Municipalities are often at the heart of flood and rainstorm events when it comes to responding to the aftermath. A new guide from CSA Group has been compiled to help cities implement water standards to improve resiliency and manage these weather-related natural disasters.
Such events are increasing and intensifying every year due to climate change and a higher number of properties in flood-prone areas. The Municipal How-to Guide offers a detailed framework, including a three-step process, to help cities implement community water standards into municipal planning and approval processes.
The guide is intended to serve as a resource for urban planners, managers, and elected municipal officials.
While many municipalities express interest in using water standards, they often struggle with where to start amidst competing priorities. They require support to save time and cost, while gaining the confidence of residents.
The guide was developed in collaboration with four Canadian municipalities that have been significantly impacted by flooding in recent years: Colwood, British Columbia; High River, Alberta; Lakeshore, Ontario; and Cambridge, Ontario.
“Our ultimate goal is to have networks of resilient communities supporting each other,” says Michael Leering, director, environment and business excellence, CSA Group. For a municipality to truly be resilient, their neighbouring municipalities must also be working towards the same goals and implementing the same standards.”
The guide also helps cities understand the standards they can leverage and use to support their municipal objectives, and includes sample language to use for referencing standards in policies, bylaws, and municipal documents.
“The launch of a guide to support municipal uptake of CSA Group standards provides an important tool for interpretation and decision making,” says Chief Planner City of Cambridge Lisa Prime. “Municipalities can benefit from further opportunities to meet technical performance requirements for development through standards.”
Visit CSA Group’s website to download the complimentary Municipal How-to Guide and to learn more about CSA Group’s Community Water Standards.
