How can we connect residents to their watershed through stormwater infrastructure?
Project Description: The Hamilton Water Division is developing a Stormwater Education Campaign to help residents understand the connection between stormwater, local waterways, and watershed health. Many elements of the stormwater system, including catch basins, stormwater ponds, rain gardens, and other infrastructure, are highly visible in the community but may not be well understood. These features present opportunities to help residents better understand where rainwater goes, how the stormwater system functions, and how individual actions can impact local waterways and the broader watershed.
As part of this work, Hamilton Water is seeking a creative activation concept to build public education, engagement, and action. Students are invited to develop an innovative concept that makes stormwater infrastructure more visible, meaningful, and interactive while strengthening residents' connection to their watershed. Concepts could include public art, placemaking, storytelling, stewardship activities, community participation, interactive installations, digital experiences, wayfinding, or other creative approaches.
The challenge is to develop a creative brief and implementation plan that aligns with the Hamilton Water Division's Stormwater Education Campaign. The concept should help residents understand the role of stormwater infrastructure, recognize the connection between neighbourhood runoff and local waterways, and encourage actions that support watershed health. Students should consider implementation requirements, potential partnerships, pilot opportunities, scalability, and measures of success.
City Staff: Melanie Anderton, Public Works Department
Deliverables: Design
Project Start Date/ Availability: Winter 2027
Location: City Wide
City Strategy Priority: Community Engagement and Participation, Healthy and Safe Communities, Clean and Green, Built Environment and Infrastructure