OPWA Booklet I Design 2025 (4) - Flipbook - Page 19
MANAGEMENT INNOVATION
CITY OF OTTAWA
Ottawa’s population surpassed a million people in 2019, doubling its
population over the previous fifty years. A new City of Ottawa Official Plan
was approved in 2022 to guide growth and development of the City until
2046, when the population is expected to reach 1.4 million people,
within an Ottawa-Gatineau region that is expected to grow to over 2
million people.
The City will accommodate this growth within its existing neighbourhoods
and villages, in undeveloped greenfield areas within Ottawa’s urban
boundary and by expanding the City’s urban boundary. The City’s
approach will have significant impacts on the evolution of Ottawa’s
neighbourhoods, on housing options and affordability and on our ability
to meet our climate change responsibilities.
Hiran Sandanayake
Led by the Water Resources Planning & Engineering Branch at the City of Ottawa, the Infrastructure Master Plan
(IMP) is a growth-focused plan for Ottawa’s water resources systems including drinking-water systems,
wastewater systems, stormwater systems, and natural systems. It provides the trunk and backbone
infrastructure required to enable new housing growth. This infrastructure is not optional for new housing. density
residential intensification
Housing enabling infrastructure and housing must work in tandem to address the housing crisis without
sacrificing the needs of current and future residents. It also focuses on infrastructure projects and programs that
ensure that new growth does not lower levels of service or increase risks of fire or flood in existing
neighbourhoods.
The IMP recommended new and revised programs to address the impacts of intensification without
increasing risks of fire or flood including: On-site Stormwater Management for new low-rise residential
development not subject to Site Plan Control
Infrastructure Capacity Management to proactively management existing system capacity to enable high
density residential intensification
Housing enabling infrastructure and housing must work in tandem to address the housing crisis without
sacrificing the needs of current and future residents.
19 | OPWA AWARDS LUNCHEON
