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 Water
quality reports and ads
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Wet Weather Flow Master Plan
 Toronto City Council adopted the Wet Weather Flow Master Plan (WWFMP) and a 25-Year Implementation Plan in 2003. The goal of the WWFMP is to reduce and ultimately eliminate the adverse impacts of wet weather flow, which is runoff generated when it rains or snows, to protect our environment and improve the ecosystem health of the watersheds. What's it all about? Learn more ...
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
 Toronto has some of the best beaches in the world, which is verified by the Blue Flag Program.
In 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. Eight Toronto beaches have been awarded the exclusive eco-label of the Blue Flag Program including: Hanlan's Point, Gibraltar Point, Centre Island, Wards Island, Cherry, Woodbine, Kew Balmy, and Bluffer's 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.
For more information on the Blue Flag program go to www.toronto.ca/beach/. For up-to-date information on beaches water quality go to Toronto
beaches water quality reports.
Tanks
and a tunnels
 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...
Sewers Bylaw
The City enforces a variety of bylaws designed to avoid pollution.
For example, the Sewers Bylaw 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 purpose.
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 between 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 website 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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