Hamilton's old combined network of sewage and stormwater pipes is vulnerable to torrential downpours.

This is why shoring up the necessary infrastructure, including hundreds of millions in upgrades to the Woodward Avenue treatment plant, needs a solid funding source.

To that end, the city is exploring a dedicated stormwater tax based on how much hard surface properties have. Think parking lots.

"It's those hard surfaces that have the biggest impact on our stormwater system," water director Andrew Grice told councillors during a recent meeting at city hall.

Guelph, Ottawa, Mississauga, Newmarket, London and Kitchener already have stormwater regimes.

Locally, a potential system - based on the permeability and size of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional properties - has been debated more than once.

City staff have again put the idea before councillors.

With the average urban residential customer paying $7.50 a month, the bulk of the burden would shift to those with larger hard surfaces.

For instance, the owner of a large commercial lot (more than 0.22 hectares) would pay $200 a month. One with a large industrial lot (more than 1.56 hectares) would pay $1,400.

As it stands, the city's stormwater infrastructure is funded through a variety of streams: wastewater rates, development charges, direct developer contributions and property taxes.

Most comes from revenue that's based on how much drinking water ratepayers consume. But this is problematic, a recent staff report noted.

"Approximately 3,300 accounts ... such as parking lots, do not have a wastewater connection and therefore do not contribute to the stormwater program through their rates," a recent report notes.

"Furthermore, there are properties such as large commercial plazas where the volume of water consumption is not proportional to the stormwater services they receive."

Also, with water consumption dipping over the past 10 years, sewage and stormwater needs are "competing for limited funds."

That and more frequent storms are hitting the funding model with a tricky one-two punch.

Environment Hamilton has campaigned for a dedicated stormwater fee for some time, executive director Lynda Lukasik told The Spectator.

"We always point to the massive parking lot as the classic example - like the downtown parking lot, completely paved, no structure on the site."

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Hamilton needs a "fair approach," Lukasik said. "But what we're also really pushing for is this notion of incentivizing positive action."

Municipalities can offer breaks for disconnecting downspouts, using rain barrels, planting trees or making driveways pervious, she noted.

There is some support on council for a stormwater rate.

"How we treat our stormwater, the way it's funded, has a direct impact on our residents," Coun. John-Paul Danko said at last week's general issues committee meeting.

Just who should pay is a subject of debate.

Coun. Arlene VanderBeek, who represents Dundas, argued rural residents and those with homes connected to separated sewers could be unfairly dinged.

Effluent from the older combined sewer system - mostly the inner lower city - winds up in large tanks that at times discharge into watercourses. "We're not contributing to that," VanderBeek said.

Grice said staff will report back in 2020 with more details.

tmoro@thespec.com

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