KENILWORTH – The Township of Wellington North will continue to study stormwater drainage in southeast Mount Forest.
Wellington North held a public meeting about the storm drainage study on Sept. 15, and distributed a survey to attendees. This survey was also delivered to all residences within the study area.
Of the 21 survey responses, 62 per cent reported problems with surface drainage on their property, including water accumulation, erosion and slow-draining culverts.
There are problems with surface drainage of roadways and ditches in front of 57% of the respondents homes, including culverts filling with dirt, sand and salt, water pooling, ditches overflowing, debris and water moving with heavy rainfall and ice accumulation, residents reported.
One respondent noted “in recent years the erosion has got progressively worse.”
After reviewing the consultation, township staff are recommending further study “to provide an evaluation for the existing conditions and any future improvements that could be made.” This study is included in the 2026 budget.
Wellington North council received a report outlining the above for information during a Dec. 1 meeting.
Mayor Andy Lennox said he is “Aware that some of the residents feel a level of urgency around this issue,” and offered assurance that the township would “continue to monitor the situation and be prepare to respond to any adverse situations during snowmelt or flooding in this location while we continue to study and come up with the best solution for this process.”
CAO Brooke Lambert said staff are also working with the fire department around notifications for residents.
“We continue to work with the township engineers and the resources that we have in the area to look at the actual solutions in place so we are fairly confident that they should be working as they were designed at this point,” Lambert continued.
“And then as we get through the study we’ll be able to look at further solutions that might improve drainage in that area overall.”
“So by taking the time and making sure that we implement the best solution, even though it may not be what some of the residents want, it should provide a better overall outcome for the long term,” Lennox said.
