Changes

[[File:Credit_River_Concept.jpg|thumb|A conceptual image depicting a Lake Ontario watershed demonstrates that the watershed scale reveals the connections between different water management activities, and their reliance on shared water resources. The figure depicts a scenario where storm sewers discharge directly to streams and lakes without treatment, and areas where ponds treat stormwater prior to discharge. The figure shows drinking water sourced from groundwater, riverine and lake sources, as well as a pipeline to transport the water to upper reaches within the watershed. Lastly, river-based and lake-based wastewater discharge – including from combined sewers – is also shown. (Source: CVC).]]

[[File:Credit_River_Concept.jpg|thumb|A conceptual image depicting a Lake Ontario watershed demonstrates that the watershed scale reveals the connections between different water management activities, and their reliance on shared water resources. The figure depicts a scenario where storm sewers discharge directly to streams and lakes without treatment, and areas where ponds treat stormwater prior to discharge. The figure shows drinking water sourced from groundwater, riverine and lake sources, as well as a pipeline to transport the water to upper reaches within the watershed. Lastly, river-based and lake-based wastewater discharge – including from combined sewers – is also shown. (Source: CVC).]]

As noted in previous section, the watershed scale is an appropriate spatial scale for many water infrastructure and water management decisions, as it is a functional response unit. While working to employ the precepts of the One Water approach within a municipal water planning framework, it is helpful to start with the watershed as a foundational perspective. The watershed perspective reveals the complex, manifold ways in which water systems – natural and built – are connected. Understanding these layers, how they are linked, and how a watershed functions will support cost-effective, holistic municipal water and land management. It will also make clear many types of levels of risk which otherwise may not have been revealed. For example, a rainfall event might lead to contaminated stormwater runoff draining to drinking water supply intake locations. A watershed approach not only encourages the identification of these types of risks, but also makes it easier to determine potential solutions to mitigate problems. Efforts to minimize risk can encourage municipalities to work together on integrated planning and management solutions, since watersheds cross political boundaries.

As noted in previous section, the watershed scale is an appropriate spatial scale for many water infrastructure and water management decisions, as it is a functional response unit. While working to employ the precepts of the One Water approach within a municipal water planning framework, it is helpful to start with the watershed as a foundational perspective. The watershed perspective reveals the complex, manifold ways in which water systems – natural and built – are connected. Understanding these layers, how they are linked, and how a watershed functions will support cost-effective, holistic municipal water and land management. It will also make clear many types of levels of risk which otherwise may not have been revealed. For example, a rainfall event might lead to contaminated stormwater runoff draining to drinking water supply intake locations. A watershed approach not only encourages the identification of these types of risks, but also makes it easier to determine potential solutions to mitigate problems. Efforts to minimize risk can encourage municipalities to work together on integrated planning and management solutions, since watersheds cross political boundaries.

== Phased Approaches to Implementing an Integrated Water Management Strategy ==

==Phased implementation==

The purpose of this section of the wiki guide is to provide direction on how to follow a phased approach to completing a water sustainability plan. It is a tool that water managers can use to streamline planning efforts, reduce costs, and coordinate decisions and management tasks relating to water infrastructure. This section also includes suggestions on how to expand upon existing information to fill data gaps within a given study area. It will also provide linkages to – and build upon - many external resources produced by the STEP partners that give further guidance and consideration to matters which impinge upon sustainable planning and the One Water approach, including matters pertaining to climate change, asset management, risk assessment and more. To ensure that we are making informed water management decisions and developing only the most prudent stormwater designs it is critical that we accept and embrace the intrinsically interconnected nature of water resources in Ontario.

The purpose of this section of the wiki guide is to provide direction on how to follow a phased approach to completing a water sustainability plan. It is a tool that water managers can use to streamline planning efforts, reduce costs, and coordinate decisions and management tasks relating to water infrastructure. This section also includes suggestions on how to expand upon existing information to fill data gaps within a given study area. It will also provide linkages to – and build upon - many external resources produced by the STEP partners that give further guidance and consideration to matters which impinge upon sustainable planning and the One Water approach, including matters pertaining to [[climate change]], [[asset management]], risk assessment and more. To ensure that we are making informed water management decisions and developing only the most prudent stormwater designs it is critical that we accept and embrace the intrinsically interconnected nature of water resources in Ontario.