City of Ottawa wants to make more households better at preventing storm water from going to rivers
As the city deals with more extreme weather events like tornadoes and flash flooding, a committee will debate this month on expanding a pilot project that gives financial incentives to retrofit homes to more neighborhoods.
Rain Ready Ottawa is a pilot program that helps homeowners make changes to their property to reduce the harmful impacts of rainwater runoff. Rebates of up to $5,000 are available to help install infrastructure that manages rainwater where it falls.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"The pilot's been running really well. We have it in the east end and also in the southwest end and there has been lots of interest," said Coun. Matt Luloff, who sits on the city's environment committee. "I think that we had targeted about 103 different projects. It's been more than double that. So very, very exciting. It's a great program that helps people to divert rainwater on their properties and have it actually absorb on their properties rather than running into creeks and rivers and streams, which can lead to closing beaches."
Right now, the program exists in two neighbourhoods, including one in the east and one in the west end of the city.
"So, you'll have your primary area, which is very similar to where the pilot project has been running; and then a larger expanded secondary area. So areas through that, and the downtown core as well. We've got lots of rivers, streams and beaches across the city. So it's important to ensure that we're handling our rainwater onsite rather than taking pollutants into the river or into these streams, and creeks, it'll lead to less beach closure days and better enjoyment of our natural habitats around the city," says Luloff.
According to the city, most buildings, streets and parking lots in urban areas don't absorb rain well, therefore it ends up in storm sewers that go into streams and rivers, along with many pollutants that can cause issues like poor water quality, risks of flooding, and beach closures.
Luloff says this program will help mitigate the impact of flooding during extreme weather events. "The more water that we can absorb within the city on our properties, the better off that we're going to be during these larger events."
According to the city's website, Rain Ready Ottawa offers rebates for five practices:
- Downspout redirection (Up to $1,000)
- Rain garden installation (Up to $2,500)
- Soakway pit installation (Up to $2,500)
- Permeable pavements (Up to $5,000)
- Certified landscape designs ($500)
For complete information on how rebates are calculated and specific project requirements, you can visit the City of Ottawa's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft has landed on the moon’s far side to collect rocks in a growing space rivalry with U.S.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.