Low Impact Development and Stormwater Management
Stormwater management aims to protect the community and the environment from stormwater runoff, created by rain and snow melt events. This is done by controlling stormwater quality and quantity.
Before infrastructure development, water would be absorbed into the ground after it rains. After infrastructure development, hard surfaces like roofs, driveways, roads, and parking lots prevent absorption. This increases the amount of water collected by storm drains.
Before stormwater reaches the storm system, stormwater flows over these hard surfaces, accumulating debris, chemicals, and other pollutants. These can have a negative impact on surrounding aquatic ecosystems. Once the stormwater reaches the storm sewer system, water flows through a large, complex network of pipes and waterways until its eventual release back into the natural environment.
The Town aims to use Low Impact Development (a form of stormwater management) to manage stormwater in Newmarket.
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What is Low Impact Development?
Stormwater runoff also contains phosphorus, which in excess quantities has upset Lake Simcoe's ecosystem. This unbalance, paired with large quantities of stormwater runoff, has led to excessive aquatic plant growth, raised water temperatures, and decreased oxygen levels in the Lake; putting pressure on our aquatic species.
By implementing Low Impact Development, we can:
- Reduce the amount of water going into our Stormwater Facilities, therefore reducing maintenance costs
- Increase the recharge of our groundwater systems to ensure future clean drinking water
- Filter pollutants out of the water
- Reduce flooding and erosion risks
- Protect aquatic animals and habitats
- Reduce the amount of ground covered by hard surfaces
- Protect green spaces
Municipalities across Ontario, including Newmarket, are experiencing more intense and frequent weather events due to climate change. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, water and wind damage caused by severe weather is now the number one risk factor in the country for insurance claims.
Due to these changes in the environment, there is more stormwater than ever before, meaning stormwater management expenses are also increasing. Visit the Supporting Low Impact Development page to learn more about stormwater initiatives around Newmarket.
Why is Low Impact Development important?
As we continue to develop lands and become more urbanized, we create more hard surfaces in the Town and additional stormwater runoff.
Most properties in Newmarket contain mostly clay and poor draining soils, making it difficult for water to infiltrate into the soil. Low Impact Developments replaces the native clay soils for layers of aggregate material and better draining soil, allowing water to infiltrate into the ground quickly.
Stormwater runoff also contains phosphorus, which in excess quantities has upset Lake Simcoe's ecosystem. This unbalance, paired with large quantities of stormwater runoff, has led to excessive aquatic plant growth, raised water temperatures, and decreased oxygen levels in the Lake; putting pressure on our aquatic species.
By implementing Low Impact Development, we can:
- Reduce the amount of water going into our Stormwater Facilities, therefore reducing maintenance costs
- Increase the recharge of our groundwater systems to ensure future clean drinking water
- Filter pollutants out of the water
- Reduce flooding and erosion risks
- Protect aquatic animals and habitats
- Reduce the amount of ground covered by hard surfaces
- Protect green spaces
Municipalities across Ontario, including Newmarket, are experiencing more intense and frequent weather events due to climate change. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, water and wind damage caused by severe weather is now the number one risk factor in the country for insurance claims.
Due to these changes in the environment, there is more stormwater than ever before, meaning stormwater management expenses are also increasing. Visit the Supporting Low Impact Development page to learn more about stormwater initiatives around Newmarket.
