WELCOME
Why are we here?
We’re here to answer your questions, to explain what we do and who we are.
Stormwater 101
Halifax Stormwater Management
Costs & Risks
Who Pays?
WELCOME
What are the responsibilities
of Halifax Water?
Halifax Water has responsibility for the three aspects
of water management:
Stormwater – rain and snow melt
Wastewater – sewage and grey/used household water
Potable water – drinking water and bathing water
All of these services help protect the health and environment of our community.
STORMWATER 101
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is rainwater and melted snow that runs off streets,
lawns, parking lots, driveways, roofs and other sites.
When stormwater is absorbed into the ground, it is filtered
and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and
rivers. In some cases groundwater aquifers can exit into ditches,
brooks and streams.
In developed areas hard surfaces such as pavement and roofs
keep water from soaking into the ground – it runs rapidly into
storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches.
STORMWATER 101
Where can it go?
Where can it go?
- Enter broken/cracked wastewater pipes
- Overload combined (wastewater/stormwater) collection
systems and wastewater treatment facilities
- Flood private property (basements)
- Flood public and private roads
STORMWATER 101
What affects stormwater runoff?
-Frost
-Concrete and pavement and other
pervious (non-porous) surfaces
-Soil conditions (drought, extended rain)
- Previous weather (consecutive rainfall)
- Volume (too much too fast)
STORMWATER 101
How can stormwater affect
our environment?
Stormwater crossing over areas where:
-Pesticides and herbicides have been used
-Vehicle fuel and lubricants may be present
- Road salt has been used
-Hazardous liquids have been dumped into
stormwater system or street gutters
STORMWATER 101
How do we use stormwater?
Stormwater:
-Contributes to a healthy environment (streams, lakes, rivers, harbour)
-Replenishes drinking water reservoirs, wells and watersheds
STORMWATER 101
What happens if we
don't manage stormwater?
- Downstream flooding
-Stream bank erosion
-Combined sewer overflows
-Infrastructure damage
-Contaminated streams,
rivers, and coastal water,
drinking water
-Habitat destruction
-Changes in the stream flow
-Increased turbidity (muddiness
created by stirred up sediment)
from erosion
-Public and private property flooding
STORMWATER 101
How does climate change
impact stormwater?
Climate change affects weather patterns and can result in:
-Supply management issues (flooding, drought)
-Increased maintenance cost — more significant weather events
-Destruction of infrastructure
-Increased insurance rates or denial of coverage
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
What does Halifax Water do?
In addition to providing Drinking Water and Wastewater services, Halifax Water
provides Stormwater services to a large area of the Halifax Regional Municipality.
This includes:
-Operation and maintenance of
existing stormwater infrastructure
-Review development plans to ensure
stormwater assets meet standards
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
What are Halifax Water’s
Stormwater Assets?
STORMWATER ASSETS: APPROX. $95.3 MILLION 2015
Halifax Water maintains:
- 2,170 culverts
- Over 496 km of ditches
-Stormwater control structures (retention ponds,
holding tanks and dams)
-Some assets are well aged and need maintenance
or replacement.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
All users of the stormwater
system contribute.
-Reduces risk of flooding public and private
infrastructure from storms
-Diverts stormwater from residential and
commercial property
-Provides infrastructure that allows stormwater
to discharge from public and private property
-Invests annually in infrastructure improvements
-Maintains current stormwater assets
COSTS & RISKS
Costs for stormwater
management come from:
-
Materials for maintenance
Labour for maintenance
Labour for system monitoring/planning
Administration of operations
Expertise provided for review of development plans
COSTS & RISKS
5-year business plan
The 5-Year Business Plan shows we will spend
$55.6 million operating the stormwater system, and
spend $34.5 million on stormwater capital projects.
Last year, $1.6 million in stormwater projects were completed,
and $4.3 million in stormwater projects were underway,
contributing to the local economy.
The capital projects include pipes, construction of deep storm
sewers, replacement of culverts, and capital projects for
stormwater structures such as retention ponds and tanks.
COSTS & RISKS
Risks of not doing it right include:
-
High costs of repairs to roads, sidewalks, etc.
Watercourse contamination through wastewater system overload
Increased costs to the wastewater system
Public and private property damage
Public safety and transportation on the public streets
Economic activity and the transportation of goods and services
WHO PAYS?
All users of the stormwater
system contribute.
All users who receive service from the stormwater
system contribute.
Rates are designed to be fair. Halifax rates are
below the average of comparable similar-sized
North American cities. All residential properties
have the same rates.
Commercial rates vary by impervious area size.
Businesses with smaller total footprint areas pay less.