THUNDER BAY – In an effort to improve water quality, EcoSuperior has launched a new project geared toward reducing the impacts of urban flooding.
EcoSuperior Environmental Programs and Castlegreen Co-operative introduced the Groundbreakers Project on Wednesday, which is designed to create naturalized green spaces that divert water from municipal storm sewer systems, allowing it to filter into the soil before entering water bodies.
EcoSuperior Groundbreakers program manager, Julia Prinselaar, said the whole objective is to manage storm water and help protect the neighbourhood from flooding.
“These green infrastructure installations are meant to capture rainwater off of hard surfaces,” Prinselaar said.
“The infrastructure will hold the water in certain areas to slowly absorb into the ground rather than just running off, and entering local water bodies.”
Prinselaar added that these infrastructure installations will prevent contaminants and pollutants from seeping into water bodies.
The goal is to install six green infrastructure features, such as rain gardens, in Castlegreen’s residential areas next summer.
Prinselaar said the new features will also have an impact on water quality.
“It’s not just water that is carried into storm drains,” she said. “A lot of the storm water can carry pollutants and contaminants from motor vehicles, pet waste, chemicals and cigarette waste.”
All those contaminants are carried with storm water into storm drains, which feed into local water bodies.
“By having the water captured in certain areas, and slowly absorb into the ground before it enters local streams of water bodies we can channel it into areas where the drainage is better, and it will improve water quality.”
Prinselaar said EcoSuperior has the funds to design the rain gardens, but when it comes to actually installing them it’s going to be through the efforts of the community.
A community forum is scheduled for Nov. 2 at Castlegreen’s community centre for residents to discuss any concerns involved with the project.
