Drainage Superintendents Association of Ontario
Welcome to the Drainage Superintendents Association of Ontario (DSAO). Our main objective is assisting landowners to resolve their drainage concerns utilizing the Ontario Drainage Act. This site may be of interest to anyone within the drainage industry or with an interest in municipal drainage works.
DSAO
2019 Drainage Superintendents Course
March, 4-8, 2019
Guelph ON.
2019 Rural Municipal Drainage Course
2019 Calculating Drainage Act Assessments Course
March 27-28, 2019, Morrisburg, ON.
April 11-12, 2019, Fort Frances ON.
April 24-25, 2019, London ON.
Agriculture
Ottawa Valley
Farm Show
Ottawa, ON
March 12-14, 2019
Outdoor Farm Show
Woodstock, ON
September 10-12, 2019
International Plowing Match and Rural Expo
West Nipissing, Verner, ON
September 17-21, 2019
A Message From The President
For nearly one hundred and fifty years, works completed under the legislative authority of the Ontario Drainage Act have safeguarded and enhanced the nearly five million hectares (12.3 million acres) of agricultural lands in Ontario. Proper water management practices have reduced erosion, increased productivity, increased land values and provided sufficient legal outlet for the agricultural community in Ontario. Not only does agriculture in Ontario provide food for it’s nearly fourteen million inhabitants, but it also exports approximately 14.8 billion dollars worth of it’s produce with trading partners outside of the province. Over half of the Canada’s Class 1 soils are found here in Ontario. This land, combined with Southern Ontario’s moderate climate, can produce over two hundred different commodities. Ontario’s Agriculture and Agri-Food industries provide 700,000 jobs and contribute $34 billion to the provincial economy each year.
As Drainage Superintendents, entrusted to act as custodians of this municipal infrastructure, it is our mandate to ensure that watershed management solutions function as they were originally designed, for years to come.
Now more than ever, there is more political and social pressure to ensure that these systems co-exist with all aspects of our natural environment. Perhaps our greatest challenge in the immediate future will be to find harmony between water management systems and the environmental pressures of today. I believe by exploring green infrastructure features in our new designs and utilizing best management practices for maintaining our existing infrastructure will, ultimately result in a healthier and more sustainable future for all of Ontario’s residents.
I would like to extend a welcome to all new Drainage Superintendents in the province and strongly encourage them to become active in your local chapter of the Drainage Superintendents Association of Ontario. To the more experienced Drainage Superintendents, I would ask that you reach out to new Superintendents and share the valuable lessons we have had to learn the hard way.
“In the long history of humankind those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed” Charles Darwin
Thank you
Greg Nancekivell
