From Victoria News, Nov. 19, 2008

Re: Election issues In Debate: More than leaky pipes and potholes (News, Nov. 12)

While we contemplate expensive upgrades to storm sewer infrastructure, it would make sense to run some downspout disconnection pilot projects, giving homeowners incentives to manage stormwater on their properties, or at least slow the flow of stormwater into aging pipes.

For those areas of Victoria currently without storm sewers, we should investigate the Seattle Public Utilities’ Natural Drainage Systems, which are 25 per cent cheaper than traditional stormwater management.

Does on-site stormwater management work? Yes. Thunder Bay’s downspout disconnection/rain barrel program targeted areas that experienced sewage-flooded basements during heavy rains, particularly older residential/commercial neighbourhoods where gutter connections to sanitary sewers (instead of storm sewers) were most common – as with many parts of Victoria.

By reducing the amount of ‘inflow and infiltration’ into sanitary sewers, the city also somewhat reduced the amount of stormwater being unnecessarily sent to the sewage treatment plant, which will also be an issue in Victoria.

City staff in Thunder Bay also identified efficiencies and savings by having the same people looking at sewage and stormwater issues. Regardless of the different jurisdictions for sewage treatment (CRD) and stormwater (municipalities) in our region, it would make sense to plan for both at the same time here as well.

This would difficult in our current system, but would become a near impossible task should sewage treatment be privatized. For more about community-based stormwater solutions, see www.urbanraincatchersgazette.ca

Freya Keddie

Victoria