Stormwater ponds are keeping it green

Every year, the City of Vaughan does maintenance work at more than 150 stormwater management ponds across the community.

From May to October, we complete three rounds of litter pickup and grass cutting to ensure staff have access to each pond for operational purposes. But you may notice some greenery is left alone. Here’s why:

Unlike natural bodies of water, stormwater ponds are designed and built to collect rainfall and other runoff. The vegetation growing around them, such as long grass, shrubs and trees, is integral to how the ponds function because they:

• act as safety barriers for pedestrians.
• discourage geese from landing in ponds.
• improve water quality.
• filter out coarse sediments and pollutants from the water.
• stabilize the ground when water levels fluctuate.

Stormwater ponds are not for play

While vegetation has its place in and around stormwater ponds, people do not! These ponds may look safe for fishing, swimming or playing around, but they are not made for recreational use. Keep a safe distance away. The water that enters the ponds is not treated and the ponds are designed to temporarily hold water before releasing it slowly back into the environment at a controlled rate. This process means water constantly flows in and out of the pond, so water levels are always changing, making any activity in or around it unsafe.

To learn more about the City’s stormwater ponds and the stormwater process, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater.

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