Water built Winnipeg. Now Winnipeg is racing to adapt to water.
At The Forks — where the Red River and Assiniboine River meet — people have gathered for roughly 6,000 years. Indigenous communities, trade routes, commerce, and eventually a major Canadian city all grew around these waterways.
But the rivers that helped create Winnipeg also bring recurring risk. Spring snowmelt and heavy rains can push water levels higher, threatening neighborhoods and infrastructure across the region.
Some of the biggest challenges are hidden underground. Winnipeg still relies heavily on a combined sewer system, where stormwater and wastewater share the same pipes. During intense rain events, the system can overflow into local waterways. In 2024 alone, the city recorded more than 1,400 sewer overflow events.
City leaders are now investing billions of dollars into long-term upgrades designed to reduce those overflows by 85% in the coming decades — part of a broader push to build a more resilient future while also protecting rivers, recreation, and downstream water quality in Lake Winnipeg.
From flood control to wastewater modernization, Winnipeg is becoming a case study in how older cities are confronting the realities of climate pressure and aging infrastructure.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit https://www.waterloop.org/
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