by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern Many pool and hot tub owners want to get away from the harsh chemicals like chlorine, bromide, and algaecides by switching to saltwater. Using saltwater is appealing because it is believed to be gentler on skin, hair, eyes, and swimwear, and pool-grade salt costs less to maintain than a chlorine pool. In contrast, salt water is corrosive to metal and natural stone, costs more to install, uses more energy to run and keep clean, and could also ... Read More
Hot Tubs, Pools, and Freshwater: How to Properly Drain Your Water
by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern Improperly draining your hot tub or pool can not only result in large fines but can also potentially result in the wastewater ending up in local freshwater bodies and making them inhabitable for some freshwater species. Most municipalities have guidelines for disposing pool or hot tub water, which can also be defined as “wastewater” or “greywater”. It is important to check with your municipality bylaws, provincial building codes, or your public ... Read More
Best Practices for Municipalities: Reducing Pollution from Pools and Hot Tubs
by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern Wastewater Management Planning Without a reliable place to dispose of contaminated water, all other best management practices will not have the maximum effort they could. That is why it is important for a municipality to develop a Safe and Reliable Wastewater Treatment System. In order to have a successful wastewater treatment plant upgrade, municipalities should consider: Developing a long-term vision. Engaging with a wide range of decision ... Read More
Lake-Friendly Pool or Hot Tub Alternatives
by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern There are a lot of concerns when it comes to standard pools and hot tubs, such as their cost and health impacts. What about their environmental impacts? Most hot tubs and pools contain chlorine, bromide, salt, and algaecides which can be harmful to the environment, especially when not disposed of properly. Ultraviolet Light A great alternative to chlorine is ultraviolet light in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide which has been shown to be very ... Read More
Pool and Hot Tub Pollution – Public Perception and Awareness Survey
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Watersheds Canada National Conference 2025
WHEN: May 1-2, 2025 WHERE: Haliburton, ON WHAT HAPPENED: You immersed yourself in Watersheds Canada’s inaugural conference where inspiration leads to action! We gathered together fellow lake and watershed enthusiasts for an engaging experience that took you beyond the conference room and into the field with hands-on stewardship project demonstrations and interactive seminars. Passionate lake leaders and environmental professionals networked, we shared innovative success stories, and we ... Read More
Enter to win a beautifully hand-crafted Belted Kingfisher!
Enter a contest to win a beautifully hand-crafted, new decorative Belted Kingfisher carving generously donated to Watersheds Canada by Canadian artist, Mike Reader: Belted Kingfisher are a common visitor to river and shoreline areas, nesting along banks and hunting almost exclusively on aquatic prey. You may have had the treat of hearing the rattling call of the kingfisher even if you haven't been able to spot it. Healthy riparian habitat is critical for Belted Kingfisher to thrive as ... Read More
Sowing the Seeds of Change with Community Gardens
by Ty Fischer, Riparian Health Restoration Intern Community gardens can vary widely in their purpose and design, but all of them share one common goal: to bring people together in creating and maintaining a thriving greenspace that benefits both humans and native wildlife. That’s why building a community garden is one of the greening projects offered by the Ottawa Faith Community Capacity Building Program, a joint effort between Greening Sacred Spaces Ottawa and Watersheds Canada. This ... Read More
Light Pollution – Public Perception and Awareness Survey
*Questions with an asterisk must be answered before the survey can be submitted. ... Read More
Road Salt Pollution – Public Perception and Awareness Survey
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