LSRCA tightens rules for development to control water contaminants

YorkRegion.com
Sept. 2, 2016
Teresa Latchford

Strict rules for developers and municipalities will help control what ends up in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Enabled by the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and prompted by the ongoing impacts of stormwater runoff on local water courses over the years, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has tightened the rules surrounding the management of stormwater in new developments and redevelopments effective Sept. 1.

“When water falls on a newly developed site that has concrete and impermeable surfaces, the runoff picks up gas, oil, sediment and other contaminants which need to be removed before it hits the water course,” LSRCA manager and engineer Tom Hogenbirk said. “These new rules will help treat that water at the source rather than send it down a pipe to be treated.”

While low-impact development is becoming more common, the conservation authority still felt the need to beef up the requirements for applications for new or renewed developments are submitted for consideration, he continued.

The new requirements include the use of different tools that will help filter stormwater before it hits streams, canals or the lake. These include permeable pavement that allows rain to seep through into the ground, bioswale filter systems that absorb phosphates and infiltration gardens that are used under downspouts on houses to help rainwater soak into the ground instead of running down the lawn, just to name a few.

The idea is to mimic how nature filters water through the ground before it hits the watercourse, Hogenbirk added.

“Our partner municipalities will now be leading the way in reducing the environmental impact of development in our communities,” LSRCA chair and Aurora Mayor Geoff Dawe said. “The greatest impact, of course, will be on the health of our streams and the lake.”

Residents will benefit from a higher degree of safety from flooding, he added. Infrastructure will also be protected from catastrophic damage and the cost to maintain stormwater assets will be significantly reduced.

The new guidelines were developed with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change requirements and Lake Simcoe Protection Plan in mind, according to the authority. LSRCA researched best-in-science stormwater management practices across the province and convened a broad working group to develop the new rules including consultation with area municipalities, the Building Industry and Land Development Association, academic experts, engineering consultants, neighbouring conservation authority staff and leading U.S. experts.

For more information or to view the detailed stormwater management technical guidelines, visit LSRCA.on.ca.