The Regional District of Nanaimo is developing a regional strategy for rainwater management and invites the public to provide feedback.
Residents can provide responses to the draft recommendations via a survey through the end of January, submit questions online and register for an virtual open house on Jan. 25 by visiting http://getinvolved.rdn.ca/rainwater-management-strategy.
The collaborative effort to develop the strategy is focused on the management of rain to protect the health of watersheds in the region and to maintain a natural water balance. Strategies to achieve this include rainwater harvesting, minimizing paved or impermeable surfaces, protecting water quality, mitigating flooding and enhancing climate resilience.
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Although often referred to as stormwater management, rainwater management is more broadly focused on managing all rain events, not just storms, noted an RDN press release. Effective rainwater management considers actions and outcomes at multiple scales, including at the watershed, community and site levels, the release added.
The strategy is a regulatory commitment under the RDN’s provincially mandated liquid waste management plan. The RDN’s drinking water and watershed protection program provides the structure to implement the strategy.
The virtual open house takes place Jan. 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom. RDN staff members and guest speakers will be presenting materials and leading discussions the public can participate in. The session will be drop-in style with a presentation at 4 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. Discussions will follow each presentation.