On December 12, 2024, City Council unanimously approved the Healthy Waters Plan at Wrenford City Hall. The plan sets out how the city will manage rainwater and sewage over the next several decades, helping to reduce flooding, improve water quality in the Tamsin River, and prepare for a changing climate.
The Healthy Waters Plan changes how you will experience rainwater and sewage management in Wrenford. Instead of sending all rainwater through underground pipes, the city will focus on keeping rain off the streets and soaking it into the ground. This shift will lower the cost of building new sewer tunnels for you and future residents, protect the Tamsin River and Wrenford Falls, and give the city more room to grow without overloading the system.
A big part of the plan is expanding green rainwater infrastructure. This means adding more parks, bioswales, and absorbent landscaping across Wrenford. These green spaces soak up rain, filter out pollutants, cool down neighbourhoods, and provide habitat for local wildlife. City staff have found that green infrastructure removes nearly all harmful sediment and chemicals from rainwater before it reaches the river.
“Wrenford is growing, and our ageing water system needs to keep up,” said Mayor Danielle Okafor-Price. “The Healthy Waters Plan is a practical, cost-effective way to protect our homes, upgrade our infrastructure, and keep the Tamsin River clean for future generations. It is about finding smarter solutions that work for every neighbourhood.”
Key directions in the approved plan include:
- Adopting a stronger approach to sewer separation, which moves rain and groundwater out of the sewage pipes faster to prevent backups.
- Expanding green spaces on city land to naturally clean and absorb stormwater.
- Updating development rules so new buildings capture rain on-site, reducing the risk of flooding and keeping the sewer system from getting too full.
Staff developed these recommendations after months of listening to you, residents from Riverside Flats, Benchlands, and other neighbourhoods, as well as Tamsin Valley Public Health and local environmental groups.
The plan will now move into the implementation phase. The City of Wrenford will work with engineers and contractors to begin pilot projects in high-risk flood areas and update local zoning rules to support green runoff solutions.
For more information on how the city manages water and wastewater, visit Water & Wastewater.