February 10, 2008
Storm Water Management
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Last week at the Feb 1st Public Meeting, Darlene Conway from the City of Ottawa Storm Water Management department, presented the study being conducted City wide regarding rain water management. For an excellent introduction at what storm water management is, please see their Sprint 2006 newsletter.
In a few words, storm water management is the management of water running off from streets and properties into streams and rivers. Normally, rainwater is absorbed by the land where it falls, and forms lakes, creeks and rivers. But where there is urban development, the natural landscape is transformed. When all the rain water instantly runs off a property, it causes erosion where it flows, it floods the area where it accumulates, it carries polution along the way (the oils, rubbers, and garbage it picks up). But lack of water is not better as the soil gets desperately dry in all the places where water does not stay, triggering property owners in watering their lawn more often.
Storm Water management is about managing rain water to minimize or avoid the undesirable consequences (erosion, polution, floods, dryed out land) and maximize the positive outcomes of rain water, such as well irrigated properties - not too dry, not too wet, healthy creeks and rivers, and favorable conditions for vegetation growth which in turn helps reduce erosion. It is a circle of interactions which, when well managed, creates a healthy environment for our communities.
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