Stormwater Management

Sediment Removal at Ponds 50 and 71

Project Description

The City of Markham will be removing sediment and performing maintenance at two stormwater management ponds, Pond #50 located near the intersection of Leslie and John Street just west of Rockingham Court and Pond #71 located in the northeast quadrant of Berczy Village, south east of Castlemore Road and Stonebridge Drive.

The City of Markham undertakes periodic inspections of its stormwater management facilities, including Ponds 50 and 71, as part of its stormwater management maintenance program. This includes visual inspections and reports, as well as periodic bathymetric (i.e., sediment level) surveys. Through this process, the need to remove accumulated sediment in Ponds 50 and 71 had been identified to ensure efficient operation.

Project Activities

• Flushing and cleanout of pond infrastructure (e.g., sewer pipes) ;
  
• Sediment removal from ponds and disposal off-site;
• Planting vegetation and seeding; and
• Clean-up and restoration of the site after completion of the work.

While there will be some inconvenience to the residents who live around the construction site and general public who work near the area, the Contractor and the City staff will work together to complete the project as quickly as possible.  All areas disturbed during construction will be restored to their original conditions.

Schedule

The construction is scheduled to begin at the beginning of June 2024 and is expected to be completed by the end of September 2024, weather permitting.  During the construction, roadways will be open at the above noted locations.

Contact information:

Timothy Ng, P.Eng.
Project Engineer, Stormwater,
Environmental Services Department
Tel: (905) 477-7000 ext. 2374
Email: tng@markham.ca

West Thornhill – Phase 3C: Storm Sewer and Watermain Replacement

Project Description

The City of Markham will be upgrading storm sewers, watermains and sanitary sewers within the West Thornhill area as part of the City’s flood control program, as shown in the attached map. 

The study area is located along Glen Cameron Road from Yonge Street to Henderson Ave, Clark Avenue from just west of Willowdale Road and  just west of Henderson Avenue, Pheasant Valley Court and Mira Road and Lillian Avenue. 

Project Activities

• New storm sewer and watermain along Glen Cameron Rd., Lillian Ave., Pheasant Valley Crt., and Mira Rd
• New storm sewer on Clark Ave
• Resurfacing of roads where sewers or watermains are replaced

Schedule:

• The construction is scheduled to begin May 2022 and is expected to be complete in October 2023.
• Roads will remain open to local traffic
• Residents will be able to access their driveways at all times although there may be delays during working hours
• Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained
• Provisions will be made for collection of solid waste and recycling materials
• Henderson Avenue and Proctor Ave intersection will be closed to traffic for from the week of July 4 2022 to July 15 2022.  No traffic will be allowed at the intersection during this time to facilitate storm sewer installation.  North – South bound traffic on Henderson Ave will be opened after 2 weeks.  East –West bound traffic on Proctor Ave/Glen Cameron Road will be opened after another 2 weeks.
• Some temporary disruption to driveway access should be expected during working hours, in the active construction area
• Roadway will be restored at the end of each working day to restore driveway access
• Street parking restrictions will be waived to allow temporary street parking if required (e.g., during construction of new concrete curbs)
• York Region has an EMT station located along Glen Cameron Road
• The City of Markham has coordinated with York Region to construct along Glen Cameron road in stages to minimize disturbance to ambulance traffic.  One lane will remain open at all times.  Both driveways at the EMT station will be accessible to Region staff except while construction of the storm sewer is directly in front of a driveway.  At least one driveway will remain open at all times.
• Clear communication between York Region and the City will be established to facilitate coordination of construction works 
• City of Markham and RVA have coordinated with York Region to reduce incoming traffic to Glen Cameron from Yonge Street during construction via a temporary left turning lane closure.
• Water shut-offs may be required during construction to transfer water supply to relocated watermains
• Shut-offs will typically be 3-4 hours in duration
• Affected residents will be given 48 hours notice

Construction notices to residents in the immediate area of the construction have been distributed.

Contact Information:

Jawaid Khan, M.Eng, P.Eng.
Senior Project Manager, Water and Wastewater, Environmental Services Department
Tel: (905) 477-7000 ext. 2637
Email: jkhan@markham.ca

Background

The City of Markham experienced three significant storm events in June and July 2017 that resulted in 350 reports of flooding throughout the Markham Village and Unionville Areas. In response to these storm events, the City has recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to mitigate the risks of flooding in the areas of Markham Village and Unionville . 

The existing storm sewer system lacks sufficient capacity to manage stormwater runoff during substantial storm events. A majority of the sewer systems in Markham Village and Unionville were planned and built prior to 1978, following to the City's design guideline centered on a 2-year design storm. This design standard no longer aligns with the current guideline, which advocates for a more rigorous and conservative Level of Service (LOS) based on a 100-year design storm. Consequently, upgrades to the sewer system are imperative in certain areas to meet the heightened LOS requirements for a 100-year storm event.

Feasibility Study

In May 2021, a feasibility study for Markham Village and Unionville was successfully completed. The primary objective of this study was to establish a comprehensive planning document, facilitating the subsequent phases of the flood remediation program in Markham Village and Unionville. This includes activities such as financial planning, regulatory approvals, as well as the design and construction phases, scheduled to start over the upcoming years. The figure below shows the project areas divided to four phases.

Proposed Solution

The Feasibility Study recommended the following Proposed Solutions:

1. Markham Village Phase 1: Multiple Storm sewer, Sanitary Sewer and Watermain upgrades per the following figure within the below roads:

• Church Street, Elm Street, Jack Court, Sir Isaac Gate, Judy Court, Jill Court, King Arthur's Court, Rose Way, Parkway Avenue, Sir Galahad Place, Wootten Way North, Sir Tristram Place, Sir Lancelot Drive, Sir Kay Drive, Sir Gareth Court, Sir Gawaine Place, Sir Pellias Terrace, Sir Bedevere Place, Sir Ector Court, Sir Percival Court, Sir Constantine Drive, Sir Caradoc Place, and Sir Bodwin Place.

2. Markham Village Phase 2: Multiple Storm sewer and Sanitary Sewer upgrades per the following figure within the below roads:

• Fincham Ave., Daniel Crt., Hallam Rd., Larkin Ave., Ramona Blvd., Brockfield Crt., Sir Constantine Dr., Enos Gate, Bryant Rd., Main Street Markham Rd. N., Peter St., Beech St.,

3. Markham Village - Unionville Phase 3: Storm sewer and Sanitary Sewer upgrades per the following figure within the below roads:

• Robinson St., King Richard Crt., Friar Tuck Rd., Alanadale Ave.

       4. Markham Village - Unionville Phase 4: Storm sewer and Sanitary Sewer upgrades per the following figure within the           below roads:

• Milne Lane, Rouge St., Senator Reesor’s Dr. Henry Corson Pl., Wootten Way S., John Detexer Pl., Captain Armstrong’s Lane, Major Buttons Dr., James Speight Rd., Squire Baker’s Lane.

Project Implementation— Phase 1 Design and Construction

The City of Markham retained R. V. Anderson in 2022 to undertake the detailed design for the proposed upgrades within the Markham Village Phase 1 areas (see map above). Proposed solutions identified in the feasibility study were refined through the design and approvals process.

The full presentation including timing of construction, as well as information on traffic management (detours and road closures), can be downloaded under project documents below.

Project Documents and Reports to Council:

• Community Information Meeting (April 26, 2018)— see Presentation
• Markham Village and Unionville Flood Study Council Presentation (April 26, 2020)— see Presentation
• Public Consultation #1 (October 2020)— See Presentation
• Markham Village Implementation Plan (April 2021)— see Report
• Public Consultation #2 (June 2021)— See Presentation
  
• Markham Village and Unionville Flood Mitigation Study General Committee Meeting (October 2021)— See Presentation
• Recommendation for Award of 289-T-23 Markham Village Phase 1A - Storm Sewers and Watermain Upgrades — see Report
• Markham Village Flood Control Implementation Project Phase 1A Community Information Meeting — See Presentation
  
  

Contact information:

Robert Muir, Manager, Stormwater
Email: rmuir@markham.ca
Phone: 905.477.7000 x 2357

Erosion Restoration at Mill St.

Project Description

The City of Markham will be rehabilitating an erosion site just to the north of Mill Street as shown in the attached map. 

The site experienced a slope failure and loss of a street light in 2023 such that Mill Street was closed to traffic until permanent restoration is completed. 

Project Activities:

• Installation of armor stone, rip rap and vegetated rock buttress;
• Grading and topsoil application, installation of erosion control measures;
• Street light installation;
• Restoration of project area as per restoration plan and restoration details including Terraseeding and plantings and road surface restoration/rehabilitation; and,
• Clean-up and restoration of the site after completion of the work.

Schedule

Construction is scheduled to commence in mid June 2024.

Contact Information:

Timothy Ng, P.Eng.
Project Engineer, Stormwater, Environmental Services Department
Tel: (905) 477-7000 ext. 2374
Email: tng@markham.ca

Pilot Project for Algae Control (Pond ID #91)

The City of Markham is working on a pilot project to control the growth of algae in stormwater pond #91. This pond is located at the southwest corner of Edward Jeffreys Avenue and Golden Meadows Drive.

Some residents of Markham who live near these ponds sometimes worry about the presence of algae in the water. They do not like how it looks and are sometimes concerned that it might harm their health. Algae growth is common in ponds, especially during hot and dry summers. This happens because the water in the ponds contains nutrients that help the algae to grow.

To ensure that ponds are working properly, Markham carries out an annual inspection and maintenance program. Minor issues are resolved each year, while major problems that could affect the pond's performance may require cleaning and improvement.

Since there have been regular complaints about algae levels in some of Markham ponds, the City is testing out projects such as this one for its ‘toolbox’ of management approaches. This pilot project involves using an ultrasonic device connected to a solar panel. The panel is fenced off for safety and protection.

The ultrasonic device uses sound waves to control the growth of algae. It is relatively low-cost and long-lasting and is often used for drinking water reservoirs. The device makes it difficult for algae to float, causing it to sink to the bottom of the pond. In lower light levels, the algae become deactivated. The ultrasound waves are low-powered and do not affect aquatic animals, birds, or humans.Bottom of Form

More information about stormwater ponds management in Markham can be found at Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance (markham.ca).

If you have any questions or observations during the operation of the device (throughout the summer and fall), please contact the following:

Zahra Parhizgari,
Senior Environmental Engineer
905.477.7000, Extension 2867
zparhizgari@markham.ca

Should a problem arise after regular working hours or on the weekend, please call the City’s after-hour service at 905.477.7000.