The City of Mississauga has won a Sustainable Communities Award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for its green approach to stormwater management.
“The Elm Drive retrofit is a first of its kind in Ontario,” said commissioner of Transportation and Works, Martin Powell. “The project gave us an excellent opportunity to lead change in our community. It’s a great example of partnership and commitment to environmental sustainability.”
The project included participation from the City of Mississauga, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), and the Peel District School Board. The city was responsible for the design and construction of the retrofit, in addition to long term maintenance; CVC is in charge of inspections, ongoing monitoring, and technical support; and the school board agreed to the use of the property.
“We used low impact development practices to complete the retrofit,” said Steve Barrett, manager of Transportation Asset Management. “That means, it soaks up stormwater runoff from the road and filters it as it passes through specially designed paving stones, soil, and plants. This improves the quality of the water and reduces the amount that enters storm sewers and the creek.”
The FCM Sustainability Awards recognize innovation and excellence in municipal sustainable development. The awards are presented in six categories: brownfields, energy, neighbourhood development, transportation, waste, and water.
