Stormwater - Financing our Future Needs

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What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is the water that flows into our sewers, creeks and lakes after it rains or from melting snow. In natural areas, stormwater can soak into the ground where it lands or be absorbed by vegetation.

In urban areas, stormwater runs off hard surfaces (such as rooftops, parking areas, backyard patios, and roads), carrying pollution (such as debris, chemicals) into streams and rivers. Stormwater runoff from urban areas is greater in amount because houses, roads, parking lots and other constructed things do not allow water to get into the ground. Therefore, the water flows over the land and much more rapidly. This increases the ability for the water to cause flooding and erosion.

Stormwater carries pollutants with it because stormwater is not treated. This can result in negative effects on water quality and the natural environment.

Stormwater must be managed to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion, and to minimize harm to the environment.


What is the City’s role in managing stormwater?

The City is responsible for managing stormwater within the municipality. Stormwater management is key in protecting public safety and health and works to reduce flood risk, control erosion and maintain water quality.

Managing stormwater includes planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining stormwater management structures. These structures consist of storm sewers, ditches, inlets, stormwater management facilities (ponds), bridges, culverts, infiltration facilities, oil grit separators, engineered and natural channels as well as storm sewer outfalls to streams and watercourses.

Did you know the City manages:

  • More than 1025 km of pipes
  • Approximately 15,300 manholes
  • More than 22,615 catch basins
  • 29 stormwater ponds (wet and dry)
  • 39 pump stations
  • Approximately 124 km of municipal drains
  • Approximately 254 km of roadside ditches

The estimated replacement cost value of the existing stormwater system is approximately $1.82 Billion as of 2018, or $1.93 billion in 2020 dollars.

Some of the management activities the City does include:

  • Undertake flood protection projects
  • Maintain, repair and restore existing infrastructure
  • Provide emergency response to flooding, spills and clean-up
  • Carry out street sweeping
  • Enforce by-laws to protect the environment and prevent interference with the operation of the stormwater management system


Stormwater Financing Study

The goal of the Study is to develop a balanced approach to funding stormwater management through a review of the level of service and funding options.

The study objectives are to:

  • Quantify the existing stormwater infrastructure program (including level of service);

  • Quantify the future stormwater infrastructure program needs (existing and enhanced service levels); and

  • Investigate and recommend a preferred alternative for funding the future stormwater infrastructure program that is fair and equitable.


Why is the City doing this Study?

Stormwater management is something that has been historically managed through different programs and departments. Stormwater needs continue to grow as the existing infrastructure ages, as new infrastructure is needed to handle development growth and changing storm events, and as water quality impacts continue. The City recognized the need to better plan for our future.

In December 2018, the City began the Study to better understand the current stormwater program and how it is funded, and then explore alternative ways to pay for the City’s future stormwater management needs. The Study report has been completed, and the findings are to go before City Council in early 2021.

Learn more about this Study by watching our video presentation, click here. To download a copy of the video presentation and transcript, click here.


FAQs

Learn more about how the City manages stormwater and what the Stormwater Financing Study will include here: https://weatheringthestorm.ca/stormwater-financing-study/faqs

Don’t see your question? Ask it here: sfs@citywindsor.ca


Project Contact Information

If you are interested in being placed on the Study’s e-mail list to receive future information, or if you have any questions regarding the Study, please email: sfs@citywindsor.ca


Need to talk to someone about City of Windsor services or information?
311 is the only number you need to remember!



What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is the water that flows into our sewers, creeks and lakes after it rains or from melting snow. In natural areas, stormwater can soak into the ground where it lands or be absorbed by vegetation.

In urban areas, stormwater runs off hard surfaces (such as rooftops, parking areas, backyard patios, and roads), carrying pollution (such as debris, chemicals) into streams and rivers. Stormwater runoff from urban areas is greater in amount because houses, roads, parking lots and other constructed things do not allow water to get into the ground. Therefore, the water flows over the land and much more rapidly. This increases the ability for the water to cause flooding and erosion.

Stormwater carries pollutants with it because stormwater is not treated. This can result in negative effects on water quality and the natural environment.

Stormwater must be managed to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion, and to minimize harm to the environment.


What is the City’s role in managing stormwater?

The City is responsible for managing stormwater within the municipality. Stormwater management is key in protecting public safety and health and works to reduce flood risk, control erosion and maintain water quality.

Managing stormwater includes planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining stormwater management structures. These structures consist of storm sewers, ditches, inlets, stormwater management facilities (ponds), bridges, culverts, infiltration facilities, oil grit separators, engineered and natural channels as well as storm sewer outfalls to streams and watercourses.

Did you know the City manages:

  • More than 1025 km of pipes
  • Approximately 15,300 manholes
  • More than 22,615 catch basins
  • 29 stormwater ponds (wet and dry)
  • 39 pump stations
  • Approximately 124 km of municipal drains
  • Approximately 254 km of roadside ditches

The estimated replacement cost value of the existing stormwater system is approximately $1.82 Billion as of 2018, or $1.93 billion in 2020 dollars.

Some of the management activities the City does include:

  • Undertake flood protection projects
  • Maintain, repair and restore existing infrastructure
  • Provide emergency response to flooding, spills and clean-up
  • Carry out street sweeping
  • Enforce by-laws to protect the environment and prevent interference with the operation of the stormwater management system


Stormwater Financing Study

The goal of the Study is to develop a balanced approach to funding stormwater management through a review of the level of service and funding options.

The study objectives are to:

  • Quantify the existing stormwater infrastructure program (including level of service);

  • Quantify the future stormwater infrastructure program needs (existing and enhanced service levels); and

  • Investigate and recommend a preferred alternative for funding the future stormwater infrastructure program that is fair and equitable.


Why is the City doing this Study?

Stormwater management is something that has been historically managed through different programs and departments. Stormwater needs continue to grow as the existing infrastructure ages, as new infrastructure is needed to handle development growth and changing storm events, and as water quality impacts continue. The City recognized the need to better plan for our future.

In December 2018, the City began the Study to better understand the current stormwater program and how it is funded, and then explore alternative ways to pay for the City’s future stormwater management needs. The Study report has been completed, and the findings are to go before City Council in early 2021.

Learn more about this Study by watching our video presentation, click here. To download a copy of the video presentation and transcript, click here.


FAQs

Learn more about how the City manages stormwater and what the Stormwater Financing Study will include here: https://weatheringthestorm.ca/stormwater-financing-study/faqs

Don’t see your question? Ask it here: sfs@citywindsor.ca


Project Contact Information

If you are interested in being placed on the Study’s e-mail list to receive future information, or if you have any questions regarding the Study, please email: sfs@citywindsor.ca


Need to talk to someone about City of Windsor services or information?
311 is the only number you need to remember!