Yesterday, July 16th, 2024, Southern Ontario experienced major flash flooding from heavy rain and intense storms. This led to highway floods, road closures, significant power outages and widespread basement flooding reported across Ontario, notably in Toronto and London. The floodwaters posed dangerous risks, with cars being nearly submerged and water flooding Union Station, Toronto’s main transportation hub.
The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) is increasingly alarmed by the rise in severe weather events, such as tornadoes and floods, that are impacting communities across the province. These occurrences reflect the broader effects of climate change that we are all facing. With the frequency and intensity of these events on the rise, decisive action is essential to protect our communities.
The events were shocking for civilians, but not too surprising for those in the engineering community given the findings from a 2017 comprehensive study on the condition of stormwater infrastructure across Ontario. The findings of the study, conducted by OSPE in partnership with the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) and the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA), revealed a significant infrastructure gap that must be addressed to mitigate the impacts of climate change-related weather events.
To this end, OSPE presented a series of actionable recommendations to the provincial government in 2017, aimed at enhancing our resilience to severe weather. Notably, some of these recommendations were accepted.
On October 25, 2019, the Government of Ontario announced increased investment in green infrastructure to help small communities rehabilitate critical water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. Approximately $200 million in federal and provincial funding is being initially directed toward communities with populations under 100,000.
In 2019, OSPE convened with a diverse group of stakeholders—including professional engineers, conservation authorities, insurance companies, and municipal representatives—at a full-day symposium to discuss viable solutions. Our discussions underscored the importance of a dual approach: implementing green infrastructure, such as marshes and floodplains for natural stormwater management, alongside traditional grey infrastructure solutions like concrete sewers. You can find more details here.
Engineers are already leading the way in mitigating these severe weather events with a mix of grey and green infrastructure as observed in the Waterfront Toronto’s Port Lands Flood Protection Project.
However, significant challenges remain. Provincial changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and the Planning Act in 2020 risk diluting the science-based watershed approach that currently protects communities from flooding and other natural hazards.
OSPE continues to advocate for effective Stormwater Infrastructure Asset Management Plans (SIAMPs), which we believe should be integral to municipal asset management plans to align with provincial climate adaptation goals. Unfortunately, many municipalities—especially those with populations under 50,000—lack the resources to develop comprehensive SIAMPs. This highlights the critical need for prioritizing stormwater management assistance in the Provincial Long-Term Infrastructure Plan.
Furthermore, Ontario must establish standardized measurement criteria to effectively monitor and manage stormwater infrastructure. Currently, variations in municipal assets and geographical challenges hinder effective inventory management. Alarmingly, over half of the municipalities surveyed reported having limited to no engineered stormwater management infrastructure in place, which poses significant risks given the escalating severity of weather patterns due to climate change.
The financial implications are staggering. It is estimated that around $1.2 billion is needed to replace stormwater infrastructure in just six municipalities, ranging from under 50,000 to over 500,000 in population. As this funding gap widens, the economic and environmental impacts of inadequate stormwater management will continue to escalate, affecting all Ontarians.
OSPE is committed to being part of the solution. We strive to educate engineers and stakeholders alike about the impacts of severe weather on Ontario’s communities and infrastructure through our Engineering Academy, Thought Leadership Thursday webinars, and our upcoming Engineering Conference. We reiterate our call for engineers to be involved in discussions and planning processes, as their technical expertise can lead to effective strategies that benefit communities across Ontario. We stand ready to engage with governments at all levels to advance this critical initiative.
Together, we can tackle the challenges posed by severe weather events and safeguard our communities for future generations. The time for action is now.
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