Thames-Sydenham Source Protection Region

🏡 Spring cleaning for rural homes looks a little different…

If you have a private well or septic system:

✔️ Inspect for leaks or damage

✔️ Pump out septic tanks as needed

✔️ Keep chemicals out of drains

✔️ Test your Drinking Water

What goes into your system can come back into your water. Test your drinking water today by going to: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Laboratory-Services/Well-Water-Testing

Protect your well. Protect your health 💧

Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water) | Public Health Ontario What you need to know about the analyses performed on samples collected from private drinking water systems.

🌿 Cleaning up your yard this spring?

What you do outside matters just as much as inside.

✔️ Sweep up leftover salt and debris

✔️ Use fertilizers sparingly

✔️ Keep compost piles away from water flow areas

Spring rain can carry anything on the ground straight into our water sources.

A little care now goes a long way 🌎💧

🧼 Spring cleaning? Don’t forget about your water.

As you clean out your garage, basement, or shed this season, take a second look at what you’re storing:

🛢️ Old fuel

🧴 Chemicals & cleaners

🌱 Fertilizers & pesticides

If not stored or disposed of properly, these can end up in our drinking water—especially during spring rains.

✔️ Store safely

✔️ Don’t pour down drains

✔️ Take hazardous waste to proper drop-off sites

Find your closest hazardous waste drop off site here:

Build better habits & get wise about waste | Recycle Coach Solutions Learn how to make better disposal decisions, find your local waste and recycling info, and see your pick-up calendar. All at your fingertips.

💧Do you know where your drinking water comes from?

Rivers? Lakes? Underground aquifers? 🌊

No matter the source, it all needs protection!

Take a moment today to learn about your local drinking water source: https://www.protectingourwater.ca/

Home | protectingourwater Hundreds of thousands of homeowners in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Township of Perth East, Town of Plympton-Wyoming, St. Clair Township, Village of Point Edward, Municipality of Lambton Shores, City of Sarnia, Town of St. Marys, City of Stratford and the Municipality of West Perth rely on muni...

More road salt does not mean more ice melting. Spread salt sparingly and evenly for the best results. https://arcg.is/1LbanC1

Proper road salt storage and application are key this winter. These simple steps help protect our :

✔Spread salt sparingly and evenly

✔Clean up any salt spills

✔Keep salt storage lids closed to prevent runoff

DYK - Rock salt works best between 0°C and -10°C? When temperatures are too cold for salt to be effective, there are alternatives you can use to create traction to avoid slipping on icy surfaces. https://bit.ly/3F5V4ED

DYK - On average you only need to apply 1 tbsp of road salt for 1m2 of paved surface? In fact, 1 kg of salt will melt 46 kg of ice, so apply sparingly! https://arcg.is/1LbanC1

and help protect our drinking water sources this winter with these simple snow storage tips:

✔Store snow away from wells, rivers, and storm drains

✔Remove trash and debris before snow melts to avoid pollutants from entering waterways

✔Direct snowmelt away from sidewalks and streets

✔Clear snow promptly while it's easier to move

✔Store snow downhill from salt to prevent contamination

https://bit.ly/4h5USFr

Do you live in a drinking water protection zone? Taking action to can help protect municipal drinking water sources. https://arcg.is/1LbanC1