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Stormwater Ponds in Brampton

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Stormwater ponds near your home

The City of Brampton inspects and maintains 180​ stormwater ponds. Stormwater ponds help control the flow of water, help manage flooding, and improve water quality. They are designed to temporarily store stormwater runoff and then slowly release the runoff to local creeks and rivers. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Ongoing maintenance and retrofit projects are carried out to support the continued function of stormwater ponds. For more information, visit the Stormwater Pond Maintenance and Retrofit Projects page.​

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Stormwater Ponds FAQs

​​When rain or melting snow falls on hard surfaces such as rooftops, roads, sidewalks and parking lots, it cannot soak into the ground. Instead, it becomes stormwater runoff, which carries pollutants such as sediment, oil, road salt, fertilizers and litter into the stormwater system.​

Stormwater ponds are engineered facilities designed to collect and temporarily store this runoff before slowly releasing it into local creeks and rivers. This helps reduce flooding, prevent erosion and improve water quality by allowing sediment and other pollutants to settle before cleaner water is discharged downstream.

The City of Brampton has more than 180 stormwater ponds that play an important role in protecting neighbourhoods, improving local water quality and supporting healthy aquatic ecosystems.

To ensure these ponds continue to function as designed, the City regularly inspects and maintains them. Major maintenance activities, such as sediment removal and restoration, are typically completed every 5 to 15 years, depending on the condition of the pond.

The City has 180 stormwater ponds that provide flood, erosion, and water quality control services. Major maintenance activities are undertaken, every 5-15 years, to restore the function of the stormwater ponds in Brampton. 

To learn more about how the City inspects and maintains stormwater ponds, visit the​ Stormwater Pond Inspections and Maintenance webpage.​

​Stormwater ponds are not intended for recreational use. Water levels can rise quickly during and after rainstorms, shorelines can be steep, slippery and unstable, and the water can contain pollutants. 

To stay safe:
  • Obey all posted signs and stay on designated trails.
  • Do not swim, wade, fish or boat in stormwater ponds.
  • Keep children and pets away from the shoreline and out of the water.
  • Know where lifesaving equipment is located and report missing or damaged equipment to 3-1-1.
  • Download the free what3words app to help identify your ​location in an emergency.​
For safe places to swim, visit the City's outdoor swimming locations​ and swimming programs​.

Never walk, skate or sled on a stormwater pond. Ice conditions are unpredictable and unsafe, even when the surface appears frozen.

Stormwater ponds have continuous water movement and changing water levels that can weaken the ice. Snow can also hide thin ice, cracks and open water.

To stay safe:
  • Obey all posted signs and stay on designated trails.
  • Keep children and pets off the ice and away from the shoreline.
  • Never walk, skate or sled on a stormwater pond.
  • Know where lifesaving equipment is located and report missing or damaged equipment to 3-1-1.
  • Download the free what3words app to help identify your location in an emergency.
For safe places to skate, visit the City's outdoor skating and skating programs​ webpages.

Stormwater ponds are designed to collect and treat stormwater runoff before it is released into local creeks and rivers. Runoff can pick up pollutants such as sediment, oil, road salt, nutrients and other contaminants as it flows over roads, parking lots, driveways and other hard surfaces.

As a result, water quality and the appearance of stormwater ponds can change throughout the year and after rain or snowmelt. Pond water may appear clear, cloudy, brown or green depending on weather conditions, sediment, algae and aquatic vegetation. These changes are often normal and do not necessarily indicate a problem with the pond.

Stormwater ponds help improve the quality of stormwater runoff, but they are not intended for recreational use. Do not swim, wade, fish or allow pets to enter or drink from stormwater ponds.

Learn how you can help prevent pollution by visiting the Pollution Prevention​ webpage.​​​

Stormwater pond water levels naturally rise and fall throughout the year depending on rainfall, snowmelt, evaporation and the amount of stormwater entering the pond.

During dry periods or hot summer weather, water levels may appear lower than usual due to evaporation. After heavy rain, water levels will temporarily rise as the pond stores runoff before slowly releasing it to nearby creeks and rivers.

These fluctuations are a normal part of how stormwater ponds are designed to function and help reduce flooding downstream.​

Vegetation is an important part of how stormwater ponds are designed and how they function. Grasses, shrubs, trees and aquatic plants are planted in and around stormwater ponds to help improve water quality, stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion as water levels rise and fall.

Vegetation along the shoreline can also help discourage large numbers of geese from accessing the pond and provides habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife.

Residents should not cut, remove or disturb vegetation around stormwater ponds, as it plays an important role in the pond's function and the surrounding ecosystem.​​

The appearance of a stormwater pond can change throughout the year and after rainfall. Water may appear clear, cloudy, brown or green depending on weather conditions, sediment, algae and aquatic vegetation.

After a rainstorm, runoff entering the pond can carry sediment, nutrients, oil and other pollutants from roads, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots. This can temporarily affect the colour and clarity of the water.

Pond water may also appear green because of naturally occurring algae or aquatic plants such as duckweed. Some algae and aquatic vegetation are expected in stormwater ponds, particularly during warm summer weather, and do not necessarily indicate that the pond is unhealthy.

However, water that develops a blue-green or turquoise film resembling spilled paint or pea soup, it may be a sign of a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom. If you suspect a blue-green algae bloom, avoid contact with the water, keep children and pets away from the shoreline, and report it to:

Ontario Spills Action Centre: 1-866-MOETIPS (6638477)
TTY: 1-855-889-5775
Peel Public Health: 905-799-7700

A common misunderstanding is that algae growth means a stormwater pond is unhealthy, but this is not always true. Algae are a natural part of a healthy pond ecosystem and are commonly seen during the summer months. 

Warm temperature, sunlight and nutrients washed into ponds through stormwater runoff can cause algae to grow more quickly. These nutrients often come from fertilizers, grass clippings, leaves, pet waste or other organic material carried into storm drains during rainfall. 

In most cases, seeing green or cloudy water does not mean there is a problem. 

In rare cases, harmful blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can develop. These blooms may produce toxins that are harmful to people, pets and wildlife. Blue-green algae blooms are more likely to occur during prolonged periods of hot weather when nutrient levels in the water are high. 

If you suspect a blue-green algae bloom, avoid contact with the water, keep children and pets away from the shoreline, and report it to:
Ontario Spills Action Centre: 1-866-MOETIPS (6638477)
TTY: 1-855-889-5775
Peel Public Health: 905-799-7700​

Residents can help reduce excessive algae growth by limiting the amount of nutrients and organic material entering the stormwater system:
  • Use fertilizers sparingly and avoid applying them before heavy rainfall.
  • Choose phosphorus-free fertilizer products where possible.
  • Keep leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste out of streets and storm drains. Properly collect and dispose of yard waste instead.
  • Pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly.
  • Never dump waste, chemicals or other materials into catch basins or storm drains.

Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are naturally occurring microscopic organisms found in freshwater environments. 

Under certain conditions, including warm temperatures and increased nutrient levels, they can multiply rapidly and form blooms on the water’s surface. Some blooms produce toxins that may pose health risks to people, wildlife and livestock. 

Blue-green algae blooms often appear as a blue-green, turquoise, or olive-green film on the water's surface and may resemble spilled paint, pea soup, or fine grass clippings. Not all algae are blue-green algae, and laboratory testing is required to confirm whether a bloom is present. If you suspect a blue-green algal bloom:
  • Stay out of the water and keep children and pets away from the shoreline.
  • Do not allow pets to drink from or enter the pond.
  • Report the suspected bloom to:
Ontario Spills Action Centre: 1-866-MOETIPS (6638477)
TTY: 1-855-889-5775
Peel Public Health: 905-799-7700​

​Stormwater ponds may occasionally have an earthy, musty, or sulphur-like ("rotten egg") odour, particularly during hot weather. This is often caused by naturally occurring vegetation decomposing or lower oxygen levels in the water.

While unpleasant, an odour alone does not indicate the presence of blue-green algae. Blue-green algae should be identified by its appearance and confirmed by laboratory testing rather than its smell.

If you notice water that resembles spilled paint, pea soup, or fine grass clippings, avoid the area and report the suspected bloom to:

Ontario Spills Action Centre: 1-866-MOETIPS (6638477)
TTY: 1-855-889-5775
Peel Public Health: 905-799-7700​

Duckweed is common in stormwater ponds throughout Brampton and many municipalities across Southern Ontario. It became more noticeable after cosmetic herbicides were banned in Ontario in 2011.

Duckweed is often mistaken for algae because it forms a green layer on the water’s surface. Unlike algae, duckweed is a tiny floating plant that provides habitat for aquatic organisms and helps improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients from the water. 

Duckweed does not damage the function of stormwater ponds. In fact, it can help shade the water, reduce water temperatures and compete with algae for nutrients, helping to slow excessive algae growth.​​

Phragmites are an invasive perennial grass that can grow in wetlands, along shorelines, and around stormwater ponds. They spread quickly and form dense sections that crowd out native plants, reduce biodiversity and degrade wildlife habitat.

The City of Brampton actively monitors and manages phragmites using a variety of control methods to help protect local ecosystems.

Residents can help prevent the spread of phragmites by:
  • Avoid cutting, mowing or disturbing the plants.
  • Do not remove seed heads and dispose of it in the garbage
  • Do not compost phragmites, as seeds and plant fragments can spread to new locations.
  • Clean footwear, clothing, pets and equipment after visiting areas where phragmites are present to avoid spreading seeds.​
To learn more about phragmites and how the City manages this invasive species, visit the City's Phragmites webpage.​

Stormwater ponds are designed and maintained to prevent​mosquito breeding. This includes keeping the pond water depth at more than 1 m, encouraging diverse emergent vegetation at the water’s edge, and addressing stagnant and shallow areas at the water’s edge.

Regular maintenance activities can help reduce potential mosquito habitat. These include:
  • ​Removing debris and accumulated sediment from pond inlets and outlets
  • Addressing erosion and low-lying areas along pond bands where shallow, stagnant water may collect. 
  • Establishing vegetation in areas with bare soil to help prevent erosion
  • Maintaining diverse aquatic and shoreline vegetation
The City of Brampton works with Peel Public Health to identify, monitor and address mosquito breeding sites. Learn more about mosquito prevention and vector-borne diseases by visiting Peel Public Health​.

Beavers are often referred to as nature’s engineers because of their ability to build dams with mud, sticks, grasses, leaf litter, and small trees. In Brampton, beavers occasionally take up residence in stormwater ponds and in some of those cases they build dams or block drainage in the pond. Beaver dams can cause water levels to rise in the stormwater pond which increases the risk of localized flooding and damage to stormwater pond infrastructure.  

When a beaver is found in a stormwater pond, the City will first inspect the condition of the pond. If the inspection finds no damage to stormwater pond infrastructure and no increased risk of localized flooding, the City will leave the beaver to continue residing in the pond.  

If the beaver is damaging infrastructure or increasing the risk of local flooding, the City will install a baffler system into the dam which redirects the water to flow through the dam while keeping the dam in place, preventing the Beaver from building a new dam.  

If there remains to be a threat to infrastructure and the baffler system isn’t working properly, then the City will retain a certified beaver trapper to remove the beaver from the stormwater pond. The City will restore the pond infrastructure damaged by the beaver.

If you think there is a beaver living in the local stormwater pond, please report it by calling Service Brampton at 311 or at www.311brampton.ca​.  ​

Invasive fish, including goldfish and koi, can enter stormwater ponds when unwanted pets are released into the water. These species can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and negatively affect pond habitat.

Never release aquarium fish or other pets into stormwater ponds or natural waterways. Instead, contact a local pet store or find another responsible option for rehoming them.

To learn more about fish species in Brampton's lakes, wetlands ​and stormwater ponds, visit the City's Natural Heritage webpage​.

No. Stormwater ponds collect and treat runoff from roads, parking lots and neighbourhoods, which can contain pollutants. They are not intended for recreational activities such as fishing.

Residents are encouraged to fish in designated lakes and waterways where permitted.​

No. Pets should be kept out of stormwater ponds year-round. The water can contain pollutants from stormwater runoff and, in rare cases, harmful blue-green algae blooms.
Keep dogs leashed near stormwater ponds and do not allow them to enter or drink from the water.

Contact Environment and Development Engineering

Planning, Building and Growth Management
2 Wellington St W, Brampton​
905.874.2000

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