Integrated stormwater management: Project team

Introduction

The first step in creating the conditions needed to successfully carry out integrated water management is to form a project team that represents the water management issues to be included in the plan. This presents a challenge, however, since in most of Ontario no single entity has responsibility for the entire water cycle. The team should then scope the project, including the level of detail and extent of the study area.

Water management in Ontario is carried out by property owners and users (residents, businesses), municipalities, conservation authorities, and provincial ministries using many different governance structures that exist across the province. To exercise a truly integrated approach to water management, the project team should include members representing management of drinking water, stormwater, wastewater and natural assets. Representatives may include a range of practitioners, such as engineers, planners, ecologists, and hydrogeologists. The project team should also consult with users of water services (e.g., the public, businesses).

Building a Collaborative Team

Municipalities

Ontario has a two-tier municipal system. The uppertier municipality is comprised of two or more lower-tier municipalities. Upper-tier municipalities include counties and regional municipalities, while lower-tier municipalities include cities, towns, townships, villages, and municipalities. There are also single-tier municipalities, such as City of Hamilton and City of Toronto. Some single-tier municipalities formed during an amalgamation of former lower-tier municipalities, or are located in an area where there are no upper-tier municipalities, as is the case for much of northern Ontario. Where there are both upper and lower-tier municipalities, powers and responsibilities are divided between the two according to the Ontario Municipal Act.

Upper-tier municipalities are exclusively responsible for water production, treatment, and storage, and non-exclusively responsible for sanitary sewage treatment and collection (may be privately provided), as well as stormwater collection and drainage7. Where there is non-exclusive responsibility, the lower-tier municipalities often provide the water service. Most upper-tier municipalities do provide some form of municipal water services, and therefore should complete or participate in water sustainability plans for those services in collaboration with lower-tier municipalities in order to integrate their water management and planning processes. Single-tier municipalities, typically have jurisdiction over all aspects of water management.

Conservation Authorities

In Ontario, 36 conservation authorities conduct watershed management programs and provide services on a watershed basis. One of their primary roles is to protect people and property against the damages of riverine flooding. According to a fact sheet produced by Conservation Ontario, conservation authorities in Ontario manage flood control infrastructure valued at $2.7 billion, including dams, dykes, channels, and erosion control structures.8

Local conservation authorities should be included in the development of a water sustainability plan based on their role in water and watershed management and their extensive knowledge of the watershed. Conservation authorities are typically experienced in conducting watershed and subwatershed studies, which are similar in process, scope, and stakeholder engagement to the water sustainability plan process. Conservation authorities also provide review of planning documents for land use and infrastructure projects. The local conservation authority may be a strong choice to lead a water sustainability plan, especially if it has previously led other studies of similar magnitude involving coordination with upper and lower-tier municipalities, NGOs, and developers. For example, CVC led the Credit River Water Management Strategy Update, which was completed in 2007. It involved coordination and collaboration with four upper-tier and ten lower-tier municipalities. Many conservation authorities manage monitoring programs, including flow monitoring for flood warning programs, watershed health monitoring, including groundwater and surface water monitoring (quality and quantity), and biological and fish monitoring.9 This information is useful in establishing receiving water objectives and targets for a water sustainability plan with respect to the level of service water management systems should provide.

Third-Party Agencies

A number of third-party agencies, including public and administrative agencies, play a role in water management throughout Ontario. For example, the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario. OCWA provides water, wastewater, and stormwater operation and management services for some municipalities, First Nations communities, businesses and institutions. In study areas where third-party agencies play a role in water management activities, these agencies should be involved as members of the project team for a water sustainability plan. Private-sector organizations also operate and manage water and wastewater on a contractual basis with municipalities. Table 2.1.2 shows the organizations, including municipalities, OCWA, and private organizations, that are responsible for water and wastewater management and operations in Ontario.

The continuous movement of water from the oceans to the atmosphere (by evaporation), from the atmosphere to the land by condensation and precipitation, and from the land back to the sea (via groundwater and stream flow); also referred to as hydrologic cycle.

Surface runoff from at-grade surfaces, resulting from rain or snowmelt events.

The liquid waste from domestic, commercial and industrial establishments. City of Toronto Wet Weather Flow Management Guidelines November 2006 49

Includes the protection of soil from dislocation by water, wind or other agents.

The drainage area of a river.

An area of land that drains into a river or a lake. The boundary of a watershed is based on the elevation (natural contours) of a landscape.

Any person, agency or group who has a direct interest in the purpose of a proposed undertaking.

Credit Valley Conservation