Winter Management

Koppen-Geiger Climate Zones of Canada, 2017

Cold climates

Most major cities and urban areas in Ontario have a "humid continental" climate featuring snow and warm summers, classified as "Dfb" according to the Koppen-Geiger climate zone classification system, which includes average temperatures in the coldest month well below -3°C. Other locations in Canada with a humid continental "Dfb" climate include portions of the British Columbia interior (Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George), the prairies (Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg), southern Quebec (Montreal, Quebec City), and Atlantic provinces (Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, St. John's). Locations in the United States with a "Dfb" climate include portions of Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. Other locations around the world with a "Dfb" climate includes such cities as Oslo (Norway), Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden), Moscow (Russia), Kiev (Ukraine) and Hokkaido and Sapporo (Japan).

The southernmost portion of Ontario has a humid continental climate that features snow and hot summers, with a Koppen-Geiger climate zone classification of "Dfa". Other locations with "Dfa" climate include northern portions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio in the United States.

De-icing salt

Snow being stored on a filter strip in Markham, ON

Sodium and chloride ions in de-icing salts applied to asphalt areas travel easily with the runoff water. De-icing salt can increase the mobility of some heavy metals in soil (e.g. lead, copper or cadmium). This may increase the downstream concentration of these metals

Very few studies have sampled groundwater below infiltration facilities or roadside ditches receiving de-icing salt laden runoff have found concentrations of heavy metals that exceed drinking water standards

To minimize risk of groundwater or soil contamination, the following management approaches are recommended , :

Stormwater infiltration practices should not receive runoff from the following areas:

• Where large amounts of de-icing salts are applied (e.g., busy highways), or
• Pollution hot spots (e.g. vehicle fuelling, servicing or demolition areas, outdoor storage or handling areas for hazardous materials, and some heavy industry sites);
• Prioritize infiltration of runoff from source areas that are comparatively less contaminated such as roofs, low traffic roads and parking areas; and
• Apply pretreatment practices before infiltration of road or parking area runoff.
• Implement winter de-icing salt management best practices.

Cold climate considerations

Ice storm (1)

Underdrains and flow control devices

Underdrain perforated pipes should be located below the frost line to reduce the threat of ice clogging. Ontario provincial standard drawings of frost penetration depth are available from the Ministry of Transportation as OPSD 3090.100 for northern Ontario and OPSD 3090.101 for southern Ontario .

Weirs are generally less prone to clogging from ice than orifices or valves under all flow conditions. Proprietary low flow devices are also available which are designed to mitigate clogging from ice or other solid debris.

Plowing

Rubber plow blades are increasingly available and required in many jurisdictions. Their use reduces damage to all kinds of pavement surfaces and they are particularly recommended for application where LID facilities exist, such as permeable pavements and curb cut inlets of bioretention, bioswales, swales and stormwater tree trenches.

Rainwater harvesting

Freezing temperatures can cause problems with exposed collection pipes and portions of cisterns and pipes located above the foundation frost penetration depth. For standard drawings see Ontario Ministry of Transportation OPSD 3090.100 for northern Ontario, and OPSD 3090.101 for southern Ontario. Rainwater harvesting systems designed for year-round operation in cold climates like those in Ontario are typically limited to underground cisterns and outlet pipes located below the frost penetration depth, or cisterns integrated within buildings.

Green roofs

The survival of green roof plantings is greater in winters with long deep sub-zero temperatures. Being shallow and very exposed to warming sunlight, green roofs thaw rapidly. Frequent freeze-thaw cycles in the early and late winter are associated higher loss of vegetation on green roofs.

a gently sloping, densely vegetated areas that treat runoff as sheet flow from adjacent impervious areas. They function by slowing runoff velocity and filtering out suspended sediment and associated pollutants, and by providing some infiltration into underlying soils.

A mixture of mineral aggregates bound with bituminous materials, used in the construction and maintenance of paved surfaces.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

Low Impact Development. A stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased urban runoff and stormwater pollution by managing it as close to its source as possible. It comprises a set of site design approaches and small scale stormwater management practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration and evapotranspiration, and rainwater harvesting.

A shallow excavated surface depression containing prepared filter media, mulch, and planted with selected vegetation.

Linear bioretention cell designed to convey, treat and attenuate stormwater runoff. The engineered filter media soil mixture and vegetation slows the runoff water to allow sedimentation, filtration through the root zone, evapotranspiration, and infiltration into the underlying native soil.

A shallow constructed channel, often grass-lined, which is used as an alternative to curb and channel, or as a pretreatment to other measures. Swales are generally characterized by a broad top width to depth ratio and gentle grades.

Tank used to store rainwater (typically roof runoff) for later use.

The practice of intercepting, conveying and storing rainwater for future use. Captured rainwater is typically used for outdoor non-potable water uses such as irrigation, or in the building to flush toilets.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

The slow movement of water into or through a soil or drainage system.

Penetration of water through the ground surface.