The following is provided as background information and shows the development of the Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan.

The former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto began the development of the Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan in 1997. It is being developed in a staged manner under the Class Environmental Assessment process.

The focus in Step 1, completed in December 1998, was on collecting data on environmental conditions and developing a vision, goal and objectives to guide the Master Plan process.

Step 2 (now underway) of the Master Plan process will culminate with the development of a Wet Weather Flow Management Strategy for the City. It will include by-laws, policies, projects, programs, a monitoring plan, an implementation plan and funding mechanisms.

Step 3 will focus on implementing the Master Plan and

Step 4 will monitor the Plan's effectiveness and update it where and when needed.

The groundwork for the Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan was laid in Step 1. In consultation with a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee and the public, City staff and technical consultants gathered and analyzed huge amounts of information on water quality, flows, pollutant loading, and practices used in other jurisdictions. Because of this work, we now have a more complete understanding of existing environmental conditions in Toronto and how wet weather flows affect our environment. Step 1 also saw the development of a unique vision to guide the planning process.

VISION STATEMENT
Wet Weather Flow will be managed on a watershed basis in a manner that recognizes rainwater as a potential resource to be utilized:
	to improve the health of Toronto's watercourses and the nearshore zones of Lake Ontario and
	to enhance the natural environment of Toronto's watersheds.

Another important outcome of Step 1 of the Master Plan process was the adoption of a hierarchical approach to managing wet weather flows, one that reflects the "pollution prevention principle":

At Source: First, deal with stormwater where it falls.

Conveyance: Next, deal with stormwater and combined sewage as it is being transported across the city.

End-of-Pipe: Finally, deal with stormwater and combined sewage before it is discharged into our streams, rivers and Lake Ontario.

WWFMMP OBJECTIVES
When it is implemented, the WWFMMP will contribute to:
	Healthier aquatic communities: Contribute to achieving healthy aquatic communities, including warmwater or coldwater fisheries as appropriate.
	Reduce fish consumption advisories: Contribute to reducing fish consumption advisories due to local wet weather sources.
	Reduce erosion impacts on habitats and property: Manage wet weather flows to reduce erosion impacts on stream and riparian habitats on public and private properties and open spaces.
	Re-establish a natural hydrologic cycle: Contribute to the re-establishment of a more natural hydrologic process, based on maximizing permeability and minimizing runoff at source.
	Re-establish and rehabilitate natural features (e.g., wetlands): Contribute to the protection, re-establishment and rehabilitation of natural features such as wetlands and ecological corridors.
	Virtual elimination of toxics through pollution prevention: Contribute to the virtual elimination of toxic contaminants in groundwater and surface water utilizing the principle of pollution prevention at source.
	Meet guidelines for water and sediment quality: Contribute to achieving federal, provincial and municipal water and sediment quality objectives and guidelines in area watercourses and along the waterfront.
	Eliminate discharges of sanitary sewage: Eliminate discharges of sanitary sewage including those associated with CSOs, SSOs, treatment plant bypasses, illegal cross-connections and spills.
	Improve water quality in rivers and the lake for body contact recreation: Improve water quality for body contact recreation in rivers and recreational areas and reduce posting of beaches by the Medical Officer of Health.
	Improve aesthetics: Contribute to eliminating objectionable deposits, nuisance algae growth, unnatural colour, turbidity and odour in order to improve the aesthetics of area surface waters.
	Reduce basement flooding: Manage wet weather flow to reduce basement flooding and other adverse impacts.
	Reduce infiltration and inflow to sanitary sewers: Reduce sanitary sewer infiltration and inflows to City design standards.
	Eliminate or minimize threats to life and property from flooding: Eliminate or minimize threat to life and property from flooding.

The aim of Step 2 of the Master Plan is to develop a Wet Weather Flow Management Strategy for the City of Toronto. The city has been divided into five study areas (see map, below). Four of these generally conform to the boundaries of those portions of the major watersheds that lie within the City (Mimico and Etobicoke Creeks, the Humber River, the Don River, and the Rouge River and Highland Creek). The fifth study area includes all the parts of Toronto in which there are still combined sewers. This includes much of the former municipalities of Toronto, York and East York and the southwestern part of Scarborough. Data is also being collected on the entire watersheds.

Phases of the Process

Step 2 of the Master Plan will be developed in four phases. Watershed groups government agencies, "905" area municipalities, and the public at large will be consulted throughout the process. The public consultation program will meet the requirements of an Individual Environmental Assessment.

	fill data gaps to improve our understanding of existing environmental conditions
	develop a framework for target-setting

Phase 2: Identifying Wet Weather Flow Control Options (January to June 2001)

	set targets
	compile a list of all the potential wet weather flow control options
	develop evaluation criteria and apply them to each of the options

assess the opportunities that exist in each study area to use the control options

Phase 3: Developing Preferred WWF Management Strategies (July to October 2001)

	evaluate wet weather flow management strategies for each study area against criteria such as effectiveness, cost and siting implications
	develop a preferred Wet Weather Flow Management Strategy for each study area

Phase 4: Developing the Draft City of Toronto WWF Management Strategy(November to December 2001)

	develop a Draft Wet Weather Flow Management Strategy for the entire city
	strategy will include an Implementation Plan, Monitoring Plan and Funding Mechanisms.