Stormwater Feasibility Study

The Municipality is responsible for managing stormwater within the municipality. This includes planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining stormwater assets within municipal roadways, public easements and other Municipal lands. The stormwater management program is crucial in protecting public safety and health and works to reduce flood risk, control erosion and maintain water quality in local natural waterways.

Stormwater, both quality and quantity, are managed by the Municipality’s stormwater program. This includes operating and maintaining storm sewers, ditches, inlets, stormwater management facilities (ponds), bridges, culverts, infiltration facilities, oil grit separators, and storm sewer outfalls to streams and watercourses.

The Municipality’s urban stormwater assets include:

• More than 100 km of pipes
• Approximately 1,400 maintenance holes
• Approximately 2,400 catch basins
• 9 stormwater ponds
• 105 inlet/outlet structures
• 5 km of infiltration trenches and subdrains

The estimated replacement cost value of the existing stormwater system is approximately $80 million.

The Municipality has a responsibility to effectively manage this infrastructure and protect the environment. To meet this responsibility, the Municipality:

• Undertakes flood protection projects
• Maintains, repairs and restores existing infrastructure
• Provides emergency response to flooding, spills and clean-up
• Carries out street sweeping
• Cleans out catch basins and maintenance hole bottoms
• Enforces by-laws to protect the environment and prevent interference with the operation of the stormwater management system

The Municipality has been adapting its policies and practices to meet provincial and federal regulatory requirements. The relevant stormwater rules and regulations include Provincially, the Ontario Water Resources Act, Drainage Act, Environmental Protection Act, Emergency Management Act, Water Opportunities Act, Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act, Provincial Water Quality Objectives, and Federally, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and Fisheries Act.

Generally, the annual stormwater operating costs are funded through the property tax levy.  Capital improvement costs have historically been funded through grants. It has been estimated that approximately 0.52% ($108,000) of the Municipality’s 2022 property tax levy went towards stormwater services.

The benefits of an effective stormwater management program include a reduction in flood risk, improved water quality and environment, and reduced stream and creek erosion.

The biggest influencing factor in the amount of stormwater runoff in the community is the presence of surfaces that do not absorb water, including roofs, driveways, concrete patios, roads and hard-surface parking lots. By minimizing the paving of land areas and properly maintaining the runoff from these surfaces, you can help manage stormwater.

Maintenance at home can include keeping storm sewer inlets (catch basins) clear as well as the cleaning and maintenance of downspouts, weeping tiles, sump pumps, back water valves and sewer lines from your residence to the municipal lines. You can also use rain barrels and plant vegetation to minimize flows draining from your property. Disconnecting your downspout (eavestrough) from flowing to the road/neighbouring property is another way to minimize flows draining from your property. Since rainwater falling onto your roof is generally cleaner, it is also ideal for use in gardens, car washing and for lawn care.

The majority of the Municipality’s storm drains do not connect to treatment facilities, but rather drain untreated stormwater into local waterways. Therefore, it is important to not put anything into the drains or roadside ditches that can pollute local streams or creeks.

• Maintain your property – pick up wastes, such as pet and yard wastes, and dispose of them properly.
• Consider using a local car wash that collect and treat the dirty water before it is released to the environment.
• Understand the fertilizer and other chemicals you are using – read and follow the instructions.
• Always dispose of hazardous materials such as paint and motor oil at your local hazardous waste collection centre.

The goal of the Municipality’s Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study (the Study) is to develop a balanced approach to funding stormwater management infrastructure through a review of the level of service and funding options.

Study objectives include:

• Understand existing stormwater program (including level of service)
• Understand future stormwater management infrastructure program needs and service levels
• Investigate and recommend a preferred alternative for funding the future stormwater management infrastructure program
• Develop a strategy to implement the preferred alternative

The Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc is undertaking the Study to assess the current stormwater program and how it is funded and explore alternative ways to pay for the Municipality’s future stormwater management needs. The Study began in October 2021 and is expected to be completed by mid-2023.

Stormwater needs continue to grow as the existing infrastructure ages, storm infrastructure is needed in existing neighbourhoods with flooding issues, and also to handle development growth and changing storm events, as water quality impacts continue. This Study will consider the existing and projected stormwater needs and costs and will evaluate alternatives for paying for the on-going investments in this critical program.

Typical municipal stormwater problems include:

• Climate change affecting the intensity and frequency of storm events that stormwater management programs must respond to.
• Urban growth and development alter the amount of runoff and pollution.
• Infrastructure such as pipes, culverts and outfalls have limited life expectancy.
• Stormwater facilities must be actively maintained throughout their expected life, including watercourses, storm sewers, catch basins, stormwater ponds, pump stations, culverts, overland flow routes, and outfalls.
• Appropriate resources, assets and improvement projects must be proactively planned to address needs and problems.
• Design standards have changed, and designs developed under old standards may be inadequate to meet regulatory requirements.
• Development plans must be thoroughly reviewed, and sites adequately inspected during construction to ensure the adequacy of design and construction.

Most of the stormwater-related issues the Municipality faces are localized flooding during heavy rain events, lack of infrastructure in existing neighbourhoods, ageing pipes and other stormwater infrastructure, and a significant number of stormwater ponds that require maintenance due to more heavy rainfall events.

Current priorities include:

• Reducing the risk of flooding
• Improving drainage
• Protecting community health and safety
• Reducing environmental pollution

From a stormwater management perspective, green infrastructure is a broadly-used term for infrastructure and practices that re-use or redirect stormwater. Examples include, grassed / vegetated areas that help rainfall soak into the ground as opposed to running off the land and into the stormwater system and rain barrels that store rainwater for re-use as irrigation water.

All forms of green infrastructure reduce the stormwater that runs off properties. As a result, the amount of water that needs to be directed (or conveyed) to a receiving watercourse, whether by ditches, gutters, storm sewers, or overland flow routes is reduced. This may benefit the stormwater system through reducing the size of conveyance infrastructure. Green infrastructure may also provide local water quality treatment, which may improve the water quality downstream, and reduce the load on stormwater management facilities. This reduction may provide better water quality treatment and may require less frequent maintenance.

The Municipality is currently sharing information and inviting input through virtual engagement. Between February 20 and March 10, you can view our presentation and add your voice to the conversation by filling out our online survey.

Based on feedback received, the recommended program may be modified to address input received prior to the presentation to the Municipality’s Council for approval.

It is anticipated a final recommendation will go before Council later this year. If a decision is made by Council to move ahead with the new stormwater management program and rate structure, an implementation phase will follow this Study. This implementation phase would include detailed rate calculations, potentially measurement of impervious areas of properties, and details of a billing structure. This implementation phase would be expected to take approximately six months.

Across Southern Ontario, municipalities are undertaking similar stormwater financing studies to reevaluate their stormwater management systems, define their future needs, and determine how they will be financed. Some examples of municipalities who have implemented designated stormwater rates include Aurora, Brampton, Cobourg, Guelph, Kitchener, London, Markham, Middlesex Centre, Mississauga, Newmarket, Orillia, Ottawa, Richmond Hill, St. Thomas, Thames Centre, Vaughan, Waterloo, and Whitchurch-Stouffville. The Study will compare potential stormwater rates for the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc against other municipalities to determine the preferred financing alternative.