Latest Update: August 5, 2026

Project Overview
The Cassidy Creek Municipal Drain is an important part of the rural drainage system serving the Metcalfe area. The drainage area covers approximately 2,000 hectares and includes roughly 15.5 kilometres of drain and approximately 55 culverts.

The City is undertaking a process under Ontario’s Drainage Act to examine improvements to the existing municipal drain. The project also includes a petition for an extension of the drainage system and a request to consider relocating part of the drain. These additions have expanded the scope and complexity of the engineering work.

Current Status
Robinson Consultants has been appointed as the project engineer and is preparing the Engineer’s Report required under the Drainage Act.

The report will establish the recommended work, preliminary design, estimated construction costs and proposed allocation of those costs among affected properties and public infrastructure.

The Engineer’s Report is currently anticipated in summer 2027.

Anticipated Timeline
Subject to completion of the Engineer’s Report, the required Drainage Act process, regulatory approvals and any appeals, construction is currently anticipated to take place during the summers of 2028 and 2029.

These dates remain preliminary and may change as the engineering work progresses.

How Are Costs Determined?
Municipal-drain projects are funded through assessments established under the Drainage Act. Costs are not necessarily divided equally among all properties in the drainage area.

The engineer determines the proposed assessment for each affected property based on factors that may include:

• Benefit received from the proposed work
• The amount of water a property contributes to the drain, known as outlet liability
• Any special benefit received by a property or public infrastructure

The proposed assessments will be included in the Engineer’s Report. Affected property owners will receive notice and will have an opportunity to participate in the statutory process, including the ability to appeal their assessment to the Court of Revision.

More information about municipal drains is available on the City of Ottawa’s municipal-drains page. The Province also provides an overview of how drainage assessments are determined.

I will continue sharing updates as the Engineer’s Report progresses and additional information becomes available.