Your news this week:
d
e ell
nc
Ca
Rain causes cancellation of car show - 8 Congratulations to Lamont Grads: 10-15 Lawyers attend County meeting - 20 OPINION: They did nothing to help - 6
Proud to be an Independent CANADIAN Publication
FREE
www.LamontLeader.com
Vol. 21, No. 35, Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Rain Strain Heavy rainfall strains sewer systems across Lamont County communities BY MELISSA MACINTOSH-YOUNG Communities across Lamont County are dealing with the effects of days of heavy rainfall after significant precipitation between May 29 and June 2 overwhelmed local infrastructure and created concerns for municipal sewer systems. Both the Town of Lamont and the Town of Mundare issued urgent public advisories asking residents to immediately reduce non-essential water use as sanitary systems struggled to keep up with the excess water entering the systems. Environment Canada had warned residents in the region that a prolonged rainfall event was expected to bring between 50 and 90 millimeters of rain across parts of central Alberta, with localized areas potentially receiving more than 100 millimeters. The rainfall arrived after several days of storm activity and continued through the beginning of the week, saturating the ground and placing additional pressure on lagoons, drainage systems, and municipal infrastructure throughout the county. In Mundare, officials issued a Sewer System Advisory stating that the town lagoon was “struggling to keep up due to recent heavy rainfall.” Residents were asked to limit showers, laundry, dishwashing, and other non-essential water usage while crews monitored the situation. The Town of Lamont also issued an urgent notice advising residents that the sanitary system was struggling because of the rainfall event. Similar restrictions were requested in an effort to reduce strain on the system and pre-
vent further complications. The advisories highlight the challenges municipalities face during prolonged rainfall events, especially in communities with aging infrastructure or lagoon-based wastewater systems. Excess rainwater can infiltrate sewer systems through drainage connections, sump pumps, or groundwater seepage, significantly increasing the volume entering treatment systems. The rainfall also created difficult conditions on roads and low-lying areas throughout Lamont County, with residents reporting standing water, muddy conditions, and localized flooding concerns in some areas. Municipal officials thanked residents for their cooperation during the advisories and encouraged the public to continue monitoring local updates as crews worked to manage water levels and system capacity. The recent weather event serves as another reminder of the impact extreme weather can have on rural infrastructure across Alberta communities.
Purple Martins are huddled out of the wind, sheltering from the weather at their feeder during the weekend weather. Below: standing water at a county farmer’s field on June 1, and in the Town of Lamont the same day. Crystal Moren photos.