by Ty Fischer, Riparian Habitat Restoration Intern
Canada is a country known for its freshwater. It is a part of our identity, with many of us forming foundational memories in and around our rivers and lakes throughout our lives. With twenty-percent of the global supply of freshwater held within our borders (Government of Canada, 2018), our waterways and the wildlife they sustain are truly unique in the world.
Such a widely distributed and heavily used asset requires us to all work together to conserve and protect it, and small businesses can play an especially important role in this regard. Small businesses in Canada are a powerful force for good because they can make changes to their business practices quickly and efficiently, having immediate positive impacts. Combined with their close ties to Canadian communities and frequent adoption of positive community values in their business practices, small businesses can effectively lead the charge in protecting freshwater areas. The process is mutually beneficial as a business gets a good reputation for showcasing their tangible commitment to freshwater conservation and positive environmental action.
There are many ways that your small business can help conserve and protect Canada’s freshwater, from small tweaks in daily operations, to larger and more permanent changes. In this blog post, we’ll provide a variety of options at varying costs and levels of commitment that can help your business help our environment, no matter the size or scale.
First, consider going through the general cleaning or maintenance products that your business uses and swapping them out for more eco-friendly alternatives. Whether they are cleaning agents, road salts, herbicides, pesticides, or anything else, almost everything has an environmentally safe option that can work just as well (Green Business Bureau, 2022). It might seem like a small change, however, all these products have the chance of sneaking into surface water runoff and eventually making their way into our waterways, which can cause a variety of water quality problems. Making the switch to environmentally safe products is easy, and it will also look good to any partners or clients that are visiting your place of business in-person!
Second, you can create a rain garden or a vegetative buffer on your property. Even if you are using environmentally safe products in your place of business, rainwater runoff can still pick up fertilizer, oil, bacteria, and other pollutants and carry them off your property into sewage systems and, eventually, our waterways. Rain gardens are effective for managing this problem as the root systems of various grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees help the water infiltrate into the ground, thereby trapping and storing the nutrients and toxins. Of course, rain gardens are also beautiful additions to any property – they are as aesthetic as they are functional!
Third, consider installing pervious (permeable) surfaces. Surface water can flow easily off of hard, non-porous materials such as asphalt or concrete, carrying with it any harmful substances it picks up on the way. Pervious surfaces, such as porous asphalt, interlocking pavers, gravel pads, and paving strips are a better choice because they allow water to immediately seep into stone-filled reservoirs and then into the soil (Green Business Bureau, 2022). This is ideal because it promotes harmful substances to be stored underground before they are washed away. This reduces total runoff volumes which lessens instances of erosion; it also recharges groundwater levels. Permeable surfaces can often last much longer than typical asphalt (CRD, n.d.), which can save your business money down the line.
Fourth and finally, consider joining our Business Supporter Program! A partnership with Watersheds Canada will help expand the reach and impact of our programming, resulting in more communities being mobilized to restore more shorelines with native plants, more walleye and lake trout spawning beds being enhanced, and so much more – all resulting in healthier freshwater systems in Canada. Not only that, but a partnership with Watersheds Canada is mutually beneficial – it will help your business grow by providing promotional value and showcasing positive brand alignment. Your company’s commitment to the protection and enhancement of our waterways will be made clear through our year-long communications campaigns, delivered to thousands of target-level audiences across Canada whose attention will be placed upon your business. It’s a win-win!
References
Long, S. (2022, November 15). Water sustainability: What does it mean for business?. Green Business Bureau. https://greenbusinessbureau.com/green-practices/water-sustainability-what-does-it-mean-for-business/
Permeable paving. CRD. (2013, November 10). https://www.crd.bc.ca/education/stormwater-wastewater-septic/green-stormwater-infrastructure/permeable-paving
Soak up the rain: What’s the problem? | US EPA. (n.d.). https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-whats-problem
Water: frequently asked questions. Canada.ca. (2021, December 14). https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/frequently-asked-questions.html