Rainwater Management

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Jim Dumont

    FROM THE ARCHIVES: “Even though we no longer have the forest we once had, with Green Infrastructure we can help the urban landscape act more like a forest,” stated Dr. Jen McIntyre of Washington State University (2016)


    “At Washington State University, I study urban stormwater runoff and its impacts on aquatic animals. The really exciting thing about the research that we are doing, and the results we are getting, is that it gives people hope. Green stormwater infrastructure really can be part of the solution,” stated Jenifer McIntyre. “Our research shows that for all experimental combinations, the bioretention system ELIMINATED the toxicity. Not reduced. Completely eliminated! Rain gardens can save salmon.”

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    CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Failure to grasp water balance fundamentals is a root cause of degraded urban streams. Opening minds to accept changes in practice is a challenge,” stated Richard Boase, career environmental champion within local government in British Columbia


    “Members of the Partnership team would have an idea around a research theme. And as often happened, I was the arm that had the energy and willingness to take on the research, apply new science in North Vancouver, and get the work done. There is a lot to be proud of in terms of all that research that we produced in pursuit of making changes to the fabric of our urbanized areas,” stated Richard Boase.

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    CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Relying solely on engineering solutions will never be adequate for managing flood risk,” stated Younes Alila, professional engineer and professor in the UBC Faculty of Forestry


    “Downstream engineering solutions treat the symptoms of the root cause which happens in the headwaters,” stated Younes Alila. “The framework and concepts I advocate for are applicable to all land use and land covers – whether urban, forested or agricultural – to all disturbances, and to watersheds of all sizes. Can we afford to continue on the same path when the stakes are high?

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    START AND END WITH THE STREAM FOR A TRUE MEASURE OF SUCCESS: “The West Coast experience of Washington State, Oregon and California is a counterweight to those who lean to Ontario and Northeastern USA for their experience,” stated Jim Dumont, rainwater management thought leader (October 2023)


    “In British Columbia, we are on the right path. But that path seems to be a path less travelled. While many advances have been made in managing rainwater on-site, we have fallen behind US west coast states in protecting streams and reducing risk. Everything is in place in BC. We have led people to it, but we cannot force the uptake. We cannot force the change. The thing that I have found works is not technical. It is RISK MANAGEMENT. That is what will bring about the change. If we can get that discussion going, senior people will follow along,” stated Jim Dumont.

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    FLASHBACK TO 2010: “The East Clayton development in Surrey was the first development in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia that utilized Low Impact Development techniques and facilities,” explained Jim Dumont at the Rain to Resource Workshop hosted by the Okanagan Basin Water Board


    “The need to embrace LID practices arose from the need to prevent further increases in damage to both the environment and the agricultural community resulting from the increases in runoff from urban areas. The Neighbourhood Concept Plan (NCP) established rainfall capture objectives for maintaining the predevelopment runoff rates and volumes. The first phase of development brought the need to create calculation methods to verify that the designs complied with the NCP requirements,” stated Jim Dumont.

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    East Clayton ‘Green’ Development in Surrey established BC precedent for implementing performance target approach to rainfall capture


    “The Neighbourhood Concept Plan (NCP) established rainfall capture objectives to maintaining the predevelopment runoff rates and volumes. The clay soils and limited infiltration rates drove innovation in both the calculation methods and the design details to allow the volumetric runoff coefficient to be maintained in both single family and multi-family sites,” states Jim Dumont.

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