“Urban hydrology, as commonly practiced, is an inexact science at best. If we were omniscient, we could do an exact job of urban hydrology. Instead, we rely on engineering judgment and guesswork, ultimately striking a compromise between accuracy and data availability, and resulting in an answer that is close to correct,” says Andy Reese.
“Many stormwater problems are the result of excessive runoff from hard, impervious surfaces. Anyone can visit the Green Up DC site to look at their own property and find out how to reduce stormwater,” said Jenny Guillaume.
Jim Dumont and Dr. Charles Rowney are the Engineering Applications Authority and Scientific Authority, respectively. The are responsible for constant improving the Water Balance Model to meet the needs of local government.
“A watershed blueprint helps to create a picture of how to achieve a desired future condition. If communities reduce their ‘water footprint’, and if local government actions ensure the integrity of groundwater flow, they can then protect watershed and stream health. This is a reason for conserving wetlands,” stated Kim Stephens.
By 2002, looking at rainfall differently led the Province to adopt the Water Balance Methodology, initiate a performance target approach to capturing rain where it falls, and initiate changes in the ways rainwater runoff is returned to streams. A year later, this led to development of the Water Balance Model as a scenario comparison and decision support tool. “When Jim Dumont joined the WBM team as Engineering Applications Authority in 2005, it was indeed a milestone moment,” stated Ted van der Gulik. “Year after year, his in-kind contributions are consistent, substantial and invaluable,”
“In the twentieth century we put lots of pipes in the ground to deal with the City’s stormwater runoff. In the 21st century we are implementing smaller-scale solutions. In the long-term, this will produce a savings for the City and taxpayers,” said City of Victoria Councillor Lisa Helps.
The inspiration for “Peeling Back the Pavement” was a report titled Re-Inventing Rainwater Management: A Strategy to Protect Health and Restore Resources in the Capital Region. “Environmental and stream health problems in the Capital Region are the legacy of an obsolete 19th century stormwater management system—a system that fails to respect natural systems and water cycles,” states Calvin Sandborn.
“Rethinking the way we deal with rain and snowmelt in our cities means replacing conventional pipe-and-convey systems with an approach that recognizes rainwater as a valuable resource while, at the same time, reducing runoff volume and improving runoff quality,” states Oliver Brandes.
“The City’s stormwater program offers an opportunity to better understand and explore the connections between rainwater, stormwater, and urban runoff. In addition to being a step into the 21st century, this program is a step towards better respecting and valuing our water resources, so we can better weave the natural water cycle into the fabric of our city,” states Laura Brandes.
“By 2002, looking at rainfall differently led the Province of British Columbia to adopt the Water Balance Methodology, initiate a performance target approach to capturing rain where it falls, and initiate changes in the ways rainwater runoff is returned to streams.This science-based approach to rainwater management was formalized in Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia,” states Ted van der Gulik.
