volume 1 - Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax Water Integrated Resource Plan
IRP Planning Context and Levels of Service
3.2.2 Halifax Water
Responsibilities and Mandate
Halifax Water has a long and justifiably proud history. It was formally created on January
1, 1945 as the Public Service Commission to operate and manage the City of Halifax
water utility. It was renamed in 1987 as the Halifax Water Commission. As a result of
amalgamation in 1996, the Dartmouth and Halifax County water utilities were merged
with Halifax Water Commission creating the Halifax Regional Water Commission. On
August 1, 2007, the Commission expanded its mandate with the transfer of the Halifax
Regional Municipality’s wastewater and stormwater assets. This transfer created the
first regulated water, wastewater and stormwater utility in Canada.
The principle underlying this decision was to create an integrated approach to the
management of water. The boundaries and municipal entities in HRM are presented in
Volume 1 Appendix D, which contains the maps for this report.
Halifax Water presently operates and manages all elements of the water and
wastewater system but only specific portions of the stormwater system.
Halifax Water is responsible for operating and maintaining existing stormwater
infrastructure located within the street right-of-way (ROW) or easements owned by
Halifax Water. New stormwater infrastructure designed according to Halifax Water
standards and developed as a result of growth, becomes part of the stormwater asset
base of Halifax Water. However, overall stormwater planning and management remain
the joint responsibility of the province (through NSE), HRM, and Halifax Water. In detail,
Halifax Water is responsible for the pipes and ditches in the street right-of-way (ROW),
and public easements. HRM is responsible for the overland flows (during major storms),
lot grading, and private property drainage. Watercourses, wetlands, and lakes are the
jurisdiction of Nova Scotia Environment. Halifax Water comments on any of the
proposed infrastructure that will become Halifax Water’s responsibility. Halifax Water,
as a stakeholder, provides input into stormwater decisions and infrastructure owned by
others that may impact the stormwater infrastructure owned by Halifax Water. Halifax
Water also participates in revising stormwater specifications. Figure 3.1 graphically
illustrates the areas of stormwater responsibility.
Revision: 2012-10-29 Integrated Resource Plan 10
October 31 2012 Page 43 of 272