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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-034 - 2012 Stormwater Audit Results REPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: August 12, 2013 SUBMITTED BY: Barbara Robinson, P.Eng., Director, Engineering Services (519-741-2200 x 7410) PREPARED BY: Nick Gollan, C.E.T., Manager, Stormwater Utility (519-741-2200 x 7422), and Allison White, P.Eng., Design & Construction Project Manager (519-741-2200 x 7148) WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: July 31, 2013 REPORT NO.: INS 13-034 SUBJECT: 2012 STORMWATER AUDIT RESULTS RECOMMENDATION: That the 2012 Stormwater Audit Results Report, prepared by Aquafor Beech and City staff be received and endorsed by Council. BACKGROUND: In 1999, the City of Kitchener commenced a study to prepare a Stormwater Management (SWM) Policy, which would assess existing approaches to stormwater management, investigate options for modifying the current approach and create a City-wide policy for SWM. The final report of the SWM Policy was approved at Council on December 10, 2001 and subsequently filed as a Schedule 'B' Environmental Assessment under the MEA Class EA. As part of the SWM Policy, an annual audit report is to be completed each year to summarize the practices carried out to date in each of the categories included in the City-wide plan, namely: The development or Site Plan applications for the year and associated Cash-In-Lieu (CiL) fees collected. The SWM facilities that have been constructed (or are in the process of being constructed) over the last year. This includes new ponds, retrofitting of existing SWM facilities and the installation of oil/grit separator units (OGS) funded by CiL. Stream rehabilitation works that have been carried out or are underway. A steering committee made up of the City of Kitchener, Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), the Region of Waterloo and the City’s consultant, Aquafor Beech has completed the 2012 annual stormwater management audit. This report provides details on the results of the monitoring and provides specific recommendations for the future. 12 - 1 REPORT: This report focuses on the following areas: a) Work Completed with SWM Redevelopment/Infill (CiL) Charge b) Cash-in-Lieu Fee c) 2012 SWM Audit Recommendations a) Work Completed with SWM Redevelopment/Infill (CiL) Charge The purpose of the annual audit report is to indicate whether or not the SWM measures provide the necessary water quantity control and water quality treatment of stormwater resulting from infill/redevelopment sites. The audit is completed in conjunction with a review of the capital budget and an assessment of the following year’s budget. The review lists the redevelopment and infill drainage area for which SWM Redevelopment/Infill (CiL) charge has been collected, the drainage area serviced by the facilities built, and the drainage area serviced by creek rehabilitation works. In 2012, the City collected $423,797.49 from CiL charges and has spent $179,547.00 in stormwater management improvements by installing oil and grit separators (OGS). Three units were installed, two on Mill Street and one as part of the Schneider’s Creek rehabilitation project. The drainage serviced by SWM retrofit/OGS is still larger than the CiL drainage area ensuring a net gain in stormwater improvements. Overall this demonstrates an environmental benefit to the community as a result of the sustained effort to complete SWM retrofits and the implementation of other best management practices (BMP). b) Cash-in-Lieu Fee The SWM Redevelopment/Infill (CiL) charge applies to all redevelopment and infill sites that cannot connect to existing quality control facilities and it is to be used toward the construction/retrofit of SWM facilities (including OGS). The 2012 cash-in-lieu fee was $38,820/ha made effective in March 2012. As ratified by Council on November 8, 2012, the 2013 CiL fee was increased to$48,525/ha based on inflation and actual costs of stormwater management facilities. A flat fee of 10% of the current CiL SWM charge ($4,852/ha) is to be charged for all sites less than 0.1 ha. c) 2012 SWM Audit Recommendations A number of actions were identified in the 2012 audit to further the comprehensiveness of the City of Kitchener SWM Audit monitoring program and guide future stormwater management and development policy. Key recommendations include: Establish one (1) flow proportionate sampling site in 2013 and secure additional 1. funding for the inclusion of a second flow proportionate sampling site in 2014. Establishment of one flow proportionate sampling site is recommended for the 2013 monitoring season with the intention of moving the unit to alternate core sampling sites in future years to establish Event Mean Concentrations (EMC) for each site within the City over the next 5 years. Eight (8) wet weather events and 3 dry grab sample events will be monitored at the flow proportionate sampling site in 2013. It is recommended that only one year of flow proportionate monitoring be conducted at selected monitoring stations in order to develop EMC. Once completed, subsequent years of water quality monitoring can be limited to dry weather sampling and biological 12 - 2 monitoring. Flow proportionate monitoring sites are estimated to cost $25,000 per year. Temporarily discontinue monitoring in Henry Sturm where construction 2. activities are anticipated for the retrofit of SWMF 30. The 2013 SWM Audit monitoring program will consist of five wet weather sampling events, five dry weather sampling events, and one melt/wet weather sampling event for the grab sample locations. There will be a total of five (5) sample sites which is a reduction of one (1) site from last year’s program. The one site not sampled in 2013 is related to the retrofit of SWMF 30 (Resurrection Dr. SWM Facility). It is recommended that sampling be suspended until construction activities are completed. HS1 (Henry Sturm), immediately upstream of Victoria Park Lake will again be monitored in 2013 as part of the ongoing monitoring for the Victoria Park Lake Improvements and will be incorporated into the 2013 SWM Audit report. Sampling parameters will remain unchanged from the 2012 program to ensure comparable results to previous years of monitoring. Begin monitoring stormwater facilities located within source protection areas. 3. The City has identified 33 existing SWM facilities within source protection areas per the Region of Waterloo’s draft policy for the protection plan – Ontario Clean Water Act. These facilities are considered potential threats to drinking water sources as a result of chlorides from road de-icers applied during winter maintenance operations. Baseline sampling and initial assessment of results is recommended for 2013. Assessment will rank the ponds chloride levels to compare wet vs. dry weather results and inlet vs. outlet values. Results from 2013 will be reviewed to determine next steps coinciding with updates to the Region’s policy. Continue the review of the Stormwater Management Policy. 4.In 2012, staff received direction from Council to continue to review the Stormwater Management Policy I- 1135 and report back to Council prior to December 31, 2013. Recommendations will assist in developing a policy that is: a. Consistent with the new stormwater utility model; b. Ensures CiL practices are consistent with current initiatives; c. Provides guidance for future audits, monitoring practices and new initiatives. Staff continue to work on the Policy review and will report back to Council with recommendations at the end of 2013. Future Consideration 1. Create more public awareness around SWM facilities and waterways throughout the City by installing interpretive signage at each SWM facility and watercourse road crossings. It is recommended that the interpretive signage include identifiers and information which highlights the following: a. SWM facilities are infrastructure intended to treat stormwater for both quantity and quality; 12 - 3 b. SWM facility name, design and function c. Watercourse name and function; and, d. City contact information where additional information would be available and public questions or concerns may be addressed. PUBLIC CONSULTATION On April 18, 2013 the 2012 monitoring results were presented to the Environmental Committee and a copy of the final monitoring technical memorandum was made available to committee members on May 09, 2013. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: Community Priority - Environment “Continue to show leadership in the development of an environmentally sustainable community.” The City continues to ensure effective implementation of the stormwater management facilities in a sustainable and optimized manner in order to protect the environment and source water. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The SWM Redevelopment/Infill fee (Cash-in-Lieu) is being deposited into account 57500075 SWM CASH IN LIEU. $423,797.49 in SWM fee contributions have been collected in 2013 from 16 development locations, with a combined site area of 10.92 ha. * The reporting cycle for the 2012 SWM Audit is January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. In 2013, the City has planned to spend $200,000 to install a water quality device on Howe Drive funded by the cash-in-lieu account. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Copies of the final documents have been forwarded to members of the Steering Committee (City of Kitchener, GRCA and the Region of Waterloo). A final copy of the report is available for review in the Council Office. CONCLUSION: th 2012 was the 11 year that the City's Stormwater Management Policy I-1135 has been in effect. The results from the 2012 SWM Audit Monitoring Program are provided in the attached Technical Memo. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO Infrastructure Services Department Appendix A: Stormwater Management Audit: 2012 Monitoring Program – Final Technical Memorandum 12 - 4 12 - 5 12 - 6 12 - 7 12 - 8 12 - 9 12 - 10 12 - 11 12 - 12 12 - 13 12 - 14 12 - 15 12 - 16 12 - 17 12 - 18 12 - 19 12 - 20 12 - 21 12 - 22 12 - 23 12 - 24 12 - 25 12 - 26 12 - 27 12 - 28 12 - 29 12 - 30 12 - 31 12 - 32 12 - 33 12 - 34 12 - 35 12 - 36 12 - 37 12 - 38 12 - 39 12 - 40 12 - 41 12 - 42 12 - 43 12 - 44 12 - 45 12 - 46 12 - 47 12 - 48 12 - 49