Screening LID options

Process for selecting a suite of LID Options

Process Diagram for Screening LID Options

Define Design Criteria

A detailed description of the design criteria that need to be defined is provided in the

respective CVC and TRCA Stormwater Management Criteria documents. If outside jurisdictional

boundaries, criteria developed should have requirements to:

• preserve groundwater and baseflow characteristics;
• prevent undesirable and costly geomorphic changes in the watercourse;
• prevent any increases in flood risk potential;
• protect water quality; and ultimately,
• maintain an appropriate diversity of aquatic life and opportunities for human uses

The design criteria required to protect, enhance or restore the environmental resources

can be grouped under the following five categories.

• Flood Protection;
• Water Quality;
• Erosion Control;
• Recharge; and
• Natural Heritage Systems or green infrastructure

Screen Potential LID Options

A number of factors need to be considered when screening the suitability of a given

location within a development site for application of stormwater BMPs. Table 3.4.1

summarizes site constraints associated with some general types of structural LID

practices for stormwater management that should be considered. Further

information regarding constraints to the design of various end-of-pipe BMPs can be

found in the Ontario Ministry of the Environment Stormwater Management Planning and

Design Manual (2003). The use of LID BMPs should be considered first to meet the

design criteria before the use of end-of-pipe BMPs.

Select LIDs (Conceptual Design)

In order to assess if the selected suite of BMPs effectively meet the design criteria

either computer models or simple spreadsheet models should be used. Model selection

will be based on the size and type of development. A wide range of simple to complex

computer models such as Visual OTTHYMO, SWMM, SWMMHYNO, HSP-F and

QUALHYMO are available.

Low Impact Development. A stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased urban runoff and stormwater pollution by managing it as close to its source as possible. It comprises a set of site design approaches and small scale stormwater management practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration and evapotranspiration, and rainwater harvesting.

Credit Valley Conservation

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

(a) A natural well-defined channel produced wholly or in part by a definite flow of water and through which water flows continuously or intermittently. Also, a ditch, canal, aqueduct, or other artificial channel for the conveyance of water to or away from a given place, as for the draining of a swamp.

(b) A stream or current of water. Legally, a natural stream arising in a given drainage basin but not wholly dependent for its flow on surface drainage in its immediate area, flowing in a channel with a well-defined bed between visible banks or through a definite depression (as a ravine or swamp) in the surrounding land, having a definite and permanent periodic supply of water (the stream may be intermittent), and usually, but not necessarily having a perceptible current in a particular direction and discharging at affixed point into another body of water.

(c) A legal right permitting the use of a flow of a stream (especially of one flowing through one’s land) or the receipt of water discharged upon land belonging to another.

The addition of water to ground water by natural or artificial processes.

The infiltration and movement of surface water into the soil, past the vegetation root zone, to the zone of saturation or water table.

Natural vegetation and vegetative technologies in urban settings such as: urban forests; green roofs; green walls; green spaces; rain gardens; bioswales; community gardens; natural and engineered wetlands and stormwater management ponds; and porous pavement systems. These systems are designed to provide multiple benefits, such as moderate temperatures, clean air and water, and improve aesthetics.

Refers to the conditions in which an organism lives and survives or the conditions in which an organism resides. These conditions can be described as aspects of a “physical”, “social” or an “economic” environment, depending on the perspective perceived by the observer.