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 Water
quality reports and ads
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Backflow Prevention Program (BFP)
Toronto Water delivers safe and clean drinking water through a network of watermains and local distribution systems, known as the “waterworks”. In order to protect the public, the Water Supply By-law takes a proactive approach to prevent the possibility of contamination of water in the waterworks. Learn more ...
The
Blue Flag Program
 On
June 30, 2005, the City of Toronto in partnership with Environmental
Defence Canada, became the first municipality in North America to
be recognized by the Blue Flag program. Four Toronto beaches have
been awarded the exclusive eco-label of the Blue Flag Program including:
Cherry Beach, Hanlan's Point, Wards Island and Woodbine Beaches.
Based in Europe, this internationally recognized program awards
blue flags to communities committed to maintaining high standards
for water quality, safety, beach maintenance and environmental education
and outreach. Through the Blue Flag program, the City hopes to increase
awareness and action where Toronto's beaches and water pollution
are concerned.
Toronto joins
more than 2,400 beaches and marina's in 33 countries with the Blue
Flag designation. For more information on the Blue Flag program
go to Torontobeach.ca.
For up-to-date information on beaches water quality go to Toronto
beaches water quality reports.
Toronto's
Water Pollution Solution
The City of Toronto's Water Pollution Solution is a plan about protecting
our environment, standard of living, and our city's infrastructure.
It's about reducing and ultimately eliminating the adverse effects
of stormwater pollution. And it’s a key part of our plans
to create a dynamic waterfront for the people of Toronto. That’s
why the Water Pollution Solution is one of the largest planning
processes ever undertaken to tackle the physical and environmental
impacts related to stormwater and combined sewer overflow discharges.
For more information see Water Pollution
Solution.
Tanks
and a tunnel
 Tanks
and tunnels protect the beaches' near-shore water quality. For
instance, the Eastern Beaches tanks capture and hold combined sewer
overflows and stormwater until the system can handle the volume.
In the past, this overflow went into the lake. The tanks reduce
the number of days the beaches are posted unsafe for swimming because
of combined sewer overflows during heavy rainstorms. A similar
project is the Western Beaches storage tunnel. It, too, captures
combined sewer overflows that previously polluted the western beaches
after heavy rainstorms. The tunnel's holding tanks use ultraviolet
lights to kill bacteria in the water before releasing it slowly
back into the lake. Built in 2002, the tunnel is four kilometres
long with three huge holding tanks. More...
Sewer
Use By-law
The City enforces a variety of by-laws designed to avoid pollution.
For example, the Sewer Use By-law is
intended to protect the sewers, the sewage treatment plant and
treatment processes, and municipal staff and the public by prohibiting
the discharge of undesirable, toxic or explosive substances into
the sewer systems.
The City responds
to spills in co-operation with the Ministry of the Environment
as required.
Stormwater
management
 The
City has constructed stormwater management detention/ retention
facilities, i.e. ponds and tanks, to relieve flooding. It has also
assumed similar facilities built by the developers. During storms,
these facilities store runoff and release it slowly after the storm
subsides. In addition, they provide some degree of treatment of
the stormwater by allowing the settling of the heavier materials
transported by the stormwater.
Environmental
monitoring and problem mitigation
The City operates and maintains a network of rainfall gauges. The
information is used to determine sewer sizes and the influence/impact
of storms of various sizes on the existing sewer system and on
streams (floods). More...
Household
Hazardous Waste Program
 The
City's Household Hazardous Waste Program
is designed to discourage residents from depositing toxic substances
into sewers and on land by providing opportunities for such substances
to be taken to designated waste transfer stations for proper disposal
by the City. In addition, councillors have organized "Environment
Days" in their wards for a similar progress.
The Storm
Drain Marking Program
 The
Storm Drain Marking Program commonly, referred to as the Yellow
Fish Road Program, invites school and youth groups to show their
communities the connection storm sewers and streams, and how to
protect them from hazardous waste. Please contact the Toronto Region
Conservation Authority at (905) 932-2233 or visit its web site for
more information.
Oak Ridges
Moraine
 The
Oak Ridges Moraine is one of the most significant landforms in
southern Ontario. The moraine gets its name from its rolling hills
and river valleys extending 160 kms from the Niagara Escarpment
to Rice Lake and was formed 12,000 years ago by advancing and retreating
glaciers.
More...
Humber
Creek Restoration Plan
 A
stormwater quality study revealed that the Humber Creek needed
to be improved. This is because a section of the stream was unstable
and experiencing severe erosion. At the same time, there were stormwater
quality problems and an increase of accidental and deliberate chemical
spills from the upstream industrial area. To correct this, the
City restored an erosive stream reach, created an offline wetland
to reduce pollutant levels and later this year is installing a
spill containment device to catch floating material. More...
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