Rainwater Management

“It was both timely and relevant that on the same day at the Bowker Forum, the UVIC Environmental Law Clinic released Re-Inventing Rainwater Management. The day forced us to ‘think watershed’ and transcend jurisdictional boundaries. The politicians are listening. Geoff Young, CRD Chairman, stated that ‘cross boundary problems make managing rainwater more difficult, but some of the ideas they have put forward are ones we have started talking about’,” stated Eric Bonham.

“Protecting stream health is a broader objective than maximizing how much volume can be infiltrated on a particular development. We now have the tools and experience to move from stormwater management to RAINwater management,” stated Corino Salomi.

The new module will extend the QUALHYMO engine and WBM interface so as to enable assessment of natural stream sections and development of an erosion index for watershed scenario comparison and development of mitigation methodologies. “To enable this, what is needed is the ability to simulate and assess irregular natural channels along with the potential for erosion and the change in that potential resulting from alteration of the watershed through urban development,” explains Dr. Charles Rowney.

“These new ‘smart’ rainwater management practices can solve the problems associated with urban stormwater runoff. The green revolution in rainwater management gives us pragmatic and cost-effective ways to make a better community for our grandchildren,” states Deborah Curran.

Casey Trees was established in 2001 with a goal of restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree canopy of the Nation's Capital. In the years that have followed, Casey Trees has established itself as a local, national and international leader in urban forestry

The scope of work enabled assessment of natural stream sections and development of an erosion index for watershed scenario comparison and development of mitigation methodologies. “A principal result of increased volumes and rates of flow associated with urbanization is the consequent increase in stream erosion,” stated Jim Dumont. “This can be an economically important factor as maintenance and hydraulic capacity is affected, and it can also be an ecologically important factor as habitat is impaired through degradation, aggregation and increased suspended solids transport.”

Richard Boase (120p)
The catalyst for pending action is the current incremental impact of property redevelopment on stream health. Our watersheds have been experiencing death by a thousand cuts as the house footprint has grown larger and larger over the decades.

The plan reimagines the city as an oasis of rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements, thousands of additional trees, and more. According to Howard Neukrug, the Philadelphia Water Department’s Director of the Office of Watersheds, “We are taking that (old, grey infrastructure) barrier down, and are stopping the water from ever hitting the system.”

“The addition of the Water Re-Use from Storage Module will increase the versatility of the Water Balance Model as a key tool in the City of Calgary’s toolbox of Low Impact Development strategies,” states Liliana Bozic. “Primary goals of the City’s Stormwater Strategy encompass developing cost-effective and sustainable rainwater/stormwater solutions that will work with our climate and soils. Rainwater harvesting is an area of interest that we have been working on for a number of years.”

“The cost of trying and failing may be high. But the cost of doing nothing is higher still. We have one chance to develop things right—to provide for safe and attractive neighborhoods, ecological balance, and clean water. If we mess it up, it will take decades and millions of dollars to fix it later,” writes Andy Reese.