Red Cross Guide to Flood Recovery

On July 8th, the City of Toronto experienced unprecedented rainfall and flooding. Many residents may be dealing with the effects of this flooding in their homes and businesses in the coming days.

The Canadian Red Cross has expertise in disaster management, including floods. Attached you will find a Guide to Flood Recovery that outlines step-by-step instructions for cleaning up after a flood. Please feel free to share this tool with your neighbours.

Toronto Water In-Store Downspout Disconnection Events at Lowe's

Toronto Water will be holding a series of in-store events to help promote the Mandatory Downspout Disconnection Program (and Phase 2 deadline of December 3, 2013) are taking place as noted below. These in-store events are being held in advance of the Phase 2 deadline:

Lowe's: July 20
10 a.m. 3 p.m.
6005 Steeles Avenue East

Lowe's: August 24
10 a.m. 3 p.m.
800 Warden Avenue

Lowe's: October 5
10 a.m. 3 p.m.
1300 Castlefield Avenue

The Downspout Disconnection Program

Many of you may have received a flyer in the mail claiming to be a FINAL NOTICE regarding the City of Toronto's Mandatory Downspout Disconnection By-law. This flyer is an advertisement from a private company and has not been sent out by the City. The by-law, however, is real and will be coming into effect for most of the ward on December 3rd, 2013. Many residents have called us about this program, so we've compiled some of the most common questions and answers:

What is the Mandatory Downspout Disconnection program?
As part of a series of flood protection measures, City Council approved a by-law making it mandatory for property owners to disconnect their downspouts from the stormwater system.

Why do we have to disconnect our downspouts?
Several years ago there were a series of floods throughout Toronto. Our ward was one of the areas which were hit the hardest. These floods were partially due to the stormwater systems not being able to handle the capacity. When the stormwater systems are over capacity it causes water to back up not only on the streets, but in people's basements as well.

The City has taken many measures to ensure that this does not happen again, including repairing and widening the stormwater pipes throughout the city and the ward.

Currently all rain that falls on houses is sent directly into stormwater system, and as more houses are erected in the city, more water which would have been absorbed into the ground is going into the stormwater system instead. This is not sustainable, and thus the City is asking residents to disconnect their downspouts from the system.

When do need to have my downspout disconnected?
The downspout disconnection by-law is being rolled out in three phases. Phase 1 included the downtown core and came into effect late 2011. Our ward lies mostly in Phase 2 and partially in Phase 3.

If you live in Ward 39 and your house is west of Kennedy Road, you are in Phase 2 and you will need to disconnect your downspout by December 3rd, 2013. If you live in Ward 39 and your house is east of Kennedy Road, you are in Phase 3 and you will need to disconnect your downspout by December 3rd, 2015.

If you live outside of Ward 39, please consult the City's website for more information.

What happens if I don't disconnect my downspout?
Downspout disconnection is mandatory, and if you do not complete the disconnection you may be in contravention of the by-law. While the City will not have a crew proactively inspecting downspouts, contraventions will be handled on a complaint basis and you may be subject to fines if your house is found not to be in compliance.

What kind of work do I need to do? How can I get this done?
The work is simple and can be done with a few simple tools and hardware available at your local hardware store. The City's website has a guide on how to do it yourself.

Otherwise, many private contractors will be able to help you with making the disconnection and rerouting the downspout.

Can you recommend a contractor?
Our office is unable to suggest or recommend private contractors. Please check the Yellow Pages or online for more information.

What if my downspout is too close to the house/driveway/neighbour/walkway?
There are many options available for disconnection of the downspout. Our office has seen constituents who have connected their downspouts to rain barrels, irrigation systems, employed weeping tile, or even created underground trenches to route their downspouts under their walkway tiles. Each house is unique, and there are many solutions that are available, some of which are discussed on the city's website (near the bottom)

However, there are many situations where a logical option for disconnection is not feasible. In those cases, please download a copy of the downspout disconnection exemption form from the City's website and describe why your house requires an exemption.

I'm a senior / a person with a disability, is there any assistance the City can provide?
The City has a financial assistance program for seniors and people with disabilities. Work done by a contractor to disconnect downspouts may be reimbursed for up to $500. For more information on this program and to download an application form, please see the City's website.

I was signed up with the City's Voluntary Downspout Disconnection program and work was done by the City, do I need to do anything else?
If you were on the City's Voluntary Downspout Disconnection Program, please download a copy of the exemption form and fill out the check box on the front page that says your property has already been assessed under the program.

I've signed up for the Voluntary Downspout Disconnection Program, but the work was never done. Is there anything that can be done?
The Voluntary Downspout Disconnection Project was cancelled by City Council in 2011, and unfortunately there are no provisions for those who were on the waiting list. You will be required to proceed with Mandatory Downspout Disconnection as per normal.

I'm not able to print out the forms
Please give our office a call at 416-392-1374 and we will make sure that you receive a printed copy of the relevant forms.

I have another question which is not addressed here
Please take a look at the City's website on the downspout disconnection program. There is a large variety of information and resources to help you out. The City's website also has a Frequently Asked Questions section which goes into a lot more detail.

If you still have any further questions, feel free to give our office a call at 416-392-1374 and we'll be happy to assist you.

Mandatory Downspout Disconnect is getting close

An important announcement from our upcoming Spring 2013 Newsletter:

Downspout disconnection in the area of Ward 39 which is west of Kennedy Road must be completed by December 3, 2013. If you live east of Kennedy Road, you must disconnect the downspout by December 3, 2016.

If you have considered all the options and find it is not technically feasible, you could apply to the City for an exemption by completing a Mandatory Downspout Disconnection Exemption Application.

Financial assistance (up to a maximum of $500), is available for low-income seniors or individuals with disability who apply for the assistance and meet the criteria.

For more information and to obtain a copy of the exemption application, please check the website at http://www.toronto.ca/water/protecting_quality/downspout.htm or call my office for more information.

Lead pipes and drinking water: Toronto's Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy (via WaterSource)

Below is an excerpt from WaterSource, a Toronto Water publication for councillors. It details some of the steps that Toronto is taking to reduce the amount of lead in our drinking water.

Basement flooding assessment results

A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment was recently completed in the Ward 39 area. This study investigated the issue of basement flooding and recommends several improvements to drainage and sewer systems in the ward to prevent future problems. For more information, as well as locations in the ward where a full copy of the report can be found, please see the below notice.

Download (*.pdf format)

Washing wisely - what you need to know when washing your car this summer

Before you wash your car this summer, you should know that the City of Toronto has by-laws regulating what can and can't be done to wash your vehicle. Read on to find out how you can avoid a stiff fine.

June 15, 2010

Washing wisely - what you need to know when washing your car this summer

With the warm weather upon us, many Toronto residents are taking the opportunity to add car washing to their list of weekend chores. Unfortunately, the water that comes from washing your car often contains dirt, oil, grease, heavy metals, hazardous chemicals and soaps - all of which enter local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario and can then harm aquatic habitat.

It is important to be aware that there are two types of sewer systems in the City of Toronto. The sanitary system takes the used water from homes and businesses to a wastewater treatment plant for cleaning. The storm sewer system - the square grates on the side of the road - takes rainwater and melted snow from the streets and releases it, untreated, into local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario.

To avoid having dirty water run into the storm sewer system, consider these options for washing your car:
• Use a commercial car wash facility. These facilities are required to follow a set of practices determined by the City, including treating wastewater and discharging it into the sanitary sewer system where it will receive further treatment.
• Find a location where the wastewater won’t flow into the storm sewer. For example, washing cars on a grassy lawn or gravel surface allows the wastewater to be absorbed by the soil. Washing the car on your lawn doubles the water use by giving your lawn a good watering at the same time.
• Dispose of the wastewater into the sanitary sewer. By using a pail, washcloth and only a small amount of water, and then wiping the car dry, the waste water can be contained in the bucket and disposed of into the sanitary sewer through a laundry sink or toilet.

When choosing one of the above car washing options, here are a few tips to stay green:
• Don’t use soap. Instead, use a small amount of environmentally friendly water-based detergent that is phosphate and NPE free. Many other car-care products also contain harmful chemicals which should be avoided.
• Don’t wash your car during drought conditions.
• Re-think the need to wash your car if rain is in the forecast.

The City of Toronto has a Sewers Bylaw that prohibits the discharge of any water other than storm water or melted snow into the storm sewers.

For more information, visit http://www.toronto.ca/water or call 311.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take A Load Off Toronto

Take A Load Off is a project from Toronto Hydro to help you to save $140 on an Energy Star qualified clothes washer at your local Home Depot or Caplan's Appliance store. When you purchase a qualified washing machine, you will receive an $80 instant rebate, a $60 mail-in rebate, and a free drying rack as well. For more information, visit the Take A Load Off Toronto website, but act soon, the offer expires June 30th.

Useful Links
Take A Load Off Toronto
Toronto Water: Water Efficiency
Toronto Hydro
The Home Depot Canada
Caplan's Appliances