City staff are proposing a credit program for residential and commercial property owners who make efforts to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff on their properties.
Stormwater runoff is the rain and snow melt that runs off hard surfaces (eg: parking lots and rooftops) and ends up in the city's stormwater system, along with any pollutants it carries with it.
The new program would see residential owners be eligible for a one-time rebate for efforts they have made to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff on their property.
Efforts on residential properties eligible for rebates would be:
- Adding rain gardens;
- Using permeable pavement;
- Installing green roofs;
- Using silva cells—tree planters that maximize water efficiency by storing rainwater; and
- Replacing irrigated turfgrass lawns with drought-tolerant vegetation.
“By piggy backing on our successful water efficiency programs, such as the rainwater harvesting rebate program, we can offer our residents better rebates and incentives for their efforts that not only save water, but also reduce stormwater runoff,” said Arun Hindupur, Supervisor of Infrastructure Engineering, in a news release.
For businesses and large property owners, customers would receive monthly credit based on the amount of stormwater reduction they have achieved.
“The recommended non-residential program would focus on providing credits for solutions that provide stormwater quantity or quality control,” said Hindupur. “This includes landscaping measures, on-site stormwater management ponds, or oil and grit separators that remove sediment and separate oil from stormwater.”
Beginning this year, residents and businesses in
The change was made to help make the amount paid more equitable and to have a dedicated fund for stormwater management and upgrades.
