What is stormwater and why does it matter?

Vaughan’s approach to managing stormwater protects the environment, property and the quality of our water

The City of Vaughan is taking steps to lessen the impacts of climate change with a long-term plan for managing the potentially damaging effects of stormwater. The City’s stormwater system currently includes more than 1,000 kilometres of pipes, more than 18,000 catch basins and 143 stormwater ponds.

What is stormwater?

Stormwater is rainwater and melted snow that runs off lawns, streets and other land surfaces. This runoff is supposed to be absorbed by plants and soils or make its way back to ponds and streams. However, more hard surfaces — such as pavement, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks and roofs — especially in urban areas, prevent this runoff from naturally soaking into the ground.

Why does it matter?

Stormwater has several environmental impacts. Excess runoff that doesn’t soak into the ground can pick up pollutants such as oil, pesticides, bacteria and trash before flowing into storm drains, drainage ditches and creeks. This water is not cleaned at a treatment plant first and it doesn’t get naturally filtered by the soil before it flows into rivers and lakes that supply our drinking water. It can cause higher and faster water flow during storms, resulting in flooding and property damage. It can erode rivers and streams and contribute waste and debris downstream. And it can also impact water quality and result in the reduction and loss of aquatic life and diversity.

What is Vaughan doing to manage stormwater?

Stormwater management programs help protect the environment, property and water quality. The City provides several services to manage our stormwater system, including:

• testing the quality of stormwater before it enters streams and creeks
• inspecting stormwater outlets to ensure there are no blockages to water flow
• maintaining and repairing the hundreds of kilometres of pipes that make up the public drainage system to prevent backups and counteract the impact of spills
• finding solutions for cleaning stormwater ponds in densely populated areas of the city
• street sweeping to remove debris before it reaches streams
• installing rain gardens, which are positioned near roof waterspouts or driveways to capture and filter stormwater

How can citizens help?

There are many things that citizens can do to help minimize the impacts of stormwater, including:

• cleaning up litter
• using less fertilizers or biodegradable fertilizers that contain no harmful chemicals
• allowing plants and trees to grow in their natural and original habitats, such as those found near creeks and streams
• disposing of toxic products at local household hazardous waste centres
• capturing stormwater through rain barrels and other methods

Funding stormwater management in Vaughan

The City has developed an approach to funding stormwater management programs that calculates the fee according to the amount of stormwater runoff customers contribute. The stormwater charge is not a new charge. Funding was previously collected through the wastewater rate and property taxes. The stormwater charge will appear as a separate charge on the utility bill beginning in 2017. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater.