September 22, 2009
The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority is reminding residents to take care of their local storm drains this fall. Unlike the water that goes down your household drains to sanitary sewers, water that flows into a storm drain is not treated or filtered for pollutants. Similarly, water that flows along roadside ditches is untreated, and exposed to contaminants that are washed off roads, such as oils, grease, fuel, and road salts.
Contaminated water flows from storm drains and ditches into local streams and eventually Lake Ontario. Everything other than pure rainwater can potentially degrade the quality water of water in local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario. It is very important that you help prevent contaminants from flowing into storm sewers and ditches.
Actions you can take to protect local streams and Lake Ontario include never pouring anything down storm drains or into road ditches; hazardous waste should be taken to local hazardous waste depots. Next time you wash your vehicle take it to a car wash with a water treatment system, or wash it on your lawn so wash water can be filtered through the soil. Finally don’t forget to clean up after your pets and dispose of the waste properly. Remember, only rainwater and snow melt should go down storm drains.
For more information about how to protect your local rivers, Lake Ontario and source of drinking water, please contact Pam Lancaster, Stewardship Technician at the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, 905-885-8173 x 247.
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For More information Contact:
Pam Lancaster, Watershed Stewardship Technician
Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
2216 County Road 28, P.O. Box 328
Port Hope, ON, L1A 3W4
905-885-8173 x 247, plancaster@grca.on.ca
