Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
Paddlefest attendees rally behind the Watermark Project
Waterkeeper attended MEC Paddlefest 2017 this past weekend to talk about water quality and rec water use. People's desire to do their part to protect the lake became a dominant theme, and it was the Watermark Project that became the answer. Paddlefest attendees rallied behind the Watermark Project as a means to do their part to protect our waters.
Results are in: Reporting on Toronto Harbour’s water quality and sewage pollution
Yesterday, Waterkeeper's VP Krystyn Tully presented our much-anticipated Toronto Harbour Report to a room filled with boaters, paddlers, surfers, swimmers, and water lovers from around the city. Attendees watched as all of our findings were revealed in our video report, which will be published online in December. In case you weren't able to attend, here is a sneak peek.
$1.1 billion towards Ontario’s infrastructure and a stronger Swim Drink Fish community
Last week, the Ontario and Canadian governments announced that $1.1 billion will be invested into infrastructure upgrades across the province. Since a lot of Waterkeeper's focus has been on wastewater and water quality, it's no surprise that Mark wanted to share his thoughts on this big announcement.
Madhu Nagaraja: Get to know your community by jumping into your lake
Some of the greatest adventures are experienced when we least expect it. So if you’re looking for some inspiration to get yourself excited for the upcoming Toronto Island Lake Swim, look no further. Madhu Nagaraja swam in his first open-water race in 2003. Since then, Madhu has taken on some of the greatest open water challenges that mother nature has to offer – including swimming across Lake Ontario.
When I see sewage pollution: A plea to all who love the lake
The sight of sewage debris in any waterbody is disturbing. And despite the dry weather, Waterkeeper is still finding sewage debris. So if you're one of the thousands who visit the shoreline, we're hoping you can help be our eyes on the water. Here's why.
The difference heavy rain can make in Toronto’s inner harbour
We know that rain can have an effect on water quality. This is particularly relevant to recreational water users and why we believe monitoring Toronto’s inner harbour is so important. As we are in the midst of our water sampling effort, we only have lab results from our first water sampling excursion. But after last night's heavy rain, we can draw some comparisons to provide perspective.
Marilyn Bell DiLascio reacts to recent discovery of sewage debris in Lake Ontario
Traveling by boat on July 8, 2016, Waterkeeper Mark Mattson arrived in Toronto and spotted a 2km stretch of waste floating in the lake, just off of Ashbridges Bay. When we posted the images and videos online, many people were shocked – one of who was famed open water swimmer, Marilyn Bell. As Lake Ontario’s first “Swim Drink Fish Ambassador,” Marilyn was quick to lend her voice for the lake that has a big place in her heart. Here’s her message.
Waterkeeper’s preliminary comments on the Scarborough Waterfront Project
The Scarborough Waterfront Project (“SWP”) is a proposal to build an 11-km shoreline pathway along the stretch of Bluffs lining Lake Ontario. Because this is the first phase of the assessment process, Waterkeeper’s comments are focused on the overarching purpose and direction of the project.
Help us create a Swimmable Lake Ontario
Only a small fraction of Toronto’s waterfront is monitored for water quality. And without water quality information, recreational water users can't make informed decisions to protect their health. So this summer Lake Ontario Waterkeeper has a plan, but we’ll need your help. Yesterday we launched our first ever crowdfunding campaign. It's called, Swimmable Lake Ontario.
No notifications, no information: Paddling with a floating condom
Last summer, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment decided that Toronto should notify the public of wet weather events. This will alert the public when recreational water quality is in question. If you happen to be one of Toronto’s many dedicated rec water users like Michael and Nadia Austin, you probably have a few concerns. Waterkeeper caught up with these two surfer-SUP’ers to discuss their recent experiences on the water.