The Red River Basin Commission has come up with a template that municipalities can use to create a Tile Drainage By-law.

Tile drainage removes excess water from soil below the surface, creating better moisture levels for crop growth.

RM of Morris Reeve Ralph Groening said this new template is a good thing, since the practice is fairly new, and has yet to become widely used in Manitoba.

Groening explained what their application process is right now for farmers wanting tile drainage.

"The process that we've been using is a collaborative effort with the Water Stewardship Department. Individuals need to make contact with the local officer in charge of water management in our district, and do the first step of making an application," said Groening.

The application then goes to the RM of Morris council and conditions or comments are added, and then the application is generally approved.

"I think that any additional information, any additional guidance available to us, would help us to make the very best decision possible to make sure that tile drainage is done correctly, in a way that benefits everyone, both the proponent and the adjoining land owner."

Groening noted tile drainage interest is fairly recent but is growing. He notes about 7 or 8 applications have been approved in the last 2 years.

"We in the RM of Morris have very heavy clay soil, and the value that the land has only recently reached the point where it looks as though an economic model justifies tile drainage," explained Groening.

Manitoba director for the Red River Basin Commission Steve Strang said the newly created template will help council deal with tile drainage requests.

"There are many municipalities that are just starting to get introduced to it. So, what the template is all about, is giving them an opportunity to make sure they can structure a by-law that works for their municipality," said Strang.

He added the template is a tool for administration and council to construct a by-law that represents the interests of their community. Strang recommends all municipalities create a by-law.

"Tile drainage is regulated by the Province of Manitoba, but the approving authority comes to the municipality. To just allow someone to put in tile, but not have it done properly, would not be in the best interest to those who sit on council."

Considerations for council include deadlines for applications, deadlines for work, good installation, site visits, and knowing how much water can be drained through the system at one time.

"It's an A-Z type of review... it really starts making the council have a great conversation, and through that conversation they'll get educated every time they do it," said Strang. "There are some municipalities within the province that are saying "no" to tile drainage, our hope is that if they decide to say no, they're doing so under a well thought out, educated, type of process."

He added while the farmer's land is privately owned, the water drains into municipal and provincial drains. Therefore, farmers are required to get approval for tile drainage.

Below are the 16 considerations council should make when creating a tile drainage by-law for their region:

1. A. Consider designating a point-person within the Municipality who will accept the application and assess it prior to bringing it to Council for resolution of approval. Whom should the initial requests be brought to? Do the initial requests need to be in writing?
B. Consider if your municipality will require any fees to be paid for application processing and/or site visits, or inspection.
2. Will the Municipality have a deadline(s) by which the application needs to be submitted?
3. Consider what information needs to be included on an Applicant’s application.
4. Will you require a site visit prior to approving the project?
5. Consider the soil and water conditions of the location where the tile drainage project is proposed.
6. Consider if your municipality will have a standard, maximum drainage coefficient. If so, what will that drainage coefficient be?
7. Consider the location where the tile drainage water will be discharged.
8. Consider if erosion control measures should be used at outlet locations.
9. Consider requiring control structures on the tile drainage system
10. Consider if there will be a standard date when flow from a tile drainage system must stop.
11. Consider who shall be responsible for any modifications to existing municipal drains should they be required for the tile drainage project.
12. Consideration should be given to the maintenance of the ditches downstream and the licence holder’s responsibilities.
13. Consider how tile drainage can integrate into the Municipality’s integrated water management strategies including drainage, water retention, and other beneficial management practices.
14. Consider if there is a “valid until” date or a date by which the approved project must be completed. Consider what the implications are if an Applicant waits several years from the approval to construction.
15. Does the project comply with provincial legislation? All applications must meet the requirements of the Manitoba Water Rights Regulation.
16. Consider if or how the Municipality will monitor the progress or the results of the tile drainage project. Is the Applicant or Installer required to submit any documents or records after the project has been completed?