The Soak It Up! Toolkit outlines 16 actions your municipality can take to reduce runoff and runoff pollution, providing examples of what other communities are doing and insights from practitioners about what works, and what doesn’t. The actions range from community engagement and capacity building, to implementing green infrastructure on public property (green streets, alleys, and parks), requiring and incentivizing action in new development, supporting the urban forest and healthy soils, and strategies for retrofitting existing developed lands.

The Stormwater Scorecard accompanies the toolkit, and allows you to conduct an in-depth analysis of your community’s existing policies, plans, and programs around green infrastructure and stormwater management. Anyone with an interest (decision-makers, stormwater managers, community groups, members of the public) can fill it out to evaluate what their community is doing, and what they could be doing, to reduce runoff and runoff pollution.

Want to Learn More About Our Green Infrastructure Initiatives?

These resources were developed as part of our award-winning RAIN Community Solutions program, a collaborative initiative led by Green Communities Canada and our member organizations from 2010 to 2021/2022. The program aimed to advance green stormwater infrastructure (also known as low impact development), restore the urban water cycle, and reduce runoff pollution. RAIN received national recognition, including the 2015 Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence and the 2014 Council of the Federation Excellence in Water Stewardship Award. 

Now a legacy program, RAIN has been integrated into our broader green infrastructure work through Living Cities Canada, where our commitment to advancing sustainable, community-led stormwater solutions continues. Visit our Green Infrastructure webpage to learn more.