Toronto City Council has approved a bylaw making it mandatory for property owners to disconnect their downspout. It will come into effect across the city in three phases. Property owners located in central Toronto who have their storm water and sanitary drainage within a single pipe are required to disconnect by November 2011. Disconnecting downspout(s) from the sewer system can reduce the risk of basement flooding and releasing polluted rainwater into our local waterways. The other two phases will be enforced within five years.
Disconnecting your downspout and re-routing the water flow does have its benefits which are mentioned in Toronto.ca’s web site. For some, the solution to add extended spouts or a splash pad may not appear to be very…well, pretty. Replacing a downspout with a beautiful Rain Chain is a wonderful solution. Rain Chains can direct the rain water into a decorative bowl, a bed of river rocks, a rain barrel or a right into a garden bed.
Rain Chains are available in pure copper or aluminum. Choose from many styles including link (as shown to the left) or cup styles. For more information on Rain Chain chain please visit City Home and Garden.
Please visit Toronto.ca for more information regarding the mandatory downspout disconnection.
