In the October 3rd Webinar…

In the October 3rd Webinar Streamlining Permissions for Water Taking and Stormwater Management, we were told:
1.] Developers are finding the storm bylaw limits more stringent than they need to be.
2.] Each municipality should be setting limits based on their background levels.

Response:
1.] Municipalities need to make sure that what is going in their storm infrastructure is acceptable so we don't get fined when it is exiting our systems into the natural environment. The limits are not too stringent, they are protective based on the model sewer use by-law handed down by the province as well as the federal CCME model sewer use by-law

2.] If every developer had to meet different limits in every municipality it would be more confusing for them. Most municipalities adopted Toronto's Sewer Use By-Law as it is more stringent and to err on the side of caution. Smaller municipalities in particular do not have the staff to do local studies of their background levels (parameters existing in the natural environment and receiving waters). Also, they do not have the funds to hire consultants to do the work. They have to explain to council and the taxpayers that they want to hire a consultant for XX amount of dollars to determine their local limits when they can be cautious and protective by adopting Toronto's by-law that is already in place and will cost nothing.