Plain language
Explain the concept before adding technical detail.
Common language
Stormwater and Flood-Resilience Glossary
A searchable public glossary that complements the more technical standards terminology page.
- Ontario depthverified local sources
- Canada-widelearning and research
- Source-awaredates and limitations
Who this serves
Use the resource within a defined role and decision.
- Homeowners, tenants and condominium residents
- Commercial and institutional property teams
- Municipal and community organizations
- Professionals, educators and researchers
What RSM provides
Independent education, resource organization, research translation and pathways to official information.
What remains external
Government eligibility, insurance coverage, legal requirements, engineering decisions and emergency direction.
Review discipline
Current-event and programme pages must be rechecked when dates, maps or rules change.
Resource design
Useful information needs context, authority and an action path.
Preferred terms
Show the RSM term, synonyms and discouraged ambiguous wording.
Authority distinction
External legal definitions control within their scope.
Connected learning
Each term links to relevant guides, standards or training.
Purpose
Public and technical definitions
The public glossary explains common questions such as sewer backup, overland flooding, groundwater, disaster assistance and municipal rebate. The standards terminology page provides more formal practice definitions used in technical guidance.
14 terms shown
Activated area
The geographic area for which Ontario has activated DRAO after a specific natural disaster.
Backwater valve
A drainage-system valve intended to reduce reverse flow through the protected path.
Business continuity
Planning that helps an organization maintain or restore critical operations after disruption.
Climate adaptation
Adjusting systems, buildings and decisions to actual or expected climate conditions and impacts.
Disaster assistance
Government support available only under a defined programme, activation and eligibility rules.
Flood barrier
A permanent or deployable component intended to reduce water entry through a defined opening or route.
Flood resilience
The capacity to anticipate, reduce, withstand, respond to and recover from flooding.
Groundwater
Water below the ground surface that may affect foundations, drainage and below-grade spaces.
Municipal rebate
A local programme that reimburses part of eligible preventative work under stated conditions.
Overland flooding
Water flowing across the ground surface into areas or buildings.
Residual risk
Risk remaining after selected measures are implemented.
Sewer backup
Reverse or obstructed flow that causes wastewater or stormwater to enter or threaten a building through connected drainage.
Stormwater
Water from rain, snowmelt or other precipitation that runs off, infiltrates, is stored or enters drainage systems.
Sump pump system
The collection, pumping, discharge, control, alarm and power arrangement used to remove water from a sump.
Evidence and context
Why consistent language matters
A person who describes every basement event as a sewer backup may pursue the wrong system or assistance programme. Clear language helps visitors identify the pathway, collect the right evidence and ask better questions.
Responsible use
Translation and accessibility
Future French and multilingual terminology should be professionally reviewed. Definitions should remain usable with screen readers, mobile devices and printed resources.
Use sequence
Move from information to a responsible decision.
- 1
Search the term.
- 2
Read the plain-language definition.
- 3
Check the related technical context.
- 4
Open the official source if the term affects eligibility or law.
- 5
Use the preferred term in records and conversations.
Avoid these mistakes
Common ways useful information becomes misleading or unsafe
- Using flood-proof as an absolute promise
- Calling a municipal rebate disaster assistance
- Confusing training completion with occupational licensing
- Using approved without naming who approved it
Related pathways
Continue with the right audience, authority or learning route.
Official and institutional references
Open the source that controls the decision.
RSM explains and organizes information. Current government, municipal, insurance, research and programme sources remain controlling within their scope.
Frequently asked questions
Scope, accuracy and next-step questions
Is this glossary a legal dictionary?
No. Applicable statutes, regulations, codes and programme documents control their own definitions.
Why are some words discouraged?
They may be too broad, misleading or used differently across disciplines.
Will the glossary be available in French?
The architecture supports it, but domain-reviewed translation is required before publication.
Can users suggest a term?
Yes. The future resource-suggestion and technical-feedback workflows can collect requests.
Put knowledge into action
Connect resources to training, standards, municipal information and accountable follow-through.
Use RSM to understand the field, then confirm the current authority and qualified role for the decision in front of you.
Published: July 19, 2026 Last reviewed: July 19, 2026
RSM is an independent educational platform. It does not administer DRAO, determine insurance coverage, guarantee funding or replace emergency, municipal, legal, engineering or professional advice.
Next steps
Find the next useful resource
Continue by resource type, location or the responsibility you hold.