The City of Vancouver has embarked on a generational project called the Healthy Waters Plan that will lay out a blueprint for eliminating chronic aquatic ecosystem pollution from sanitary sewers and storm water runoff. The plan is being completed in three phases and will guide long-range investments, programs and policies to address pollution from sewer overflows and urban runoff and key issues related to climate change and aging infrastructure. A team of planners, engineers and consultants has completed the initial phase of the plan and come up with a framework of guiding principles and objectives that define the vision of the strategy and what is necessary to achieve it.
OTTAWA, CANADA, HELPS RESIDENTS CUT STORM WATER RUNOFF
Ottawa, Canada is offering to pay to improve some homeowners' properties. The aim is to do a better job of managing rain water, reported Ottawa Citizen. The city will provide grants for some homeowners to help cover a portion of the costs related to adding redirection devices for downspouts or installing rain gardens, soakaway pits and permeable paving, according to Ottawa Citizen. Certified landscape design is also be eligible for a grant. Ottawa is capping the maximum grant at $5,000 per household.
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek
Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.