HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-14-034 - 2013 Stormwater Monitoring Results Staff Rep►�►r
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REPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 7, 2014
SUBMITTED BY: Nick Gollan, C.E.T., Manager, Stormwater Utility
(519-741-2200 x 7422)
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: March 20, 2014
REPORT NO.: INS 14-034
SUBJECT: 2013 Stormwater Monitoring Results
RECOMMENDATION:
That the 2013 Stormwater Audit Technical Memorandum and 2014 recommendations be
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 monitoring program is to be completed each year. The
staff report summarizes the monitoring program and 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 associated with Cash-In-Lieu (CiL)
fees collected.
• The SWM facilities (SWMF) 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
2013 annual stormwater management monitoring program. This report provides details on the
results of the monitoring and provides specific recommendations for the future.
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REPORT:
This report focuses on the following areas:
a) Cash-in-Lieu Fee and work completed with SWM redevelopment/infill (CiL) charge funds
b) SWMF retrofit program
c) Stream rehabilitation works
d) SWM monitoring program recommendations for 2014
a) 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 do not directly discharge stormwater
into a watercourse untreated. It is to be used toward the construction of SWM facilities,
including OGS.
In 2009 Annual Audit Report the Cash-in-Lieu fee have been calculated to recognize the
change in percent impervious land cover for infill/redevelopment areas or additionally land
use costs the City would incur in acquiring land for SWM development. The analysis
produced an average Cash-in-Lieu cost fee of$75,350/ha in 2009 dollars.
It was recommended that the cash-in-lieu fee be increased as per land cost analysis but
should not go above that which would deter the implementation of policy objectives
regarding preference for centralized SWM facilities and reduced privately owned onsite
controls.
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. In 2013, the City collected $669,596 from CiL
charges. Construction of stormwater management facilities out of this fund was not
undertaken in 2014 and this funding will be utilized for future planned projects.
The 2013 cash-in-lieu fee was $48,526/ha made effective in January 01 2013. As ratified by
Council SWM fees increased to $60,656/Ha on January 01 2014 based on inflation and
actual costs of stormwater management facilities. A flat fee of 10% of the current CIL SWM
charge ($6,066/ha) is to be charged for all sites less than 0.1 ha.
b) SWMF Retrofit Program:
The SWM Policy 2001 prioritized SWMF retrofit opportunities. The retrofit of the
Resurrection Drive SWM Facility (SWMF30) was completed in 2013. The facility was
dredged and all sediments were removed. The outlet structure was modified and a forebay
was constructed to provide for water quality control measures.
c) Stream Rehabilitation works:
The first phase of construction in Schneider Creek from Hayward Drive to the hydro crossing
downstream was completed in 2013. The cost was $1,595,214.
d) SWM Monitoring Program Recommendations for 2014:
A number of actions were identified in the 2013 monitoring program to further the
comprehensiveness of Stormwater in the City of Kitchener SWM and guide future
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stormwater management and development policy. A full copy of the monitoring report can
be found in Appendix A. Key recommendations include:
1. Establish of a second (2) flow proportionate sampling site in 2014. Establishment
of two flow proportionate sampling sites was recommended for the 2014 monitoring
season with the intention of moving the units to alternate core sampling sites in future
years to establish Event Mean Concentrations (EMC) for each site within the City over
the next 4 years. Eight (8) wet weather events and 3 dry grab sample events will be
monitored at the flow proportionate sampling sites in 2014. Once completed,
subsequent years of water quality monitoring can be limited to dry weather sampling
and biological monitoring.
2. Monitoring of Balzer Creek and Hidden Valley Creek in 2014. Monitoring in these
creeks has been included as it ties into additional studies being undertaken in 2014.
Monitoring of these creeks will provide information regarding any negative impacts
occurring within these creeks. The 2014 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
seven (7) grab sample sites which is an increase of two (2) sites versus last year's
program. Sampling parameters will remain unchanged from the 2014 program to
ensure comparable results to previous years of monitoring.
3. Monitoring of SWM Facilities: As part of the continuous improvement process at the
City of Kitchener, inspections for stormwater management facilities have been revised
and inspections in 2014 will be conducted with mobile computing devices. As part of
the enhanced monitoring at SWMFs, sampling for total suspended solids will be
conducted to determine the removal efficiencies of existing facilities and determine if
they are functioning as they were designed.
4. SWM Policy Review: In 2012, City of Kitchener staff received direction from Council
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:
• Consistent with the new stormwater utility model;
• Ensures Cash-in-Lieu (CiL) practices are consistent with current initiatives;
• Provides guidance for future audits, monitoring practices and new initiatives.
The policy review has now been completed and a number of gaps and inconsistencies
with current industry practices have been identified. Essentially, stormwater
management practices and relevant legislation has evolved significantly since the
creation of the existing policy in 2001. Given the advancements in the industry as well
as the creation of the stormwater utility in 2010, it is appropriate to initiate the
development of a Comprehensive Stormwater Management (SWM) Master Plan. In
order to replace the existing policy a Schedule B Municipal Class Environmental
Assessment is required. A Comprehensive SWM Master Plan will serve as a decision
support tool, a methodology for the prioritization of works, a means to estimate future
SWM requirements and costs and a transparent community process by which the City
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can establish stormwater management guidelines and policies for the next 10-15
years. This is addressed in greater detail in INS 14-037.
5. Signs at SWMFs: It is recommended that signage be installed at all stormwater
facilities to advise the public of the facility name, what the facility is there for, what
unpermitted uses of the facility are and relevant by-laws which enforce those uses.
This will help create awareness in the community about how stormwater infrastructure
is serving them and it will also help the corporate call centre more efficiently direct
service requests to the correct location.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
On March 20, 2014 the 2013 monitoring results were presented to the Environmental
Committee. A copy of the final monitoring technical memorandum was made available to
committee members on March 6th 2014.
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) contributions in 2013 were $669,596.
Funds are being deposited into account 57500075 SWM CASH IN LIEU.
The cost for the signs at SWMFs is estimated to be a total of $100,000 assuming 3 will be
installed at each of 100 stormwater facilities. Funding will come from 59500371
STORMWATER MGMT IMPLEMENTATION.
* The reporting cycle for the 2013 SWM monitoring program is January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
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 Office of the Mayor and Council.
CONCLUSION:
2013 was the 12th year that the City's Stormwater Management Policy I-1135 has been in effect.
The results from the 2013 SWM Audit Monitoring Program are provided in the attached
Technical Memorandum.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
Appendix A: For a full copy of the technical memorandum please visit: www.kitchener.ca
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