WWFMP - The plan behind our plan
The heart of the Toronto’s Wet Weather Flow Master Plan (WWFMP) is that rainwater and snowmelt are a valuable resource. That’s because stormwater waters our grass and plants and keeps our parks green. It even recharges the groundwater system.
This very concept guided the process and philosophy behind the plan which included:
Managing stormwater on a hierarchical approach
Source control:
The source is where the wet weather flow originates from before it enters the drainage system. The control refers to methods that reduces the flow entering the pipes, such as disconnecting eavestroughs, using rainbarrels or putting in porous pavers.
Conveyance control:
Conveyance refers to ‘the flow’s ‘ travels in ditches and in the pipes (before it gets to the end of the pipe). The controls include measures such as “leaky” pipes that allow some of the wet weather flow to seep into the ground.
End-of-pipe control:
As the name indicates, this is the end of the ‘pipe journey’ and just before the wet weather flow enters a river or the lake. Some controls include ponds, wetlands, tanks and tunnels.
Developing a plan on a watershed basis.
Plans to manage our stormwater pollution affect our neighbours. This is because the rivers and creeks that flow within our city are in six watersheds (the land area draining to a river) that originate in our neighbouring municipalities (Only one watershed is primarily contained within our city limits.) Planning on a watershed basis maximizes the plan’s effectiveness for our city and our neighbours. In fact, part of the planning process included input from our neighbouring municipalities.
Identifying control measures which balance the City’s social, environmental and economic realities.
Informing and educating Toronto’s communities about stormwater pollution and involving the public in developing solutions.
Meeting and exceeding water quality guidelines.