Heavy rains and melting snow run off paved surfaces in the city, taking a wide variety of pollutants with them directly into Lake Ontario. The runoff also mixes with sewage in the city's sewage system, which can result in contaminated water flowing into streams and other bodies of water.

The City has created water efficiency programs that provide solutions and rebates to reduce water use and save money. Toronto's goal is 15% reduction of water use by 2011. Reducing current residential and commercial water use will ensure that Toronto's water system can meet the needs of a growing city.

• Water Quality
  • Source Protection for Drinking Water
  • Toronto's Beaches
• Water Efficiency
  • WaterSaver Programs
  • Water Saving Tips
• Stormwater
  • Downspout Disconnection
  • Storm Drain Marking Program
  • Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan
• Wastewater
  • Wastewater Master Plan
  • Sewer Use Bylaw
• Watersheds
  • Monitoring Watersheds
  • Watershed Planning
  • Don River Revival

Source Protection for Drinking Water
Toronto and Region Conservation, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation are working in partnership to co-ordinate the development of plans for the source protection of drinking water. The goal is to ensure there is safe, clean drinking water for all Ontarians.

More details about Toronto and Region Conservation's Source Protection strategy.

Toronto's Beaches
The City of Toronto is the first municipality in Canada to be recognized by the international Blue Flag program for setting high standards in water quality and cleanliness at its beaches. Four of Toronto's beach areas have been awarded the Blue Flag: Cherry Beach, Hanlan's Point, Ward's Island and Woodbine Beaches.

The standards pertain to water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and safety/service.

Toronto's beach water is tested each weekday from early June to early September. Water quality must not exceed the provincial guidelines for E. Coli bacteria at least 80 per cent of the time throughout the swimming season in order to receive and maintain the Blue Flag designation.

For more information on the Blue Flag program, a partnership between the City of Toronto and Environmental Defence Canada, go to Torontobeach.ca.

For up-to-date information on beaches water quality see Toronto beaches water quality reports.

WaterSaver Programs
Incentives for reducing water use.

• Incentives for institutions - The City's Water Buy Back Program offers cash incentives for industrial, commercial and institutional buildings that permanently reduce the use of water. The financial incentives can be substantial and help offset the cost of installing water-efficient equipment.

• Watering the lawn - The City encourages homeowners to water their lawns at non-peak hours (7 a.m. to 10 a.m.) to reduce pressure on the municipal water system and to reduce overall water use (and related costs). The City also has tips and advice on how to be a water efficient gardener.

More information about Toronto Water's Watersaver programs.

Water Saving Tips
Water use in the residential sector accounts for about 52 per cent of all the water supplied in the City of Toronto.

Each summer, the demand for water increases by as much as 80 per cent compared to the amount of water used in the winter. We use extra water for our lawns and gardens, to wash cars, to fill and backwash pools, and to irrigate parks and landscapes. Unfortunately, the water is often wasted.

Find out how you can use less water both inside and outside of your home. Here are some water saving tips from Toronto Water that will help you save money at the same time.

Downspout Disconnection
Disconnecting your roof's downspouts (from the eavestroughs) will reduce the flow of storm water into the city's sewer system - which in turn will reduce the pollution of local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario.

During a heavy rainfall, millions of litres of rainwater mixes with sanitary sewage in the sewer system, overloading it. The mixture can flow untreated into natural waterways. The overloading can also flood basements, contaminate lake water and make beaches unsafe for swimming.

More information about basement flooding is available by calling 416-338-8888.

A Mandatory Downspout Disconnection Program was approved by City Council on November 20, 2007. Further information about the program and a how to guide for disconnecting your downspout can be found by visiting the Downspout Disconnection Program.

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 by marking storm drains with a yellow fish. The yellow fish serves a reminder that what we pour down the drain ends up in our lake.

Please contact the Toronto and Region Conservation for more information.

Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan
Toronto's water pollution solution is presented in a long-term master plan to protect our environment and to help keep Toronto's rivers, streams and other bodies of water healthy.

The 25-year plan also deals with steps needed to reduce the adverse effects of wet weather flow - water runoff from roofs and roads that is generated when it rains or snows.

Learn more about the Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan and what the City is doing to protect our water quality.

Wastewater Master Plan
The City of Toronto is working on a Biosolids and Residuals Master Plan that will provide direction on the future management of biosolids and other water-borne residual matter generated by the City's eight water and wastewater treatment plants to the year 2025.

The plan will ensure that the City's management of its biosolids and water residuals is cost efficient, environmentally sound and sustainable.

More information about biosolids and protecting our water quality.

Sewer Use Bylaw
Clean water is everyone's business. The City of Toronto has a Sewer Use Bylaw that requires businesses to plan for pollution prevention when their operations involve discharging wastewater into sewers and watersheds. The bylaw also sets strict limits on waste discharges.

More information about the Sewer Use Bylaw.

Monitoring Watersheds
Toronto and Region Conservation monitors water quality, aquatic habitats, groundwater, precipitation and bio-diversity. The data is incorporated into plans for local watersheds and fish management, development/permit reviews, and other reports.

Among key projects are the Don and Humber watershed plans and report cards, naturalization of the lower Don River, a natural heritage system for the City of Toronto, and efforts involving Port Union Waterfront Park and Tommy Thompson Park.

More information is available from Toronto and Region Conservation.

Watershed Planning
Planning and implementation of an approach to managing watersheds (source waters) is currently underway in nine Toronto-area watersheds and the Lake Ontario waterfront. They are the Don, Humber and Rouge rivers, and the Etobicoke, Mimico, Highland, Petticoat, Duffins and Carruthers creeks.

Initiatives involve the creation of watershed management plans that report on watershed health and the protection and restoration of environmentally significant land and water sources. Community-based outreach and action are promoting watershed health.

More information on Toronto and Region Conservation's Watershed Strategies.

Don River Revival
The Task Force to Bring Back the Don is a citizens' group sponsored by the City of Toronto. The group works to revive or "bring back" a clean and accessible Don River watershed.

For more information see the Bring Back the Don.