Time to consider stormwater management in government infrastructure programs?

Some local officials believe it’s time governments gave serious consideration to ensuring municipalities have the infrastructure to withstand increasingly-frequent intense storms.

CAO Patty Sinnamon advised council at its Jan. 13 meeting she was currently working with other administrators in Wellington County to co-ordinate requests for delegations with provincial ministers at the 2015 OGRA/ROMA conference set for Feb. 22 to 25 in Toronto and asked for suggested meeting topics.

“I think it would be good to have some discussions about stormwater management systems … having them recognized in infrastructure programs,” suggested public works director Brad McRoberts.

“Stormwater management seems to be the long-lost cousin in infrastructure programs from the province.”

McRoberts said large-scale storm events are becoming more frequent, which is problematic because storm sewers “are built to five-year storm levels.”

While noting Mapleton is in better shape than some municipalities where the storm sewer systems are a century old, McRoberts pointed out major damage can occur when systems can’t handle a major weather event.

“I really think councils and cities need to look at these environmental situations,” agreed Mayor Neil Driscoll.