Stormwater Management

Stormwater management in Richmond Hill involves operating more than 95 stormwater ponds, 550 km of storm sewers and 18,000 catch basins to store, direct and control stormwater runoff. These efforts protect our community's more than 150 km of streams and rivers, prevents flooding and erosion, and improves water quality.

Visit our Stormwater Management Rate FAQs page for information about changes to Richmond Hill's stormwater management rate.

Learn about Richmond Hill's stormwater management.

What is stormwater runoff and why manage it?

Erosion near Elgin Mills Greenway Trail

Runoff comes from rain and melting snow running off of surfaces, especially hard surfaces such as driveways and parking lots, and across all land within a watershed, including compacted soils and manicured lawns. As water runs off, it picks up and carries pollutants such as litter, animal waste, sediment, pesticides, motor oil and other chemicals into our streams and rivers.

In a more naturalized setting such as a forest or wetland area, runoff is typically reduced as more water will either absorb into the soil or plants, or evaporate from areas of open waters, eventually making its way into our streams, rivers and lakes slowly over time.

An increase in hard surfaces is causing more runoff to enter our streams, rivers and lakes at an increased rate. Without stormwater management, runoff can flood communities and roads, cause stream erosion and destroy aquatic habitat. Managing this runoff prevents flooding, erosion and improves water quality.

Photo (right): Elgin Mills Greenway, where uncontrolled runoff caused significant erosion within the valleylands and the closure of several trails.

How does a stormwater management facility work?

Runoff enters storm sewers and flows into stormwater management ponds, where it is held before being slowly released into streams, rivers and lakes thereby helping to prevent flooding and erosion. In addition, this process allows sediment and other pollutants to settle to the bottom of the pond increasing the quality of the water being released into our watercourses.

Our more modern stormwater management facilities, such as Pioneer Pond and Rumble Pond have additional controls such as oil grit separators and filtration systems that clean the stormwater runoff before it enters the pond. Native plants and special landscaping materials also help to manage pollution and runoff at these facilities.

Our stormwater management systems

Aerial photo of Rumble Pond Our stormwater management systems must meet guidelines and regulations set by authorities, such as the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).

Ensuring safe and reliable stormwater service is a core municipal responsibility, as such the City is moving towards a comprehensive modelling of the complete stormwater system. Our goal is to gain an understanding of the overall system capacity and constraints, and direction with respect to optimizing the existing system for today and in consideration of climate change, as well as the capacity to model various scenarios when new development is added to the system. The project is expected to be completed in 2023.

A number of the projects from our existing program, including the Pioneer Park Stormwater Management Facility in 2010, the Rumble Pond (pictured above) in 2014 and the Elgin Mills Greenway in 2018, have earned us Provincial and international awards.

Current Projects

Rothbury East Pond (16-14) Rehabilitation
Location: East of Rothbury Road, north of Brookside Road
Status: Tender Preparation Phase

Orchard Pond (19-4) Sediment Removal
Location: North of Herbert Watford Avenue, south of Jonagold Court
Status: Construction Phase

Solmar Pond (15-5) Sediment Removal
Location: South of Linda Margaret Crescent
Status: Construction Phase

Redstone Pond (19-6) Sediment Removal
Location: North of Redstone Road
Status: Tender Preparation Phase

Coco Pond (19-9) Sediment Removal
Location: East of Shirley Drive, south of Coco Avenue, west of Holly Drive
Status: Tender Preparation Phase

Heron Pond (19-1) Sediment Removal
Location: Cassata Avenue and Frank Endean Road
Status: Tender Preparation Phase

County Heights (11-2) Sediment Removal
Location: South of Country Heights Drive
Status: Tender Preparation Phase

Addison Street Drainage Study
Location: May Avenue to Yongehurst Road
Status: Study Phase

Coons and Cynthia Drainage Study
Location: Coon’s Road (Aubrietia Court to Yonge Street), Cynthia Crescent, Black Willow Court, Cheval Court, Beaufort Hills Road, Country Court
Status: Study Phase

Elm Grove Drainage Study
Location: Elm Grove Avenue, Gallacher Avenue, Blyth Street
Status: Study Phase

Snively Wetland Outlet Rehabilitation
Location: Snively Wetland, south of Bloomington Road, west of Bayview Avenue
Status: Study Phase

GM1 Valleyland Rehabilitation
Location: Doncrest Valley, north of Highway 7 and east of Bayview Avenue
Status: Construction Warranty Phase

Lennox Park Valleyland Rehabilitation
Location: Lennox Park, south of Palmer Avenue
Status: Study Phase

Don Head East Valleyland Rehabilitation
Location: North Richvale Greenway, south of Major Mackenzie Drive West, east of Harding Boulevard West
Status: Construction Phase

South Richvale Sewer Protection

Location: South Richvale Greenway, south of Carrville Road
Status: Construction Phase

Toporowski Stream Valleyland Rehabilitation
Location: Rouge River Headwaters Valley, south of Elgin Mills Road East, north of Redstone Road
Status: Study Phase

Pomona Creek / Garden Avenue Valleyland Rehabilitation
Location: Pomona Creek, south of Garden Avenue, west of Yonge Street
Status: Construction Phase

Lake Wilcox Management Plan Update
Location: Lake Wilcox
Status: Study Phase

Valleyland Rehabilitation Master Plan
Location: Various Locations
Status: Study Phase

Recently Completed Projects

Mill Pond and Heritage Estates Pond Rehabilitation
Location: Mill Pond Park, north of Mill Street, east of Bathurst Street
Status: Detailed Design Phase

Unity Park Drainage Channel Enclosure
Location: Unity Park, south of Centre Street, east of Pugsley Avenue
Status: Detailed Design Phase

Newman Pond (SWMF 2-11) Rehabilitation
Location: North of Newman Avenue, west of Bayview Avenue
Status: Detailed Design Phase

Driftwood Pond (SWMF 8-2) Rehabilitation
Location: North and east of Timber Valley Avenue
Status: Detailed Design Phase

Humber Flats Pond (SWMF 1-4) Rehabilitation
Location: Humber Flats Ecopark, south of Bloomington Road, east of Bathurst Street
Status: Detailed Design Phase

Schomberg Road Culvert Environmental Assessment
Location: East Humber River crossings at Schomberg Road, north of King Road
Status: Detailed Design Phase

Verdi Pond (SWMF 1-1) Sediment Removal
Location: East of Verdi Road, north of Vitlor Drive
Status: Completed in 2025

Beaver Woodland Pond (SWMF 27-2) Rehabilitation
Location: Beaver Woodland, north of Highway 7 and West of West Beaver Creek Road
Status: Completed in 2024

Rothbury West Pond (SWMF 16-11) Sediment Removal
Location: West of Rothbury Road, east of Laredo Drive
Status: Completed in 2024

Cedar Springs Pond (SWMF 16-8) Sediment Removal
Location: North of Brookside Road, east of Cedar Springs Drive
Status: Completed in 2023

Snively Plunge Pool (PP2-1) Sediment Removal
Location: West of the Worthington Avenue and Snively Street intersection
Status: Completed in 2023

Twickenham Pond (SWMF 16-4) Rehabilitation
Location: North of Canyon Hill Drive, west of Larrat Lane
Status: Completed in 2023

Mitchell Pond (SWMF 8-3) Rehabilitation
Location: North of Estate Garden Drive, west of Yonge Street
Status: Completed in 2022

Beaufort Hills Pond (SWMF 2-4) Feasibility Study
Location: North of Worthington Avenue, east of Yonge Street
Status: Completed in 2022

Wellsprings Pond (SWMF 8-5) Sediment Removal
Location: South of King Rd, southwest of Charles Connor Room (39 King Road)
Status: Completed in 2021

Help reduce and improve your runoff

You can help Richmond Hill reduce the amount of runoff getting into our streams. Some ways to lower and improve your runoff footprint include:

Using a carwash instead of washing your car in your driveway
Cleaning up animal waste and yard waste
Using less fertilizer
Fixing leaking fluids from your car
Using rain barrels to catch roof runoff and using it to water your garden or lawn
Disconnecting your roof downspout if it's connected to a storm sewer and redirecting it to your lawn
Reducing your use of salt or sand in the winter
Getting rid of household hazardous waste properly
Choosing native plants that don't require as much watering
Checking your sprinklers for leaks
Following local rules for lawn watering

Service Charter

Learn more about our Service Charter.

Service Commitments

Stormwater or valley land inquiry. You will hear from us within 2 business days and residents will be kept updated as to the status as the investigation proceeds.

City Hall
123 Conestoga Drive
Glasgow G1 5QH

111-222-3333
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