Controlling stormwater helps manage rivers and lakes
If you live in Ontario and are installing or replacing a downspout, you need to know stormwater management bylaws. Stormwater is the water that falls as rain or melted snow and moves into water bodies. One of the ways to move this water into the ground is through a downspout system. In Ontario, downspouts are being disconnected from the stormwater system to prevent rainwater and sewage from entering lakes and rivers. Does this Spark an idea?
Municipalities Can Pass Downspout Bylaws
Ontario bylaws regulate the water that enters lakes and rivers
According to Section 210 and paragraph 80 of the Ontario Municipal Act, each city or town can pass bylaws that regulate stormwater flow and management. These may impact your ability to clean, change or repair your private storm drain systems and downspouts. If you are changing all of your downspouts or building a home, check with your municipality to make sure your actions conform to municipal bylaws.
St. Catharines and Combined Sewers
Some rainwater goes into the sewage system. In St. Catharines, Ontario, Bylaw 91-364 prevents developers from connecting downspouts to the sewage system. In times of heavy rain, combined sewers may overflow into local water bodies and pollute them. Through a grandfather clause, St. Catharines has allowed existing downspouts already connected to the sewage system to stay connected.
Toronto's Mandatory Disconnection Bylaw
In the City of Toronto, a bylaw passed in 2007 required all homeowners living in the central area of the city to disconnect their downspouts from the sewage system by the end of 2010. This bylaw applies to those who live in specific city wards: 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32. Parts of other wards are also affected. Homeowners are responsible for ensuring the drainage around disconnected downspouts is adequate.
Tags: sewage system, Downspout Bylaws, lakes rivers, water bodies, water that
