| Summary: | As riparian and aquatic areas experience continued degradation from the pressures of human
development, there is an increasing realization by watershed managers that measures must be
taken to restore the urban hydrological cycle. Voluntary stormwater management and water
conservation practices, such as those advocated by the Engineering Services Department (ESD)
in Vancouver, British Columbia, provided an opportunity for homeowners to participate in the
management of their water resources. Unfortunately, due to a number of unknown factors, the
stormwater pilots in this city failed to receive the widespread adoption that was required for their
subsequent expansion.
To inform the design of an integrated water management program that is capable of attracting a
sufficient number of participants, a program evaluation framework was developed to assess the
Downspout Disconnection Pilot Project, the Perforated Sump Pilot Project and the Rain Barrel
Program in Vancouver, as well as the more popular Downspout Disconnection Program in
Toronto, Ontario. Interviews of government staff and program participants, as well as reviews of
theoretical and program literature, were used to understand the program variables that may have
contributed to the different rates of program uptake observed in each city.
The results of the evaluations have been used to inform the design and implementation of future
stormwater management initiatives in urban residential areas, as well as to recommend specific
areas of program improvement for the City of Vancouver. The specific areas of program
improvement identified include: i) dedication of adequate program resources, ii) implementation
of complementary policies, iii) exploitation of opportunities for interdepartmental collaboration,
iv) innovative program promotion, v) facilitation of homeowner participation, and finally, vi)
monitoring of program performance over time and adoption of change. Through the design and
implementation of an integrated water management program, the City of Vancouver would be
able to demonstrate a commitment to innovative problem mitigation and environmental
leadership, while helping to limit the impacts of urban (residential) runoff on the quality of its
receiving waters. === Applied Science, Faculty of === Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of === Graduate
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