20th February 2010
A new report,
Re-Inventing Rainwater Management
(4.46 MB file) was unveiled at a "Stormwater Roundtable" on March 4th at UVic Law Faculty (room 159). (Part of the executive summary follows).
"...in recent years rainwater management practices have been developed that make the 21st century Green City possible – a city that designs rainwater management in concert with natural systems, not at cross purposes.
Traditional stormwater management broke the natural water cycle. It viewed stormwater as a site-specific problem, solved by rapidly piping water away from properties – and converting streams at the end of the pipe into drainage ditches. In contrast, modern rainwater management looks at the dynamics of the entire watershed, and identifies how development can use “green infrastructure” to maintain natural systems and protect buildings. Instead of relying heavily on pipes and concrete, it works to restore the function of trees, soil and open space that provide natural absorption, storage, evaporation and filtration services. Typically, this Low Impact Development approach mimics the natural water cycle - by allowing water to infiltrate down through the soil and slowly release into the watershed.
The report documents how green rainwater management has now been adopted by engineers, developers, planners and governments across North America. The report also demonstrates that these Low Impact Development techniques are not only environmentally superior, they are often cheaper. In addition, they can provide incalculable benefits in the form of enhanced urban green space, as well as improved urban aesthetics and recreational opportunities.
The report describes a number of notable innovative projects in the Capital Region, and elsewhere. It then makes its first recommendation: that local governments reform policies and legislation – and work with partners - to ensure implementation of Low Impact Development across the landscape.
A second major recommendation deals with the aging infrastructure that allows sanitary sewage releases from local stormwater outlets. The report argues that our system of financing infrastructure through property taxes is the reason why essential infrastructure has been neglected for over a century. Therefore, it calls on local governments to follow the lead of many North American cities, and shift the financing of drainage services from property taxes to a “user-pay” utility charge, with fees based on actual use. Just as citizens pay to have water piped to their houses, they would pay to have it piped away. The utility charge can be linked to an equivalent reduction in property taxes.
Such a measure not only provides dedicated funding for essential infrastructure. It also encourages residents to implement simple “Low Impact Development” techniques on their property in order to reduce their utility charge. Fortuitously, when residents do that, it reduces the community’s need for expensive new infrastructure. **
The Report recommends the implementation and enforcement of the CRD Model Storm Sewer and Watercourse Protection Bylaw across the entire Capital Region, a model which has yet to be fully adopted by most municipalities.
Next, the report recommends the formation of a Capital Regional District Rainwater Commission to undertake an integrated watershed management approach for managing rainwater across the region. A Regional Commission is necessary to overcome the main barrier to rational rainwater management – the fragmented jurisdiction over runoff in our region.
The problem is that storm sewers are separately owned and regulated by each individual municipality. However, modern rainwater planning requires a watershed-wide approach – and local watersheds often include more than one municipality. Single municipalities lack legal capacity and resources to carry out the necessary watershed planning. A Regional Rainwater Commission could redress this.
The Report recommends that the new Commission create a long-term Regional Integrated Watershed Management Plan with a number of mandatory targets, including: the enactment of source pollution control regulations throughout the region; the elimination of stormwater discharges rated “high” for environmental concern or public health concern by 2015; the reduction of Victoria Harbour and Gorge runoff pollution, with the goal of making fish and shellfish there edible by 2035; and a firm deadline of 25 years for repairing pipes and infrastructure that allow sewage releases from storm sewers.
The Report recommends that the Commission work to ensure that local governments create a set of financial motivations for the private sector to implement LID; and that the Commission work with municipalities to implement LID practices in their own buildings and streets. The Report also calls for the restoration and enhancement of the currently-suspended monitoring program for stormwater runoff.
Finally, the Report recommends that the Commission launch an educational strategy for residents, developers, and others; provide resources and support to local stewardship groups to promote watershed protection and restoration; collaborate with community groups and educational institutes to conduct more extensive water quality monitoring; and publish a biennial “State of the Watershed” Report.
A number of other recommendations are made, including recommendations for senior government action to deal with stormwater and rainwater issues.
In sum, it is time for the Capital Regional District – in partnership with other governments and the private sector -- to implement a region-wide rainwater management strategy. The rewards will be great.
If we act now, our grandchildren will benefit dramatically. They’ll be able to walk on beaches free of stormwater fecal contamination. From those clean beaches they’ll be able to spot the occasional orca, still wild in the Straits. They will walk along the banks of local urban streams, awed by the magic of restored salmon runs. They will harvest shellfish from long-closed shellfish beds. They will hike in remote watersheds that might otherwise have been dammed.
We can do all of this – but first the leaders of the Capital Regional District must take action and establish a rainwater management strategy."
Re-Inventing Rainwater Management
(4.46 MB file) was unveiled at a "Stormwater Roundtable" on March 4th at UVic Law Faculty (room 159). (Part of the executive summary follows).
"...in recent years rainwater management practices have been developed that make the 21st century Green City possible – a city that designs rainwater management in concert with natural systems, not at cross purposes.
Traditional stormwater management broke the natural water cycle. It viewed stormwater as a site-specific problem, solved by rapidly piping water away from properties – and converting streams at the end of the pipe into drainage ditches. In contrast, modern rainwater management looks at the dynamics of the entire watershed, and identifies how development can use “green infrastructure” to maintain natural systems and protect buildings. Instead of relying heavily on pipes and concrete, it works to restore the function of trees, soil and open space that provide natural absorption, storage, evaporation and filtration services. Typically, this Low Impact Development approach mimics the natural water cycle - by allowing water to infiltrate down through the soil and slowly release into the watershed.
The report documents how green rainwater management has now been adopted by engineers, developers, planners and governments across North America. The report also demonstrates that these Low Impact Development techniques are not only environmentally superior, they are often cheaper. In addition, they can provide incalculable benefits in the form of enhanced urban green space, as well as improved urban aesthetics and recreational opportunities.
The report describes a number of notable innovative projects in the Capital Region, and elsewhere. It then makes its first recommendation: that local governments reform policies and legislation – and work with partners - to ensure implementation of Low Impact Development across the landscape.
A second major recommendation deals with the aging infrastructure that allows sanitary sewage releases from local stormwater outlets. The report argues that our system of financing infrastructure through property taxes is the reason why essential infrastructure has been neglected for over a century. Therefore, it calls on local governments to follow the lead of many North American cities, and shift the financing of drainage services from property taxes to a “user-pay” utility charge, with fees based on actual use. Just as citizens pay to have water piped to their houses, they would pay to have it piped away. The utility charge can be linked to an equivalent reduction in property taxes.
Such a measure not only provides dedicated funding for essential infrastructure. It also encourages residents to implement simple “Low Impact Development” techniques on their property in order to reduce their utility charge. Fortuitously, when residents do that, it reduces the community’s need for expensive new infrastructure. **
The Report recommends the implementation and enforcement of the CRD Model Storm Sewer and Watercourse Protection Bylaw across the entire Capital Region, a model which has yet to be fully adopted by most municipalities.
Next, the report recommends the formation of a Capital Regional District Rainwater Commission to undertake an integrated watershed management approach for managing rainwater across the region. A Regional Commission is necessary to overcome the main barrier to rational rainwater management – the fragmented jurisdiction over runoff in our region.
The problem is that storm sewers are separately owned and regulated by each individual municipality. However, modern rainwater planning requires a watershed-wide approach – and local watersheds often include more than one municipality. Single municipalities lack legal capacity and resources to carry out the necessary watershed planning. A Regional Rainwater Commission could redress this.
The Report recommends that the new Commission create a long-term Regional Integrated Watershed Management Plan with a number of mandatory targets, including: the enactment of source pollution control regulations throughout the region; the elimination of stormwater discharges rated “high” for environmental concern or public health concern by 2015; the reduction of Victoria Harbour and Gorge runoff pollution, with the goal of making fish and shellfish there edible by 2035; and a firm deadline of 25 years for repairing pipes and infrastructure that allow sewage releases from storm sewers.
The Report recommends that the Commission work to ensure that local governments create a set of financial motivations for the private sector to implement LID; and that the Commission work with municipalities to implement LID practices in their own buildings and streets. The Report also calls for the restoration and enhancement of the currently-suspended monitoring program for stormwater runoff.
Finally, the Report recommends that the Commission launch an educational strategy for residents, developers, and others; provide resources and support to local stewardship groups to promote watershed protection and restoration; collaborate with community groups and educational institutes to conduct more extensive water quality monitoring; and publish a biennial “State of the Watershed” Report.
A number of other recommendations are made, including recommendations for senior government action to deal with stormwater and rainwater issues.
In sum, it is time for the Capital Regional District – in partnership with other governments and the private sector -- to implement a region-wide rainwater management strategy. The rewards will be great.
If we act now, our grandchildren will benefit dramatically. They’ll be able to walk on beaches free of stormwater fecal contamination. From those clean beaches they’ll be able to spot the occasional orca, still wild in the Straits. They will walk along the banks of local urban streams, awed by the magic of restored salmon runs. They will harvest shellfish from long-closed shellfish beds. They will hike in remote watersheds that might otherwise have been dammed.
We can do all of this – but first the leaders of the Capital Regional District must take action and establish a rainwater management strategy."