‘Greening’ rebate of $500 offered to Hamilton residents for run-off reducing improvements
For years, Hamilton's Green Venture has promoted rain barrels for residents to do their part to stem the tide of rainwater run-off into sewers that ends up in the harbour.
But the not-for-profit organization is taking the campaign up several notches this year: A $500 rebate program for those who build rain gardens and other greening" infrastructure on their property to soak up the overflow from storms.
According to program manager Miranda Burton, about 55 per cent of rainwater will run-off into sewers in a largely paved, urban environment, while just 10 per cent does so in a natural environment.
Residents who apply for the rebate will attend a workshop and receive consultation from a rain coach" on how to design their project, and then Green Venture staff will assess the plan.
Burton said they are hoping for about 30 homeowners to take part in the program, that started last year with 12 participants. For more information go to www.greenventure.ca
We want to really amp it up this year, and (30) is definitely possible with the interest we've had. People are becoming more aware of flooding as an issue."
The program, called NATURhoods, isn't intended to put a dent in the volume of stormwater run-off, but rather generate a ripple effect of action from heightened awareness of the issue, Burton suggested.
The real mission is empowering residents to put their yards to work to fight flooding, which will encourage their neighbours, and over time natural green infrastructure becomes the norm, and the message becomes one that the city has to prioritize," she said.
Rainwater run-off is on the radar of city staff. A report to council from the public works department in December, titled Stormwater Gap Evaluation," highlighted issues exacerbating the problem, including urban sprawl into rural areas, and insufficient level of (run-off) infiltration in parkland."
The report added that climate change is altering the intensity, duration and frequency" of precipitation, presenting a critical challenge for city infrastructure" in areas vulnerable to flooding where major stormwater paths do not exist."
Burton said in that vein, the hot spot" flooding areas the rebate program is targeting are wards 1, 2, and 13.
She would like to see Hamilton follow the lead of neighbouring municipalities such as Kitchener and Guelph, where financial credits are issued to homeowners who take steps to manage stormwater run-off on their properties.
In addition to rainwater gardens, greening projects that could be part of the rebate include swales - narrow ditches that soak up water - and permeable paving," that absorbs and disperses run-off.
The $500 rebate may not cover all costs, depending on what project a homeowner proposes, and how much work they do themselves.
It's feasible to build a rain garden for that amount, and we provide resources on how to purchase native plants and soil and mulch," said Burton. People who did it last year were able to hover around that ($500) amount."
The program is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Hamilton Community Foundation, and City Enrichment Fund through the City of Hamilton.
In March 2019, the city declared a climate emergency." Burton said climate change is a topic that generates anxiety for many people.
People can feel overwhelmed by what they hear on the news, but this speaks to the act local/think global realm of thinking, and what you can do in your little piece of the world."
Jon Wells is a feature writer at The Spectator. jwells@thespec.com