Introduction
With a population of 88,000 and projected growth to 141,000 by 2051, the City's water and wastewater infrastructure faces water and wastewater management challenges. The current infrastructure includes combined sewers, stormwater management facilities, and a water distribution network. The City aims to improve its water and wastewater systems' efficiency, sustainability, and environmental impact to support future growth and mitigate flooding and overflows. To address these concerns and support the City's long-term growth, a comprehensive plan is needed to improve and sustain the water and wastewater infrastructure.
Objective
The primary objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive plan to enhance the water and wastewater infrastructure in the City of Niagara Falls. The plan will address challenges such as combined sewers, stormwater management, water distribution, and operational practices. The goal is to improve service levels, support long-term growth, and minimize environmental impacts.
Key Actions of the Master Servicing Plan
- Infrastructure Assessment: Conduct a detailed assessment of the existing water and wastewater infrastructure, including combined sewers, stormwater management facilities, and the water distribution network. Identify areas of improvement, vulnerabilities, and environmental concerns associated with overflows and flooding.
- Risk-Based Action Plan: Develop a risk-based, prioritized action plan that outlines specific measures to address infrastructure challenges. This plan will include recommendations for upgrading, expanding, or replacing critical components of the water and wastewater systems. It will also consider optimizing storage facilities and operational practices to reduce discharges and protect against basement flooding.
- Capital Forecast: Prepare a multi-year capital forecast that aligns with the action plan. This forecast will estimate the financial resources required to implement the proposed infrastructure improvements over the next decade. It will support long-term planning, budgeting, and the update of development charge by-laws.
- Environmental Mitigation: Incorporate strategies and technologies to mitigate the environmental impacts of overflows and discharges into creeks, rivers, and other waterways. The plan will explore pollution prevention measures, best practices for wastewater treatment, and the implementation of green infrastructure solutions for stormwater management.
- Compliance and Reporting: Ensure that the action plan and capital forecast align with the City's Asset Management Plan for Core Assets (AMP) and relevant policies. Adhere to regulatory requirements, Ministry of the Environment guidelines, and reporting obligations. The project will also consider engineering guidelines, City policies and by-laws, and other control documents.
Expected Outcomes of the Master Servicing Plan
- Improved Infrastructure: The project will result in upgraded water and wastewater infrastructure to accommodate the City's growing population and support sustainable development. This will enhance service delivery, reduce system overflows, and minimize the risk of basement flooding.
- Environmental Protection: By reducing combined sewer overflows and improving stormwater management, the project will contribute to the protection of creeks, rivers, and other waterways, preserving water quality and ecosystem health.
- Long-term Sustainability: The risk-based action plan and capital forecast will provide a roadmap for the City to effectively manage and maintain its water and wastewater infrastructure over the long term.
Engagement Opportunities
Public Information Centre No. 2 (Notice of PIC No. 2)
A Public Information Centre is planned for December 12, 2024. Please visit the event page for more details.
Public Information Centre No. 1 (Notice of PIC #1)
Thank you to those who attended the MSP, TMP, and Active Transportation Master Plan's first Public Information Centre on December 14, 2023, at the MacBain Community Centre. If you weren't able to attend the information meeting, a copy of the project storyboards is accessible here.
Please use the comment section of this page to provide any feedback you have on the storyboards, including any questions you may have about the planning process and the MSP.
Thank you!
Questions & Comments
Increase Infrastructure Sanitary & Storm Sewer, Water Budget (critical needs) Spend majority Casino Monies on critical Infrastructure Improvements for Roads, Sanitary Sewers, Storm Sewer Separation, Cast iron pipe water main pipe replacement Decrease spending on Transit, Parks, Pools and Recreation facilities and city fleet Budgets (wants)
Hi Marky and thank you for your comment regarding the City's Master Servicing Plan for water, sanitary, storm.
The MSP study will identify critical water, sanitary, and stormwater infrastructure expansions and upgrades required to service growth to the 2051 planning horizon including project scope and cost estimating. Eligible projects will be included and considered as part of the City's Development Charges Background study for inclusion in the City's 2024 DC By-Law update.
The City also has an Asset Management plan complete for core infrastructure which identifies how much the City should be investing annually. Once the MSP has been finalized the City will have a 10-year comprehensive plan to address critical infrastructure needs from both a Stage of Good Repair and Growth prospective. The 10-Year comprehensive plan will be used to develop a long-range financial forecast ensuring the the right money is spent at the right time on the right assets.
If you're interesting in reviewing the Asset Management Plan it can be found on the City's website here https://niagarafalls.ca/city-hall/municipal-works/asset-management.aspx
Thanks again,
T.Gudgeon, Senior Manager of Asset Management and MSP project lead
Municipal Works Department
The City hasn't updated the Niagara Falls Official Plan to conform with the recent Niagara Region Official Plan. This is a requirement of the Region's Official Plan and the Ontario Planning Act and is necessary to provide more detailed policy direction for land use designations, growth objectives, resource protection and development strategies. In this regard, the Master Servicing Plan would be premature and can't be formally approved at this time. Please provide your comments and advise on the status of the City's Official Plan.
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the City's Official Plan.
The City is in the initial stages of creating a New Official Plan to replace the current 1992 Official Plan. Through this process conformity with the Region’s Official Plan (2022) will be integrated with specific local policies in our Official Plan, as will conformity with Provincial Plans and consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). Master plans for water, wastewater and transportation contribute to the preparation of a new Official Plan – when the documents are prepared simultaneously, alternatives can be assessed taking into account land use and servicing issues while addressing a preferred alternative which minimizes, to the extent possible, the impact on the community, natural environment and the economy. Often the range of alternatives that can be assessed for servicing are greater because the land use plan has not been finalized.
The Provincial Government has recently proposed changes to their Growth Plan and PPS and has introduced a number of changes to the Planning Act over the last year. One of the changes proposed is the removal of the Planning function from the Region of Niagara. Once this occurs, the Niagara Official Plan, approved by the Province of Ontario in November 2022, effectively becomes the City’s Official Plan. The Province has not prescribed a date, other than ‘no sooner than January 2024’, for the removal of the Planning function from the Region, therefore the current practice of decisions which involves the review of conformity with the Region’s Official Plan will continue until such time.
Is the any way the city could do something to mitigate the smell of human waste that comes from the wastewater treatment facility? For a large part of the year our neighbourhoods literally smell like an outhouse. If we’re paying taxes like everyone else, why should we be subjected to the smell of feces when we step outside our homes?
Good afternoon and thank you for your inquiry.
In the City of Niagara Falls water and wastewater treatment is operated and managed by the Region of Niagara. Water and wastewater service delivery inquires should be directed to the Region at the following phone numbers:
- 905-980-6000
- After hours, call 905-984-3690 or 1-877-552-5579
More information about the Region's wastewater treatment service delivery can be found at https://www.niagararegion.ca/water_wastewater/default
Thank you,
The Master Servicing Plan project Team
