The spring flood situation in Kazan remains calm

(KZN.RU, April 3). Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, urged on today’s Business Monday to be on full alert, monitor the change of the flood situation in the city around-the-clock and react promptly to the requests of the residents, caught in the flood zone. “The flood remains calm yet but the weather can present surprises at any time”, noted the Mayor.

Ferdinand Timurkhanov, the head of the Civil Protection Department, explained that slight positive daytime temperatures and small negative temperatures at night create favorable conditions for the gradual melting of snow. He said that today the level of the Volga is 50.4 m, which is lower than last year's indicator by 0.7 m and below the average for the flood period by 3 m. The level of Kazanka is 51.7 m. It is also lower than the average indicator for the flood period by 1.7 m.

“Flooding phenomena on small rivers Kinderka, Vertlevka and Suhaya are already observed, but there is no danger yet. The situation can change quickly with increasing temperature, and we are ready for this today”, reported the head of the Civil Protection Department.

He said that the around-the-clock duty of the flood control commission members, the duty of 5 operational groups is organized in the city since March 20, and all dispatching services of the city are working in an enhanced mode. By April 2, reports on the flooding of private courtyards and city streets entered the Unified Duty and Dispatch Service 9 times. Rescuers went to minimize the consequences of flood events 12 times.

Ferdinand Timurkhanov also said that bridges have been fully tested. “Particular attention was paid to the four pedestrian bridges through the Noksa and the Vertlevka, where the width of the riverbed rose slightly, but the height from the surface of the river to the lower part of the bridge is 98 cm. The monitoring of the ice situation is organized on these bridges, and work to cut ice around the perimeter of the supports is being conducted”, said the speaker.

According to him, special attention will be paid to the passage through the Noksa in the residential area Salmachi. “There was a significant flooding in 2009 and last year. The water level in this place is under constant control, and the one dam serves as a natural barrier to water flow, one way or another. The only way to solve the problem in this part of the city will be the construction of a bridge over the Noksa”, noted Ferdinand Timurkhanov.

He informed that 237 pumps, 3128 linear meters of hoses for water pumping, 3240 bags of sand, and 790 ladders were prepared from the city's utilities organization. “All emergency crews are ready to perform tasks for prompt response to possible non-standard situations”, he added.

In addition, the constant monitoring of water intake, cleaning facilities, sewerage, pumping stations, and drinking water tanks is provided in Kazan, laboratory control of drinking water quality is strengthened, and control over the debris of sewage sludge fields is strengthened in order to prevent their breakdown and outflow of sediments into the Volga. In addition, around-the-clock monitoring of the water level in the Volga, the Kazanka and the Kaban lake system is organized.