Storm Water Management

As extreme events are becoming more frequent due to climate change, and as new regulations regarding the quality and quantity aspects of storm water will be enacted in the near future, there is a need to develop or revise storm water management guidelines. The above factors are resulting in surcharging of sanitary and storm sewer systems becoming more frequent (along with the potential associated damages to private and public development), and an increase in legal and criminal liability exposure to municipalities and their employees.

Hydro-Com Technologies Limited offers the following services to assess the magnitude of the above factors, review and revise engineering design guidelines, and develop a storm water management plan.

• Review of existing design guidelines to assess the overall design approach for storm water management, as well as the design limits associated with this approach.
• Review of best management practices to ensure that the proposed storm water management approach is in compliance with existing and expected future regulations.
• Assess the effects of climate change on the design approach and design limits for storm water management.
• Evaluate the potential effects of future water quality regulations on the environmental and legal aspects of storm water design.
• Assess (jointly with municipal planning staff) the potential effects of the proposed storm water management plan and design guidelines on the municipal development potential.
• Assess (jointly with municipal legal staff) the legal aspects of the proposed storm water management plan (this would include the potential impact on existing and proposed by-laws), as well as identify the existing and potential future liability exposure of municipal employees.
• Update the municipal design guidelines and develop a storm water management plan. This could include: the definition of minor and major storm water systems, the provision of design standards for both these systems, guidelines for the discharge of storm water to adjacent properties, peak flow design limits (storm water source control) for discharge to minor and major storm water systems, the presentation of climatic data and design storms, the integration of the guidelines with the municipal development plan, an assessment of the environmental aspects of storm water management, as well as an evaluation of the potential legal aspects.