Stormwater is commonly understood as runoff, from rainfall or snowmelt events, that flows over land and constructed surfaces (e.g., roofs, parking lots and roads).
Stormwater flows into storm drains (e.g., grates on the sides of streets), other stormwater management infrastructure, or directly into waterways.
As water flows over land and constructed surfaces, it picks up pollutants, sediment and debris, including motor oil, road salt, sand, fertilizer and excrement.
The Government of Alberta and most municipalities have standards and guidelines in place to help ensure contaminants in stormwater are removed to an appropriate level prior to the water being discharged into a receiving river or lake.
To meet these standards and guidelines, urban areas are designed to include stormwater management features. Common design features include storm drains and pipes, stormwater ponds and wetlands, and other types of green infrastructure (e.g., bioswales, rain gardens and permeable pavement), which drain stormwater and slow runoff, helping to remove some of the contaminants.
Do not pour motor oil, paint, or other chemicals down any kind of drain (whether storm drains or sinks in your home). Dedicated hazardous waste facilities exist for materials like these.
Garbage, household greywater (residual water from washing yourself or your dishes/laundry) and sewage should not be put down storm drains.
Use care when applying fertilizer to your outdoor spaces. Consider using a drop spreader to keep fertilizer off driveways, sidewalks and roads, as this reduces how much fertilizer ends up in stormwater.
Where you can, remove impervious surfaces. In some places, impervious concrete and asphalt can be replaced with porous asphalt or permeable pavement. It may also be possible to change the design to reduce the area of paved surface.
Use Low Impact Development (LID) techniques in urban areas, as they can make a big difference to stormwater quality and quantity, as well as groundwater recharge.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.
