

“If somebody says, ‘Oh, I don't have a truck’… I don't want to just see it pushed down the storm drain, I don't want to see it pushed down a sewer line,” Wagner said.

He said pushing silt and mud into sewage lines or ditches is detrimental to the environment or the operation of the city’s sewage plant.

“That's what we're trying to do, is there something we can have as a solution to prevent it from causing adverse effects somewhere else? So we're working on it.”

Wagner said they have also been collecting soil samples from the silt in the large, lined storage pit to ensure it isn’t contaminated.

“The testing that I've seen until this point really doesn't show any crazy levels of any contaminants. So it's just to confirm that,” Wagner said.

He said once results are back, they are looking to ship the mud and silt to a facility that can accept it.

For anyone who is looking to bring a load of silt to the collection site, Wagner said it’s “really important” the material is only comprised of soils and sediments and free of other debris.

“If it starts getting contaminated with other materials, that's just going to drive the cost and complexity of trying to dispose of that material,” Wagner said.

In Thursday’s meeting, Solecki said the city is looking to have a process in place for handling piles of silt in residential neighbourhoods sometime this week.

“We’re right now planning for that, so when we have large amounts in the residential neighbourhoods, there will be a process in place — I'd like to say by next Thursday [Feb. 17] — of what that looks like, and how that will be picked up, how that will be cleaned up, where it goes. And then we will again determine what happens with that large amount after,” Solecki said.

The Coldwater River spilled its banks on Nov. 14, flooding low-lying parts of Merritt. Many residents remain displaced.