Stormwater management master plan complete
On Monday, Dec. 16, council endorsed a stormwater management master plan environmental assessment and directed staff to file the notice of completion and mandatory 30-day public review period, as required by the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
This stormwater master plan is a fifteen-year plan for the safe and effective management of stormwater runoff from our existing urban areas. The strategy will identify, protect and enhance natural features, ecological function and biophysical integrity and manage risks, such as water pollution and flooding, through the establishment of environmental targets for water quality, water quantity, erosion and infiltration (water balance).
The study was initiated with the basic recognition that urban development can cause a number of environmental concerns, including:
- Degraded surface water and groundwater quality
- Warming of local creeks which can affect fish
- Increased sediment being delivered to local creeks
- Negative effects on human and animal health
- Loss of fish and wildlife habitat, along with natural features
- Increased flooding and creek erosion
- Reduced groundwater recharge (our drinking water source)
- Overwhelming of the municipal storm sewer system, resulting in flooding
The plan will guide the establishment of stormwater management policies and guidelines, address stormwater needs, identify and prioritize recommended works and feed into the overall asset management plan for the City of Waterloo. The plan contains six key elements:
- Municipal pollution prevention and practices that can help prevent impacts before they occur
- Strategies that focus on supporting and encouraging private property to take action to beautify their neighbourhoods and business while managing stormwater
- Improving the way municipal roads manage runoff by constructing stormwater management controls
- Maintaining and improving stormwater management facilities as well as constructing new facilities in uncontrolled stormwater catchments as part of park rehabilitations
- Restoring local creeks suffering from erosion issues
- Managing urban flooding associated with storm sewer surcharging with a focus on the predicted impacts of climate change.
For more information visit the master plan section of our city website.
Media contact:
Janice Works
Manager, Communications
519-747-8731
TTY: 1-866-786-3941
janice.works@waterloo.ca