Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
Tools for pollution reporting, research, and protection
Do you know what pollution looks like out on the water? Have you ever wanted to do something to fight pollution? Waterkeeper recommends three free, user-friendly services to help you protect your waterbody from pollution.
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.
Global Sustainable Cities: Water, Floods, Extreme Weather Presentation
On June 15, 2016 Waterkeeper's Krystyn Tully was one of the featured speakers at Mindfirst's Global Sustainable Cities seminar where infrastructure and extreme weather were heavily discussed. Krystyn specifically spoke about wet weather, flooding, and urban water quality issues. This is Krystyn's presentation.
OCSI Infrastructure Forum Presentation: Swimming season is almost here, but have cities done enough to prepare for it?
Last Thursday, the Ontario Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (OCSI) hosted its third annual Infrastructure Forum where today's municipal decision makers and key stakeholders from the public and private sectors engaged in a constructive dialogue about the delivery of infrastructure in the province. This is what Krystyn presented.
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.
The myths that hold us back
Waterkeeper’s VP Krystyn Tully was recently featured as a guest speaker at the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) Conference in Kingston. Since improving infrastructure and protecting the lake are shared goals, Krystyn explained why our “Swim Drink Fish” mantra is so important to understand. Krystyn also shared common myths and why a discussion around protecting waterways can be challenging.
Why it's time to invest in Canada's love for water
Canadians love water. Our culture and our history can prove it. So how is it that Canada is also one of the dirtiest countries in the industrialized world? How have we fallen to dead-last amongst the world’s wealthiest countries when it comes to environmental protection? This question is at the heart of all Waterkeeper’s work right now. How can we reconcile what we say we love – water, nature, being outdoors with friends and family – with how we actually live?
2015 Case Review: Where do we stand at the end of the year?
With 2015 drawing to a close, what better time to look back at the events most affecting the lake? We looked at our newsletters, case summaries, and web traffic this year and compiled a list of the issues that caught your attention in 2015. Grab a coffee and enjoy the recap!
30 Reasons Why Torontonians Need Wet Weather Advisories Now
This summer, the Ontario government decided that the City of Toronto must alert the public when there are wet weather water quality concerns. But three months have passed and Toronto residents still don’t receive wet weather advisories. To highlight the importance of these alerts, we’re bringing you a new reason for every day in November – so check back often!
It’s 2015: Why is raw sewage floating through Montreal?
Sewage is a major focus of Waterkeeper's work. With sewage bypasses happening regularly in Toronto, Waterkeeper has been watching the news surrounding Montreal's 8 billion litre sewage dump into the St. Lawrence River very closely. To comment on the issue, the organization's President and Vice-President, Mark Mattson and Krystyn Tully, wrote an op-ed for the Globe and Mail. Here is an excerpt from the article.