Help develop the City’s new Integrated Urban Water Plan
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Online self-guided Public Information Centre available until Feb. 28
The City of Vaughan is developing a new Integrated Urban Water Plan to meet the community’s water needs for current and future generations. This 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. Get involved and help inform the plan. Visit vaughan.ca/UrbanWaterPlan to take part in an online self-guided Public Information Centre and provide input. The content will be available until Sunday, Feb. 28.
York Region provides water and wastewater services to the nine local municipalities (including Vaughan), and is responsible for water transmission mains, trunk sewers, pumping stations, storage and holding tanks. The City of Vaughan is responsible for stormwater systems, local water distribution and pumping, and local wastewater collection and pumping. The City’s water systems include:
- 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.
This comprehensive study of the City’s urban water infrastructure will support growth, protect Vaughan’s Natural Heritage Network and emphasize environmental sustainability and resiliency. As part of the process, existing problems will be reviewed, sustainability initiatives will be identified, solutions will be considered, and preferred water, wastewater and stormwater servicing strategies will be evaluated. The study will also integrate current sustainability, resiliency and climate change adaptation/mitigation initiatives outlined in Green Directions Vaughan, the Official Plan Review and Vaughan Vision 2050, the City’s Growth Management Strategy, in addition to considering applicable provincial and regional plans and policies.
The Integrated Urban Water Plan Environmental Assessment is being conducted in two phases. Phase one is currently underway and includes:
- reviewing current urban water system master plans and all available background information.
- identifying opportunities and solutions within existing conditions.
- documenting background information and data requirements.
- developing master plan objectives, guidelines, design criteria, servicing principles and policies.
- updating all ground surface models for existing urban water system conditions.
- characterizing natural heritage features.
As public engagement is vital to the development and success of this study, the City encourages citizens to join the conversation – virtually. The online self-guided Public Information Centre has been arranged for interested individuals to learn more about what the Integrated Urban Water Plan is, review and identify challenges and opportunities, view preliminary alternative solutions and share input. Feedback collected through this process will help the City to understand what is important to citizens and to consider these opinions in the study recommendations. The session is now available at vaughan.ca/UrbanWaterPlan until Sunday, Feb. 28. A subsequent digital survey will also be made available online immediately following the session.
In addition to the online session and survey, citizens can take part in the study by:
- joining the mailing list to stay informed about all future consultations and project updates.
- submitting questions, comments and feedback directly to the project team by emailing urbanwaterplan@vaughan.ca.
To be a fully connected and integrated community, the City is committed to undertaking initiatives like developing a new Integrated Urban Water Plan to improve existing infrastructure assets, plan for sustainability and enhance communities for generations to come. This project is supported by the approved citizen-focused 2021 Budget and 2022 Financial Plan and further advances priorities outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
To learn more about the project, or to participate in the online self-guided Public Information Centre, visit vaughan.ca/UrbanWaterPlan. Continue to check this webpage often as additional public engagement opportunities will be posted throughout the study.
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