Stormwater Drains & Catch Basins
Stormwater drains and catch basins are inspected and flushed annually to clear debris from the line so the water can run effortlessly through the line.
In the spring, catch basins fill up with melting snow and debris. You can help prevent flooding in your neighbourhood by keeping the catch basins clear of snow and debris and report any frozen catch basins.
Stormwater Ditches
Stormwater ditches collect the overflow of water from streets and ponds during spring melt and heavy rainstorms. Ditches are usually dry and surrounded by natural vegetation such as cattails, shrubs and grasses. When the ditch is filled with water, there may also be underwater vegetation and algae. For health and safety reasons, contact with the water in stormwater ditch is not recommended.
Stormwater Ponds
Stormwater ponds are an attractive feature to any community and provide habitat for birds and wildlife but they are very different from natural lakes and wetlands in several important ways:
- Man-made ponds are designed to allow moderately large flows of water to enter during heavy rainstorms.
- The water collected in the pond is runoff from streets and ground surface. That runoff may contain residue from lawn fertilizers and chemicals, salt, sand, various organisms, and animal waste.
- Most ponds are surrounded by natural vegetation such as cattails, shrubs and grasses. There may also be underwater vegetation and algae.
- Some ponds can be dry with little vegetation until it fills with water during a heavy rainstorm.
- For health and safety reasons, contact with the water in stormwater pond is not recommended.
- When a pond is drained, you may notice a slight odour caused by the exposed sediment. As the sediment dries or freezes, this odour will go away.
- Stormwater ponds serve an important function in residential flood protection and are not suitable for recreation use. Though they may look like great recreation areas, they are unsafe for activities like swimming, boating, skating, etc.