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STORMWATER
Canada Faces Stormwater Crisis
Urgent need for resilient infrastructure amidst climate change BY BRIAN KING
A growing concern
These storms are also significantly impacting
communities, causing economic disruptions and
contributing to environmental damage. One only
has to look at the videos of recent flooding and
stormwater runoff overtaking buildings, highways
and roads across Canada to see the impact. Most recently, it was the remnants of Hurricane Debby that
delivered record-breaking rainfall to 55 communities
in Quebec.
As these videos illustrate, many communities are
not prepared for extensive rainfall events and changing climate patterns. It’s no surprise that stormwater
management has become a growing area of concern
and focus for communities and governments around
the world..
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada,
for the second year in a row, the country exceeded
$3 billion in insured damages in 2023 from natural
catastrophes and severe weather events, with much
Brian King is Executive VP of Marketing,
Product Management and Sustainability
at Advanced Drainage Systems
26
WATER C AN ADA • NOV EMBER/ DECEMBER 2024
of it due to water-related damage. The trade association
said that over the last decade, there have been more
than 35 catastrophic flooding events across Canada in
which insured losses exceeded $30 million per flood.
Total insured losses from these events have averaged
close to $800 million annually over the last decade.
This doesn’t include the uninsured losses.
Canada’s Changing Climate Report estimates that an
extreme rainfall event that currently occurs once every
20 years in Canada could happen every five years by the
end of the century. It also projects that the amount of
24-hour extreme precipitation events that now happen
once every 20 years, will increase by 12 per cent.
Behind these numbers and dollar amounts are
communities that are being pushed to the brink. Not
only does the heavy rainfall cause property damage and
create dangerous situations; it also overwhelms water
treatment facilities, degrading drinking water quality
and increasing risk of waterborne diseases.
Resilient and sustainable water management
is needed
A strong stormwater management infrastructure is a
powerful tool in positioning cities to become more
resilient, helping them to reduce their vulnerability and
adapt to flooding challenges caused by climate change.
Unfortunately, much of the stormwater management infrastructure in place today is insufficient,
unable to address current climate trends and illequipped for future changes. Many municipalities are
dealing with aging stormwater infrastructure in need of
repair or upgrades to adequately handle the increase in
stormwater volume and keep residents and businesses
safe from flooding.
In 2019, the Canadian Infrastructure Report Card
stated that while approximately 40-60 per cent of stormwater infrastructure was in good or very good condition,
it was difficult to determine the condition of a large
portion of stormwater assets as historically, collecting data
about their condition was a low-priority activity.
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
Getty Images
D
UE TO CLIMATE CHANGE there has
been an increase in the frequency and
intensity of storms, creating extensive
rainfall events. This has placed a new
and growing urgency on the task of
safeguarding our water while also protecting our
communities.
Because these storms are producing higher volumes of stormwater, it is putting a strain on natural
waterways and municipal infrastructure. This is
causing an increase in flooding and hazards to life
and property, as well as allowing pollutants to make
their way into streams, rivers and lakes.
