Peeling back the Pavement - POLIS Water Sustainability Project

Illustrations: L. Carnes
Transitioning from a Stormwater City to a Rainwater City is possible using building practices
that focus on a new kind of infrastructure that embeds a “build with nature” philosophy.
Governance reform is never easy. It requires legislation, policies, programs, and most
importantly attitudes and behaviour to change. For stormwater management to
become rainwater management, governance reform will need to start with building
practices that focus on a new kind of infrastructure that embeds a “build with
nature” philosophy. Local governments already have access to some of the key tools
needed to make the Rainwater City a reality. Zoning bylaws are among the most powerful
tools municipalities have to regulate rainwater through land use. These bylaws
can be used to determine density, as well as the location, size, and types of structures
that can be built in a community. Bylaws can be used to protect riparian areas by
prohibiting discharge of contaminants and preventing an increase in runoff flow.
In addition to bylaws, local governments can establish green development standards
that encourage or impose requirements on land-use planning to ensure
rainwater is collected and reused on site. For example, the City of Chicago provides
grants, waives fees, and expedites permitting processes if a green roof is included
in a building plan. It also allows density bonuses (which permit the construction of
more units) for plans incorporating green roofs. 19 Development approvals can also
include conditions that require the provision of green housing units that have no
net impact on the quality and quantity of runoff, or that use rainwater as a source
for non-potable uses. Many places across Canada, including the cities of Victoria,
Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto, are already using some of these approaches.
It is critical to recognize that in Canada local governments already have a
significant degree of autonomy to manage rainwater effectively. This means a city
can choose to grow sustainably, or not.
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