Committees approve growth-enabling plan for water infrastructure

At a joint meeting today, the City’s Planning and Housing Committee and Environment and Climate Change Committee recommended approving Ottawa’s new Infrastructure Master Plan.  At a joint meeting today, the City’s Planning and Housing Committee and Environment and Climate Change Committee recommended approving Ottawa’s new Infrastructure Master Plan. This housing-growth-focused plan aims to ensure Ottawa’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems all have the capacity to serve residents to 2046 and beyond.  The policies, programs and projects outlined in the master plan will enable the City to maintain reliable service levels while effectively accommodating the growth identified in the Official Plan. Ottawa’s population is anticipated to reach 1.4 million by 2046, with about 140,000 more people living inside the Greenbelt. Much of that growth will happen in existing communities, especially as the rate of intensification increases from 40 per cent to 60 per cent in the coming years. The new master plan policies would guide infrastructure planning that enables development on greenfield lands in recently expanded urban area as well as intensification projects in existing communities. Aside from anticipating intensification needs, the policies also respond to climate change and support affordable, sustainable growth by accounting for impacts on both existing communities and the natural environment.   The City would upgrade its central water and wastewater systems to accommodate planned growth. The master plan identifies major capital projects to meet growth needs, including 16 water distribution system projects and 37 wastewater collection system projects. These capital projects include upgrades to the backbone of the sewage collection system to support intensification. Master plans for the central water purification and wastewater treatment plants are being prepared as separate initiatives.  The master plan does not identify local water and sewer projects involving small-diameter pipes. For these local water and sewer systems, the master plan would introduce a new program to ensure there is enough capacity to serve both existing and new development. The City would track the impacts of intensification on existing water infrastructure, planning any upgrades needed to service growth. Staff would also develop an on-site stormwater management program to prevent increased flooding and reduce the impact of intensification on the performance of existing storm drainage systems. The master plan provides development industry stakeholders with high-level guidance on managing stormwater to protect watercourses against the impacts of development and to protect properties from flooding. The guidance includes prioritizing flood plain mapping for future neighbourhoods and promoting sustainable practices to help manage runoff from storm events. Policies for intensification would require that development projects resulting in a net increase in impervious area be subject to on-site stormwater management. Recommendations from this meeting will rise to Council on Tuesday, June 25.