As noted in previous newsletters, UDI has been participating in the development of the City’s Healthy Waters Plan. On February 4th, Council adopted Key Directions for the HWP and staff will be reporting back to them by Q3 of 2026 with an implementation plan as part of the third and final phase of the initiative. The Plan, which has a time horizon up to 2075, “… will guide long-range investments, policies, and programs to address pollution from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and urban rainwater runoff, meet the growth needs of the city, and tackle key risks related to climate change and aging infrastructure.” To address stormwater pollution issues, the City will be employing a number of options, including Green Rainwater Infrastructure, downspout disconnections, CSO rapid treatment facilities/tanks, grey stormwater treatment, new drainage pump stations and tide gates. One of the key directions is “Optimize rainwater management policy for redevelopment, to minimize the cost of growth-driven system capacity upgrades, flooding and CSO risks.” In fact, most of the costs associated with the HWP would be funded by redevelopment – primarily through a 24 mm rainwater retention policy for new projects. However, in the next phase of the HWP, the City has committed to “Development industry consultation to ensure the adoption of practical and affordable solutions.” They will also will: 

• “Complete an evaluation of staged detention tank-based approaches for larger building developments, while expanding opportunities for non-potable reuse of rainwater;” and  
• “Explore cost-effective opportunities for retention or hybrid retention-detention-based solutions considering appropriate building typologies and geographical factors.”