About the Integrated Urban Water Plan

The Urban Water Plan study

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is underway to assess existing and planned urban city water systems and establish a long-term strategy for water in the city. In 2014, the City completed two studies of water/wastewater and storm drainage/stormwater management, Water and Wastewater Master Plan EA  and Storm Drainage Stormwater Management Master Plan EA, which provide a strong foundation for the new Urban Water Plan.

The Urban Water Plan study will evaluate servicing plans for current and future developments, such as the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, and will identify alternative solutions and sustainability initiatives. 

Once complete, the Urban Water Plan will be the City’s long-term strategy for providing water, wastewater and stormwater management systems that are safe, reliable, resilient, environmentally sustainable and financially responsible. The plan will support the City’s strategic vision expressed in the Official Plan Review and Green Directions Vaughan. The study will take into consideration York Region’s Official Plan, as per York Region’s Municipal Comprehensive Review, to create infrastructure strategies based on best practices. It will also identify and evaluate initiatives, programs and projects to meet servicing needs for the growth and protection of Vaughan’s Natural Heritage Network.

Did you know?

York Region is responsible for providing water and wastewater services to the nine local municipalities (including the city of Vaughan), and is responsible for water transmission mains, trunk sewers, pumping stations, storage and holding tanks.

The City is responsible for stormwater systems, local water distribution and pumping, and local wastewater collection and pumping. The City’s water systems include:

• wastewater collection systems, including sewers, manholes and pumping stations.

• water distribution systems, including watermains, chambers, valves and booster stations.

• drainage collection systems, such as storm sewers, manholes and catch basins.

• stormwater management facilities, such as wet and dry ponds, hybrid wetlands, underground storage tanks, infiltration trenches/galleries and oil and grit separator units.

• natural heritage features that provide stormwater-related environmental services, such as water quality improvement and water quantity regulation. 

The Urban Water Plan EA study process will follow the Municipal Class EA master planning process and fulfill the Municipal Class EA requirements for all Schedule A, A+ and B projects.