Stormwater Management Ponds
What is a stormwater management pond?
Stormwater management ponds are designed to collect runoff from:
- Rainfall
- Snow and ice melt
- Activities such as washing cars or watering lawns
Stormwater management ponds are designed to:
- temporarily hold runoff water
- provide treatment to remove pollutants
- slowly release the water back into the natural waterway.
The slow release of water prevents flooding and erosion further downstream.
Public access is prohibited
Public access to stormwater management ponds is prohibited due to unsafe conditions such as:
- Dramatic changes in water level during and after rainfall or snowmelt
- Sudden drop-offs
- Subsurface currents
- Retained contaminants
- Risk of entanglement with vegetation or debris
- Unsafe ice
Is it safe to play in stormwater management ponds?
Never play in or around a stormwater management pond. The ponds are not intended for recreational use.
- Water levels may change rapidly—for your safety, do not enter the pond.
- Stormwater ponds are designed to retain contaminants.
- Stormwater management ponds are never safe for skating. Ice conditions can change quickly and without warning. Winter runoff, including salt and sand from roads, driveways, and sidewalks, enters under the ice surfaces, causing the ice to thin.
Wildlife habitats
Stormwater management ponds can also serve as wildlife habitats. Feeding wildlife is prohibited in these areas.
Feeding wildlife can encourage animals to become bolder or likely to approach humans. It can discourage animals from foraging for natural food sources and make spreading diseases easier.
Why is the grass so long?
Long grasses act as a natural filter that helps improve water quality. Stormwater management ponds are not maintained as parks because they are essential infrastructure that help clean runoff water and prevent erosion and flooding.
My property backs on to a stormwater management pond. Can I use the space for storage or to build a garden?
Never build or store items beyond the boundaries of your property. Stormwater management ponds are used to protect our community during significant rainfall events. Placing any item in the area can cause a blockage and lead to flooding during a large storm.
How can I help?
- Install a rain barrel.
- Direct downspouts into your lawn, not the road or sidewalk.
- Minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
- Avoid excess salting.
- Dispose of waste, including compost, yard waste, pet waste, and garbage on your scheduled waste pick up days. Never dump waste into the stormwater management pond or surrounding area.
- Dispose of hazardous waste at designated disposal sites.
- Never release pets into the wild.
- Keep catch basins clear.
Contact Us
Address: 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6
Phone: 905-623-3379
TTY: 1-844-790-1599
