In the wake of September's record rainfall event that flooded thousands of basements in Windsor-Essex, the Essex Region Conservation Authority is out with some recommendations.
They include different design standards for new subdivisions, a more reliable regional weather network and modified flood standards.
ERCA's Director of Watershed Management, Tim Byrne, says all levels of government need to be on board. "We have to try to get ahead of what we are observing right now. To sit back and wait we are going to see more damage occur. So we have to be more responsive and reactive in our planning processes and, I think, now regional and provincially and even federally the push is towards that."
The Essex Region Conservation Authority meets November 10, 2016 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
"As the climate changes, so must our response" says Byrne. "Developers should be trying to mimic nature rather than installing more piping. Man thinks that we're smarter than Mother Nature and we're going to catch it and direct it and keep everybody dry. Well you're not going to. You're not going to in a changing climate. Development now is different than what used to take place. We're having more hardened areas. Patios, concrete areas."
According to ERCA, more than 8 inches of rain fell is less than 8 hours on September 29th, easily exceeding the design standards used by most municipalities.