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Research Project Joksimovic

Sewer Drain

Innovative Project Delivery for Low Impact Development (LID) Stormwater Management Practices

PI: Dr. Darko Joksimovic (opens in new window) 
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
Toronto Metropolitan University 

The focus of stormwater management in urban areas has shifted in recent years to control the runoff at or near the source through techniques that provide increased capture, infiltration, evaporation and filtering.  The implementation of these techniques, referred to as Low Impact Development (LID), in new land developments has presented challenges to the conventional project delivery process as the planning and design guidance, regulations, roles and responsibilities, and design, construction and operating experience is still developing in the Greater Toronto Area.  As an alternative to the traditional delivery method for LID stormwater techniques, a number of different models have been implemented in other areas of urban water service, involving public-private partnerships (PPP).  PPPs offer potential solutions: efficiencies and consistencies in the LID design and construction, cost savings, aiding the approvals process, risk allocation among various stakeholders, and clear and accountable maintenance of LID installations in the long term. The objective of this project is to draw from the alternative project delivery modes and experiences in drinking water and wastewater sectors and other infrastructure industry, identify potential alternative models for LID stormwater management and evaluate the opinions of relevant stakeholders towards proposed alternatives.  Following a literature review that will investigate PPP approaches as well as issues of cost and benefit of LIDs and conventional end of pipe approaches, alternatives models will be proposed and evaluated through a comprehensive survey and interview process with various stakeholders (government agencies, technology developers, providers and distributors, builders, consultants engaged in stormwater management planning and design, relevant contractors, and private property owners, landlords and residents). The project outcomes are expected to inform private and public stakeholders and recommend alternative approaches leading towards increased implementation of LIDs in land developments.