Making our water - drinkable, fishable, swimmable : the Metro Toronto and region remedial action plan (RAP) for restoring and protecting water quality

3 Pages·1991·0.8 MB·English

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4_rI Making Decisions! Get Involved! EU Mákmg
¶••
"StrategieC
Taking Action! •
Many citizen's groups are making a positive impact on Our Water...
Find out more about actions and ideas to clean our local environment by planting trees, building trails,
up our water by obtaining a copy of "Strategies Action is already underway to clean up areas of our rivers cleaning river banks and pulling litter out of rivers. For
for Restonng our Waters." This new booklet and waterfrotn. Efforts in progress include: information on organizations in your area, contact the
explains how water pollution problems were •
Upgrading sewers and sewage treatment plants to Ontario Environmental Network: [phone].
created and how the Metro Toronto and Region
increase their effectiveness. •
RAP is working to restore and protect our water. • Participate in the Metro Toronto and Region RAP's
Tracing and disconnecting illegal sewage discharges
Call the RAP hotline at 323-4678 for a free Public Advisory Committee. Concerned members of
copy of "Strategies." into creeks, rivers and the waterfront. the public help shape the goals and priorities of the
•
Planting trees along the banks of rivers and creeks to RAP You can attend their monthly meetings.
stop erosion. Call 323-4678 for details.
•
Your support is vital! Setting up household hazardous waste depots and the • Contact your local municipality for ideas on handling Drinkable
Start cleaning up our rivers "toxics taxi" to provide people with an alternative to
household hazardous wastes.
and waterfront now! pouring toxic chemicals down the drain.
•
Contact the office of the Metro Toronto and Region RAP
This is the time for you to get involved and help make These are steps in the right direction. But the final cleanup
for copies of our brochures and reports. Ask for a copy
decisions. Which cleanup actions are best? Who is going plan may take 20 years—and millions of dollars—to meet
of "Strategies for Restoring our Waters." The RAP
to pay? You have a stake in the Remedial Action Plan. the goal of clean water.
Coordinator welcomes your comments. Members of
Voice Your Support! the RAP and the Public Advisory Committee would be
pleased to come and speak to your organization.
Public consultation is an important pan of the solution.
•
Check your community newspaper during the fall of 1991 Contact Environment Canada (973-9736) and the
Fishable
for a Metro Toronto and Region RAP Public Consultation Ontario Ministry of the Environment (424-3000) for
Meeting near you. more information on water quality issues.
For more information, contact
,
Steven Klose
Ren, Plan Metro Toronto and Region RAP Coordinator
Plan a Ontario Ministry of the Environment
4th Floor, 7 Overlea Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario,
Swin
M4H 1A8
[phone]
Canad'ii Ontario
0
Printed on recyckd The Metro Toronto and Region Remedial Action
Plan (RAP) for Restoring and Protecting Water Quality
AusM disponible en Innçais
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APlanfor The Action Plan ibmorrow's Water Understanding
AffectsYourArea Depends On Our The Problems
Today And
Actions ibday
The Metro Toronto and Region RAP covers 2000 square Many water pollution problems have been caused by a
Tomormw kilometres and is home to two and a half million people. failure to understand how land development, homes and
Everyone involved in the Metro Toronto and Region RAP
This includes areas drained by Etobicoke, Mimico and businesses affect our rivers and waterfront.
shares a vision for the future:
Highland Creeks and the Humber, Don and Rouge Rivers.
• Understanding is the first step to cleaning up and
The Metro Toronto and Water from each of these creeks and rivers flows into People drinking cool, clear water from the tap with protecting our water.
Lake Ontario. confidence that it is safe.
Region Remedial Action
•
If you live in this area, People swimming and windsurfing without fear Did You Know?
Plan (RAP) the RAP concerns you. of disease.
•
• People fishing—and taking the catch home Water that runs off roads, parking lots, farms and lawns
carries pollution directly into our rivers and waterfront
The waterfront and rivers of most
—often causing beach closures.
populated region are polluted. The situation People enjoying nature walks through thriving •
wildlife communities along the waterfront, wetlands Metro's inner harbour was once home to more than
is threatening our ability to enjoy the benefits and woodlots. 50 species of fish, including muskellunge, walleye and
of our water resources. A Remedial Action Water quality lake trout. Water pollution and habitat destruction
Plan (RAP) to restore and protect our water issues are have killed off a great number of these fish.
quality of life •
is being developed—and your support is vital! People who pour solvents, motor oil and other toxics
issues.
down the drain are flushing them right into Lake
OurGSs Ontario. The sewage treatment plants that process our
waste water are not designed to deal with these toxic
• chemicals. The toxic chemicals enter the food
Provide a healthy, balanced and sustainable ecosystem
chain—contaminating fish and other organisms.
for the people and wildlife in the region.
•
• A heavy rainfall can put more water into the system
Ensure the region's waters are drinkable, fishable and
than our sewage treatment plants can handle. The
swimmable—for everyone to enjoy.
untreated sewage ends up in Lake Ontario, leading
Concerned members of the public, four levels of govern- to beach closures.
ment, businesses, industry and environmental groups are
You can find out more aE,outthe causes
working together to ensure the Remedial Action Plan to of water pollution by reading "Sfralegies
clean up our water is comprehensive, coordinated and for Restoring our Waters"
achievable.
HIGHLAND
The health of our ecosystem depends on the CREEK
way we use water throughout the watershed.
CREEK LAKE ONTARIO