Hydro-Brake^® flow controls eliminate CSO overflows and protect Ottawa from basement flooding.

Situation

Ottawa, Canada receives over 90 inches (2.3 m) of snow per year, and nearly 30 inches (76 cm) of precipitation. All of this rain and snow were straining Ottawa’s CSO sewage system, and angering downtown residents and businesses with repeated basement flooding events.

Problem

Heavy rain and snow were putting Ottawa’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) system under strain, and downtown residents and businesses were becoming angry at repeated basement flooding events.

When too much stormwater enters streetside catchbasins, the sewer can reach its capacity, finding relief in basements located in the low-lying areas of the City.

Solution

The City of Ottawa installed 485 Hydro-Brake^® Optimum flow control devices, and purchased a second and third round of valves - a total of 445 units.

The city used the inlet control devices as part of a large-scale upgrade of the drainage system in the O’Connor Street area, just south of the St. Lawrence River.

Outcome

The Hydro-Brake^® Optimum flow control solution provided the city with a cost-effective alternative to completely separating their CSO and SSO systems.

Our first round of Hydro-Brake® flow control valves made a measurable difference in our basement flooding problem," said Darryl Shurb, a Senior Project Manager, City of Ottawa Public Works and Services Department. "We’re looking forward to even more improved results with this second shipment of valves.