- Rain gardens
- Rainwater collection and storage systems
- Bioswales and dry swales
- Soakaway pits
- Infiltration trenches
- Enhanced Grass Swales
- Perforated Pipe Systems
- Permeable paving (driveways, sidewalks, paths and/or patios)
- Green roofs
- and other Low Impact Development designs
If you choose to construct your own project, the project is on your own time, like any other DIY home improvement project. You cannot expense your own labour.
If you or a family member have a registered business that does landscaping, hardscaping, or building and has the appropriate skill set to build an LID feature, the business can charge for their services. All work done by contractors must include detailed receipts. The quote must be pre-approved by Green Venture if you or a family member are building the LID project.
The Rebate program offers one-on-one in-person and virtual coaching sessions. Our LID landscape experts will work with you once your application is submitted and pre-approved to make sure your application is complete and your designs are ready for implementation.
As a renter, you can still apply. You need a signed letter from the homeowner stating that they understand the program, your intended project and gives permission to complete the project. Whoever purchases the materials and hires the contractors will receive the rebate. Only one rebate per property. If landlords would like to apply for their properties, their tenants must be the applicants and project leads.
A rain garden is a garden designed to capture water and allow it to infiltrate into the ground. Some rain gardens are constructed to infiltrate water runoff from roof downspouts—these enable you to disconnect your roof downspout from the city storm water system and utilize that water in your own yard. Others help to deal with pooling in yards by redirecting the water into an area of good infiltration. Rain gardens are not meant to contain standing water—they should drain within 24-48 hours of a large rainfall.
Stormwater runoff is from rain or snow melting that either gets absorbed or flows over hard surfaces and into sewers, lakes, and streams. Pollutants such as chemicals, pet waste, litter and fertilizer can end up in our waterways through runoff. Larger storms due to climate change also cause higher volumes of water to run through our systems.
No, the Rebate does not reduce the stormwater fee you will pay.
After the new stormwater fee comes into effect, part of water utility fees representing wastewater will be reduced, minimizing the overall increase in fees for property owners. Therefore, property owners will see only a few percentage point increase on their bill.