volume 1 - Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax Water Integrated Resource Plan
Executive Summary
ES 5.2.3
screening of overflow discharges, a number of wet weather flow (I/I) reduction projects,
as well as the overflow monitoring program.
Future versions of the WSER or emerging NSE regulations may well require additional
controls beyond the offset of growth impacts. Accordingly, Halifax Water recognizes the
need to plan for this possible if not probable future and has included an Enhanced
Overflow Control Program in the IRP.
Stormwater Regulatory Compliance
The main regulatory compliance concerns related to stormwater runoff are the impacts
on receiving water quality and the impacts related to flow volumes and velocity (i.e.
flooding and erosion). The Regional Municipal Planning Strategy 4 commits HRM to
preparing a Regional Stormwater Functional Plan (RSWFP), which among other aspects
should address these issues. Halifax Water will actively participate in HRM's
development of the RSWFP. Currently HRM has a by-law 5 that restricts what can be
discharged into the wastewater and stormwater sewers.
Asset Renewal
Halifax Water currently delivers an annual asset renewal program that rehabilitates or
replaces aging infrastructure. Asset renewal is important to avoid system failures and
maintain levels of service. Based on this program the Five-Year Capital Plan identifies
prioritized annual asset renewal projects. As well, Halifax Water in 2011 finalized the
Asset Management Assessment (AMA) Program 6 . The AMA provides Halifax Water a
“roadmap” for the implementation of a future comprehensive asset renewal program.
Full implementation of the AMA will require a number of years, during which time the
current program will continue.
Based on the review of available asset data undertaken in the IRP, it was clear that there
were significant limitations on asset condition data with water system linear assets
having the most recorded information and wastewater and stormwater linear assets
having little or no recorded condition data. A methodology based on the available asset
age data was therefore developed through the IRP to estimate asset renewal needs.
4 Regional Municipal Planning Strategy 2006, Amended May 2010, Halifax Regional
Municipality, 2010
5 Halifax Regional Municipality By-Law W-101 Respecting Discharge into Public Sewers
(Wastewater Discharge By-Law),Halifax Regional Municipality, June 2001
6 Asset Management Assessment (AMA) Project, Halifax Water, June 2011
Revision: 2012-10-29 Integrated Resource Plan – Executive Summary ES-9
October 31 2012 Page 11 of 272