After a dry summer, the fall rains are welcome. When theyB次元官网网址檙e combined with the fast-building leaf piles around Langford, the potential for flooding is very real.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 why city staff about the need to gather your fallen leaves up to keep them away from catch basins, as well as keeping your homeB次元官网网址檚 gutters clear.

George Henshall, B次元官网网址檚 deputy director of engineering and public works, notes that the City has 300 kilometres of drains to manage and they flow much better when not clogged with debris.

B次元官网网址淲hen it rains, it can rain hard this time of year,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭his is kind of like the recycling, where if people can put their blue bins out in the morning rather than the night before so it doesnB次元官网网址檛 blow around, that really helps us.B次元官网网址�

HereB次元官网网址檚 some other ways you can help at this time of year:

• You can put your fallen leaves in your backyard composter, drop them off at or call a contractor to pick them up
• ItB次元官网网址檚 your responsibility to pick up litter on your property that may find its way into storm drains
• If you have elderly neighbours, help them clear away leaves from catch basins
• If branches or trees come down on your property, itB次元官网网址檚 your responsibility to take care of it

You can also take action if you see a tree on public property that might come down in a gusting wind.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 often through November that we see those kinds of things, and we ask people to please call if they see a suspect tree,B次元官网网址� Henshall says. B次元官网网址淲e have horticultural staff that go around and take care of trees, and itB次元官网网址檚 usually easy to take it down.B次元官网网址�

Think about getting ready for winter

Of course, NovemberB次元官网网址檚 arrival also means winter is close at hand.

The City of Langford enhances its maintenance of roads and storm drains in winter, with service routes reworked to maximize efficiency and safety on the municipal routes you travel most, and GPS in trucks to track them in real time B次元官网网址� a crucial benefit when it snows.

The City asks property owners to clear snow and ice from your property and adjacent footpaths, and Henshall stresses that you should have or install good winter or all-season tires on your vehicle in plenty of time for the change in weather.

For more information, contact the City engineering department at 250-474-0068 (250-478-7770 after hours) or Victoria Contracting at 250-474-2688.