In urban areas, rainfall and melted snow travel quickly over roofs, driveways and roads. Water runs off these surfaces, collects pollutants such as dirt, oil, fertilizer, grass clippings, pet waste, litter, etc. and carries them to our rivers and waterways. Learn about how you can protect the water source in the Town of Orangeville.

After storms, heavy rains or snow melts, water levels can rise and cause flooding. As a result, it is important to keep our stormwater system clear and in working order.

Help keep storm drains clear

Keeping storm drains and catch basins clear of leaves, dirt, litter and ice helps reduce the risk of our roads flooding during heavy rain and storms.

Storm drains and catch basins let rain and melted snow flow into our storm sewer system which drains into the nearest stormwater pond, creek, river or lake.

Stormwater runoff is not treated before flowing into local waterways – only rain should go down the storm drain.

Do not disrupt stormwater ponds

Stormwater management ponds may look like natural areas, but they're actually an important part of the Town's infrastructure. Stormwater management ponds collect melted snow or water runoff from storm sewers, and slowly release it into our waterways.

Please don't add or remove plants near stormwater ponds. Plants and long grass help ponds function properly. We remove debris and invasive plants regularly, without using pesticides. We also maintain gates, locks, valves, etc. and perform repairs and maintenance when necessary.

Resources

Review the following resources to learn more about how you can protect our stormwater system: