Rainwater Management

The facility was named after General Sir Arthur William Currie, commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on the Western Front during World War I. Redevelopment project uses urban rainwater runoff to create greenscape in urban settings. Brownfields have been replaced with rain gardens, vegetated swales and gravel infiltration trenches.

“The goal of the District of Mission in managing rainwater is to provide sustainable hydrologic systems that mimic natural systems, protect groundwater resources, and minimize downstream flooding and erosion. We look forward to sharing our experience with other WBM Partners in applying the Stream Health Methodology,” stated Hirod Gill.

“Because our vision is to advance water-centric green infrastructure, it was essential that we have high-level political endorsement. UBCM provided us with a high-profile platform at its Urban Forum. In 2003, the support of two mayors was key to making this happen,” stated Ted van der Gulik.

At a rainwater conference hosted by the University of British Columbia in June 2007, this question was posed to a panel of practitioners: Obstacles to innovation; how to introduce changes into stormwater management?

Anna Warwick Sears (120p) – Executive Director, OBWB
To have a sustainable water supply we need more emphasis on keeping pollution out of our lakes and streams, with less run off during storms. We also need to recharge the aquifers under our neighbourhoods.

“The East Clayton Neighbourhood Concept Plan provided the first large-scale opportunity to ‘test’ a new approach advocated by Patrick Condon and others. This new approach, which is sometimes characterized as ‘the future is the past’, embodied a design with nature way-of-thinking about drainage,” stated Paul Ham.

Once thought of as a nuisance, rainwater is now universally recognized as one our most important natural resources and proper management (simple to complex) is more important than ever.

Website provides creative new ideas on sustainable practices.

Andy Reese reports that he has been repeatedly reminded of the black box nature of urban stormwater hydrologic design, and the often minimal level of understanding of many designers. The article points out some of the methodologies that can be used to obtain any number of “correct” answers.

“Because Sooke is a small municipality with limited financial resources, we have had to pare down and make the plans practical in order to be affordable. Again, networking and collaboration are making it possible for us to do this effectively,” states Laura Byrne.