Shifting Stormwater Capacity

The safe and secure diversion of stormwater has been a challenge for communities, trying to increase the residential footprint of neighbourhoods without leaving their prone to flooding during extreme weather occurrences.

Above-ground, stormwater ponds have served as a resource for runoff, but their physical space can be a daunting challenge to overcome in high-density areas.

Steven van Haren, a Manager of Land Development and Water Resources for WSP, is working with developers in densely populated areas on opportunities for the safe storage of stormwater underground, creating more opportunities for increasing residential density. He provided his insight on how this can be utilized, in some circumstances, in an article for Water Canada magazine.