In response to the severe flooding that impacted Mississauga residents during the summer of 2024, City Council on September 25 approved several measures to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions to help lessen the effects of climate change.
Environment | September 26, 2024
In response to the severe flooding that impacted Mississauga residents during the summer of 2024, City Council approved several measures to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions to help lessen the effects of climate change.
Financial Relief
As part of its response, Council approved a Residential Compassionate Flood Relief Grant, which will offer a one-time payment of $1,000 to Mississauga residential property owners who suffered basement flooding damages during the severe weather events on July 16, 2024, or August 17 and 18, 2024. In both cases, the rainfall exceeded the 100-year storm level, which historically has a very low chance (about one percent) of happening in any given year.
This initiative aims to provide financial relief to property owners hardest hit by the summer floods.
In addition, Council approved a Basement Flooding Prevention Rebate Program to help residents make basement flood prevention improvements more affordable. Homeowners can receive rebates of up to $6,800 for eligible measures, making it easier to protect their properties from future flooding incidents.
The Flood Relief Grant will be open to the public by December 1, 2024, followed by the Basement Flooding Prevention Rebate in February 2025.
Record-Breaking Rain
This summer, Mississauga experienced two major floods (July 16 and August 17-18) due to record-breaking rainfall. While the City’s current infrastructure helped reduce damage, the increasing number and intensity of these storms are challenging these systems. The City is investing in upgrading its infrastructure, including the stormwater system, to protect property, ensure public safety and make Mississauga more resilient to climate change. But the City cannot do it alone; funding is needed from other levels of government.
Council directed staff to apply to the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund. This provincial program aims to protect communities by investing in the development, repair, rehabilitation and expansion of core water, wastewater, and stormwater projects to promote growth and enable housing.
Mississauga’s past investment in stormwater management facilities, drainage networks, and other infrastructure, functioned as designed and reduced what could have been more widespread flooding. However, the unprecedented rainfall in July and August demonstrates how more investment is required to further control flood waters and meet the demands of a changing climate.
Important Facts About Stormwater
There are more than 51,000 storm drains in Mississauga, 1,900 km of storm sewer pipes, 270 km of ditches, 150 km of creeks, and 80 stormwater management facilities.
Valued at more than $7 billion, Mississauga’s stormwater drainage system requires constant care. Staff continue to assess and prioritize the most effective improvements to this aging infrastructure. Installing stormwater infrastructure requires a large investment up front, and it is expensive, but important to maintain.
Stormwater Capital Plan
Since 2016, the City has invested more than $231 million in stormwater infrastructure. A further $308 million is included in the City’s 10-year Stormwater Capital Plan for ongoing upgrades and maintenance to combat future storms. Over the next 10-years, Mississauga’s Stormwater program will build, expand, and maintain the system.
To address recent flooding, Council approved several new projects and directed staff to fast-track several existing initiatives in 2024:
The City will look to take on other new initiatives in 2025 and 2026 including:
Council also approved a plan that will accelerate completion of the Dixie-Dundas Flood Mitigation Project (Ward 3) by approximately six years.
The initiatives and program improvements in this report show the City’s commitment to reducing the effects of extreme weather events.
Public Information Session
The City of Mississauga is committed to engaging with the public and its partners for information sharing and education opportunities to help residents and businesses prepare for future severe weather events. A public information session is currently being planned. The session will provide an opportunity for residents to speak to leaders in flood prevention and preparation to better understand what they can do to minimize costly and highly disruptive water damage. More information on the upcoming information session will be shared through the City’s website and social media channels.
“These storms are a wake-up call. We must prioritize ongoing upgrades and new investments to ensure Mississauga can continue to protect its residents and businesses from extreme weather. While Mississauga is doing its part, we need help from other levels of government to address this growing challenge. We cannot do it on our own and Mississauga deserves its fair share of funding. The grants and financial relief programs we are introducing are crucial first steps, but sustained support and collaboration are essential to build a resilient future.” – Mayor Carolyn Parrish, City of Mississauga
“The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events highlights the pressing need to plan and prepare our City for the impacts of climate change. Continued collaboration with residents and government partners is essential as we work to plan and build a more resilient and sustainable city.” – Sam Rogers, Commissioner of Transportation & Works, City of Mississauga
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