November 4, 1998
To:Budget Committee
From:City Clerk
Subject:Delivery of 1998/99
Downspout Disconnection Program
Recommendation:
The Works and Utilities Committee recommends the adoption of the report dated September
30, 1998, from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, subject to amending
Recommendation No. (5) to provide that students also be requested to include questions on
blue boxes, trees, water kits and composters.
Background:
The Works and Utilities Committee on November 4, 1998, had before it a report
(September30, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services
recommending that:
(1)a free and voluntary Downspout Disconnection Program be provided to all eligible
residents in the new City of Toronto commencing in January 1999 based on the program
delivery model developed by the former City of Toronto;
(2)promotion of the Downspout Disconnection Program be targeted in areas of the new City
that are serviced by combined sewers and/or are susceptible to basement flooding problems;
(3)approximately 4,000 property disconnections be budgeted for each year;
(4)an annual budget of $1,640,000.00 be allocated for the delivery of the program including
marketing, staffing, property assessments and all materials and labour required to undertake
the disconnection work;
(5)students be utilized to undertake canvasses, conduct property assessments and prepare
disconnection plans; and
(6)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to
give effect thereto.
The Committee also had before it a communication (October30, 1998) from Ms. Anne Dubas,
President, Local 79, Canadian Union of Pubic Employees, expressing concern with respect to
the use of students as canvassers for the expanded Downspout Disconnection Program; and
advising that CUPE Local 79 believes that City employees, paid according to the appropriate
union classification, should be carrying out all assessments for the program.
City Clerk
Trudy Perrin/es.6
c:Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services
General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services
President, Local 79, Canadian Union of Public Employees
(Report dated September 30, 1998, addressed to the
Works and Utilities Committee from the
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services)
Purpose:
To provide a future delivery strategy of the Downspout Disconnection Program to the new
City in order to achieve 4,000 property disconnections per year.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funding to be requested in the 1999 Capital Budget Submission.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)a free and voluntary Downspout Disconnection Program, be provided to all eligible
residents in the new City of Toronto commencing in January 1999 based on the program
delivery model developed by the former City of Toronto;
(2)promotion of the Downspout Disconnection Program be targeted in areas of the new City
that are serviced by combined sewers and/or are susceptible to basement flooding problems;
(3)approximately 4,000 property disconnections be budgeted for each year;
(4)an annual budget of $1,640,000.00 be allocated for the delivery of the program including
marketing, staffing, property assessments and all materials and labour required to undertake
the disconnection work;
(5)students be utilized to undertake canvasses, conduct property assessments and prepare
disconnection plans; and
(6)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to
give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The Budget Committee at its meeting on June 25, 1998, received our report dated June 16,
1998, on the delivery of the 1998/99 Downspout Disconnection Program in which we stated
that we would review improvements to the program and report back to the Works and Utilities
Committee on the expansion of the program on a City-wide basis.
(a)Program Objectives:
The primary objectives of the Downspout Disconnection Program are to divert roof flow from
the combined sewer system to assist in reducing the frequency of Combined Sewer Overflows
(CSOs), which severely impact the quality of receiving waters, and also to provide relief to
areas subject to basement flooding.
Reducing the volume of flow in both combined and storm sewer systems through infiltration
has the following additional environmental benefits:
-less burden on sewer system and treatment facilities;
-increased effectiveness of storage and treatment facilities for CSO and stormwater;
-delay and reduction in peak flow of storm runoff;
-reduced volumes of CSOs;
-a reduced risk of basement flooding;
-recharging the groundwater table; and
-reduced peak flows and flash flooding in creeks and streams.
(b)Existing Service Levels:
The former City of Toronto and City of Scarborough have existing free and voluntary
Downspout Disconnection Programs, with annual budgets of $1,500,000.00 and $60,000.00,
respectively.
Under the former Toronto program, all residential properties as well as schools, churches and
commercial properties are targeted. City staff assess each property where the owner indicates
an interest, to determine the feasibility for disconnection and the installation of a free rain
barrel. A City contractor performs the disconnection work, free of charge. Do-It-Yourself
disconnection kits are available upon request. Under the former Scarborough program, student
canvassers assess residential properties for the feasibility of disconnection and deliver free
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) disconnection kits including a rain barrel. All disconnection work is
undertaken by the property owner.
In the former Toronto and Scarborough, mandatory downspout disconnection for existing
buildings was not considered to be a viable option at this time due to legal concerns regarding
liability and significant compliance issues on some properties.
Downspout Disconnection Programs are currently not available in the former York, East
York, Etobicoke and North York. However, the former East York has produced a
"Do-It-Yourself" brochure to promote the disconnection of downspouts on private property.
The number of properties in each former municipality and those serviced by combined sewers
and storm sewers is detailed in Table 1. Combined sewer areas do not exist in the former
municipalities of North York and Etobicoke.
As detailed in Table 1, approximately 116,300 (26 percent) of the properties located City-wide
have roof areas connected to the combined sewer system and 189,900 properties (43 percent)
have roof areas connected to the storm sewer system. The remaining 131,400 properties (31
percent) are considered to be already disconnected from the sewer system (90,320 already
disconnected plus 10,900 disconnected under the program), although future property
assessments under the program will confirm this amount.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
It is recommended that the Downspout Disconnection Program for the new City be based on
the former Toronto model which offers a free rain barrel and the services of a City contractor
to perform the disconnection work.
The option whereby the City provides all materials and a rain barrel, free of charge, to the
homeowner to undertake the work themselves will be available upon request. However, it
should be noted that a follow-up survey of homeowners receiving a free DIY kit indicated that
less than 50percent had actually undertaken the disconnection work.
It is proposed to use students to conduct a door-to-door canvass and to solicit participation in
the Downspout Disconnection Program. The former City of Scarborough has used students
effectively for this part of the program in the past.
(a)Eligibility to Participate in the Expanded Program:
Homeowners of properties with roof areas connected to the sewer system will be eligible to
participate in the program provided the characteristics of the property can accommodate the
disconnection without creating a hazardous condition on the property, a neighbouring property
or City property.
The property characteristics that may affect the feasibility for disconnection are as follows:
-insufficient grassed area/no suitable discharge area;
-grade of lot slopes towards building foundation wall;
-physical obstructions on the property;
-risk of flooding neighbouring property/City property;
-downspout shared with adjacent property owner and owner objects to the disconnection;
-internal drainage system (schools);
-close proximity to ravine control areas;
-contaminated sub soil;
-unsuitable soil conditions (limited infiltration capacity);
-existing fascia board and/or eavestrough(s) in poor condition.
Homeowners of properties with roof areas already disconnected from the sewer system do not
require the disconnection service, however, they will be eligible to purchase rain barrels,
diverter valves and splash pads under the program, at a subsidized cost. Experience to date has
proven that the majority of homeowners that respond to the program are interested in
obtaining a rain barrel to use as an alternative water source.
Rain water captured and stored in a rain barrel can be recycled and reused for garden irrigation
and other outdoor water uses that would typically require the consumption of metered water
from the City's water distribution system. The direct benefit to the user is an opportunity to
conserve water and save money on water bills. The direct benefit to the City through the sale
of rain barrels is an increase in public awareness of water quality and water conservation
issues.
(b)Program Costs:
The average cost to disconnect a property in the former Toronto is $395.00. This figure
includes the cost of all labour and materials to perform the disconnection work, staffing,
vehicle costs, program promotion, direct mail campaigns, consultant studies, partnerships with
local environmental groups and the purchase of rain barrels. It also includes the cost of
preparing disconnection plans for property owners that express an interest in the program but
do not follow through with the disconnection work.
(c)Program Disconnection Rate:
In the former Toronto, the annual target disconnection rate was 2,000 property disconnections
per year. In the former Scarborough, approximately 200 homeowners were delivered
Do-It-Yourself disconnection kits annually. Under an expanded program, a target of 4,000
property disconnections has been established.
(d)Program Target Areas - Combined Sewer/Basement Flooding Areas:
In order to meet the primary program objectives, combined sewer areas and areas susceptible
to basement flooding will be targeted under the new program through direct mail campaigns
or student canvasses. As previously indicated, there are specific areas in the former
Scarborough, East York, York and Toronto municipalities that are serviced by combined
sewers and which are susceptible to basement flooding during extreme rainstorms.
Table 1:
Downspout Disconnection Program - Existing Service Levels
Community
Council
Area |
Approximate
No. of
Residential
Properties
(A) |
Properties
w/ Roof
Areas
Connected to Storm
Sewers
(B) |
Properties
w/ Roof
Areas
Connected to
Combined
Sewers
(C) |
Properties w/
Roof Areas
Already
Disconnected from
Sewer
System
(D) |
No. of
Properties
Disconnected Under City
Program
(E) |
Annual
Downspout
Program
Budget
($) |
Cost to
Property
Owner |
York |
30,400 |
7,000 |
21,000
(18%) |
2,400 |
n/a |
$0 |
n/a |
North York |
90,000 |
45,000 |
0 |
45,000 |
n/a |
$0 |
n/a |
Etobicoke |
67,000 |
15,200 |
0 |
51,800 |
n/a |
$0 |
n/a |
East York |
22,200 |
1,300 |
16,300
(14%) |
4,600 |
n/a |
$0 |
n/a |
Scarborough |
98,000 |
78,400 |
15,000
(13%) |
3,700 |
900* |
$60,000 |
free,
DIY |
Toronto |
130,000 |
43,000 |
64,000
(55%) |
13,000 |
10,000 |
$1,500,000 |
free, CC |
Total |
437,600 |
189,900 |
116,300
(100%) |
120,500 |
10,900 |
$1,560,000 |
|
Disconnection Techniques:
DIY - Do-It-Yourself
CC- City Contractor* DIY, disconnection not verified
(e)Program Promotion:
The program will be promoted through both direct mail campaigns and student door-to-door
canvasses. The mailing frequency rate will be determined by the mailing response rate which
is typically 20-25 percent following two mailings in a designated target area.
In order to effectively educate property owners on the benefits of diverting storm flow from
the sewer system through downspout disconnection, a new brochure for distribution to the
public will be prepared.
Under the former Toronto's Water Conservation Program, a school curriculum was developed
to educate students in kindergarten to grade 8 on the benefits of saving water and modifying
behaviour to reduce consumption. An educational module on stormwater diversion was
recently developed and will be provided to both the Public and Separate School Boards for
inclusion in the 1999 school curriculum.
(f)Budget Allocation:
The program budget will be divided into three components as follows:
-the promotion and disconnection of properties located in designated program target areas
(combined sewer areas and basement flooding zones);
-the disconnection of properties located outside of designated program target areas on a
first-come, first-served basis; and
-the sale of rain barrels and other disconnection materials at a subsidized cost to the public,
primarily at community environment days.
Table 2 shows the proposed budget allocation for each of these components in order to
achieve 4,000 City-wide property disconnections per year.
Approximately 66.5 percent of the annual budget will be allocated to disconnect 2,772
properties in program target areas.
Due to the additional environmental benefits achieved through the infiltration of stormwater,
30 percent of the annual budget will be allocated to each former municipality on a
first-come,first-served basis to service eligible property owners that live outside of CSO or
basement flooding target areas, but are willing to participate in the program. The former
Toronto experience demonstrates that approximately 0.4 percent of all property owners with
downspouts connected to the sewer system will call to participate in the program even though
they are outside of program target areas and have not been contacted directly.
The remaining 3.5 percent of the budget will be allocated to selling rain barrels, diverter
valves and splash pads to property owners already disconnected from the sewer system, at a
subsidized cost. These products will also be available for purchase at environment days.
Table 2:
Proposed Budget Allocation
Description |
Quantity |
Explanation |
Total number of properties with roof drains
connected to sewer system in the City |
306,200 |
Sum of
Columns B
and C from
Table 1 |
Estimated number of "Call in" participants |
1,228 |
0.4% of above |
Estimated number of "Target" participants, i.e.
from areas with combined sewers and basement
flooding |
2,772 |
total minus
"call in" 4,000
- 1,228 |
Budget for "Call in" participants |
$485,060 |
1,228 @ $395 |
Budget for "Target" participants |
$1,094,940 |
2,772 @ $395 |
Budget for subsidized sale of disconnection
products |
$60,000 |
3.5% of Total |
Total Program Budget |
$1,640,000 |
|
(g)Use of Students as Program Assessors:
The role of the program assessor is to contact property owners who have responded to a direct
mail campaign, and schedule a site meeting in order to prepare a custom disconnection design
for their property which will achieve the greatest benefit for the City and prevent adverse
effects to the property. By undertaking this work on private property, the City assumes the
responsibility of ensuring the work is done properly. Therefore, it is necessary that program
assessors have sufficient technical training to do the work competently. They also have to
perform a "sales" function in order to transform an expression of interest into a signed
agreement to allow the City contractor to carry out the work.
In the former Toronto, four full-time staff members conduct property assessments. In addition,
two co-op engineering students are hired each year and trained for a four-month work term
each, to conduct property assessments and prepare disconnection proposals.
In the former Scarborough, student canvassers are used exclusively to solicit participation in
the program.
This practice has been very cost-effective and should be continued under the expanded
program, as a complement to the existing full-time staff constituent.
(h)Use of Students to Perform Disconnection Work:
The Budget Committee asked that this option be addressed.
In the former Toronto, experienced roofing and eavestroughing contractors are used to
perform the disconnection work due to liability issues and the specialized techniques utilized
to disconnect a property, such as relocating downspouts on the property, installing rain barrels
with diverter valves and excavating for soak-away pits and pop-up drainage emitters. The
contractor also provides the City with a two-year maintenance guarantee for the work which is
extended to the property owner. During this period, property owner complaints may arise
regarding drainage problems on the property or workmanship issues, which can be responded
to promptly by the contractor.
Using students under the City's supervision requires training in work practices, health and
safety procedures, customer service and public relations. There is a high turnover requiring
new training each time. The City becomes directly liable for all damage on private property
caused by our workers.
In considering the above, it is recommended that students not be utilized to perform the
disconnection work.
(i)Contract Administration/Management:
In the former Toronto, the tendering and award of contracts, payment of contracts, general
contract administration and contract inspection is conducted exclusively by program staff. A
contract supervisor is on staff to manage the production and workmanship of the contractor in
order to approve monthly payments. Properties are inspected on a daily basis to ensure the
disconnection work is performed in accordance with City standards and to the owner's
satisfaction. Conducting work on private property is a sensitive issue that requires attentive
management by City staff.
The above "hands-on" arrangement has proven to be very successful as homeowner
complaints, production rate fluctuations, program delivery revisions, high priority
disconnection requests, etc. can be monitored and responded to in a timely fashion, with the
support of other program staff.
As the success of this program is directly linked to a high level of service and homeowner
satisfaction, it is recommended that this practice continue.
Conclusions:
Under the future program delivery strategy which will be in effect as of January 1999, it is
anticipated that 4,000 property disconnections will be achieved each year.
In order to meet this objective, a total of $1,640,000.00 in funding is required for 1999.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Wayne Green, P.Eng.
Director, Quality Control and System Planning
Water and Wastewater Services
Phone: (416) 392-8242
Email: "wgreen@city.toronto.on.ca".