Storm Water Run Off

There are many residents in Cranbrook who well understand the effect of super-charged storm sewers after heavy rain.  Cranbrook residents are not alone.  This is how Kitchener Ontario is dealing with the problem.
Landscaping that incorporates vegetation is much more able to absorb heavy rainfall and is also of benefit to the atmosphere.  Avenues of trees set in grass swards for example will alleviate some excess run off.  It is common knowledge that deforestation or removal of existing vegetation will cause drainage issues.  This program in Kitchener sounds interesting.


KITCHENER – Kitchener’s innovation in the realm of storm water management was celebrated this week as the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Peter Hume, immediate Past President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and Pat Vanini, AMO Executive Director, presented a P.J. Marshall Plaque Award to the city for an innovative program, launched earlier this year, that transferred storm water management funding from property taxes to a user-fee program based on the amount of impervious area on a property.

“Our city’s residents identify environmental issues as one of the most significant problems we face, said Vrbanovic. “With the storm water management project, the City of Kitchener is taking another step toward becoming one of the most sustainable communities in Canada.”

Storm water runoff flows across land and is routed into drainage systems and ultimately natural areas such as creeks, lakes and wetlands. Developed areas with houses, roads, businesses and parking lots limit the amount of storm water that be absorbed into the ground.

Areas that are more impervious create more runoff and pollutant loading from the property and consequently pose a greater burden on the city’s storm water management system.

In 2010, Kitchener adopted a utility structure using an impervious area calculation to set the rate structure. This structure provides full, sustainable and dedicated funding for its critical storm water management - a service that has been consistently underfunded through the tax base.

The new user rate also allows the city to improve its stormwater service levels by:

* Keeping pollutants out of our stormwater system - leading to better protection of our source water.

* Preventing local flooding and pollution from reaching our creeks and streams - preserving their health and vitality.

* Replacing aging stormwater infrastructure (pipes, catch basins), some of which are 80 to 100 years old.

Rates are assessed to each parcel of land based on usage of the drainage system. As a result, some property owners are adopting best practices such as introducing pollutant trappers called vegetated swales to reduce the amount of impervious area. The city is now exploring a way to provide rate credits for property owners who want to provide onside controls that reduce the runoff from their property.

For the full article:
http://www.exchangemagazine.com/morningpost/2011/week35/Monday/082901.htm