Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is an approach that helps manage our rainwater with practices that benefit our environment. When rain falls in our region, it quickly moves from our roofs, streets and parking lots to storm drains that enter local waterways and shorelines. This intense runoff grows in volume and picks up various pollutants along the way including oil, metals and bacteria.

Sustainable practices can be used to help prevent pollution and protect our streams and shorelines and can be implemented at the municipal level as well as at the neighbourhood and property level. The CRD provides resources to assist municipalities, developers and property owners to apply green rainwater management techniques.

Green stormwater infrastructure guidelines apply these three fundamental concepts:

Capture and Slow the flow of stormwater by redirecting to designed areas for more gradual dispersion.

Clean and Infiltrate stormwater run-off before it reaches the natural receiving environment.

Store and Convey stormwater to minimize peak flows and flooding through planned detention and distribution of water volumes.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Guidelines & Appendices (PDFs):

• Full document (273 pages)
• GSI Design Guidelines for the Capital Region
• Appendix A - Rainfall Capture Targets and GSI Selection
• Appendix B - Absorbent Landscape
• Appendix C - Vegetated and Grassy Infiltration Swale Systems
• Appendix D - Infiltration Rain Garden
• Appendix E - Infiltration Curb Extensions and Traffic Islands
• Appendix F - Infiltration Flow Through Planters
• Appendix G - Structural Soil Cells
• Appendix H - Green Roof
• Appendix I - Constructed Wetlands
• Appendix J - Cisterns and DetentionTanks
• Appendix K - Pervious Paving Systems
• Appendix L - Infiltration Trench and Soakaway Manhole
• Supplemental 1 - Planting Templates and Plant Lists
• Supplemental 2 - Leaky Sewers and Green Stormwater Infrastructure

CRD Headquarters Case Study

CRD Headquarters was one of the first buildings in the region to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification when the Phase 2 addition was complete in 2006. Some of the green infrastructure features include:

• 60,000-litre cistern in the basement stores roof run-off used to flush toilets.
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures including waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets.
• Natural lighting and automatic light sensors in all work spaces.
• Exterior sun shades and UV glazing on all windows.
• Minimal irrigation on landscaping; native and/or drought-tolerant plants used.
• Two types of green roofs and a living wall.

External Resources

• The Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC - Green Infrastructure
• Banking on Green (PDF)
• Green Bylaw Toolkit (PDF)
• UBC Innovations in Stormwater Management Video Series