Swim Drink Fish
Stories
Read the latest stories, updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, and more.
We answer your questions about Toronto's brown waterfront
Our phone has been ringing off the hook with questions about Toronto's waterfront - specifically, what's going on with the brown water. Here's some basic information to help you understand what's happening. (Spoiler alert: it's sewage).
City of Toronto withholding information about sewage bypasses
No one should ever get sick from a day out on the water. Recreational water illnesses can be prevented by providing the public with reliable, current information about water quality. If people can make informed choices about where and when to swim, thousands of waterborne illnesses would be prevented each year. That’s what makes Toronto’s recent storm – and the government’s silence – so infuriating.
Transforming the Joe Burke Wolfe Island Literary Festival with watermarks
Great writers, great people, and a Great Lake. By sharing their affection for literature and Canadian culture, this annual literary festival is now a community favourite.
Red flags for Great Lakes beaches
The hallmark of a clean beach is one that is sampled regularly and meets bacteriological water quality standards 95% of the time. Our Great Lakes should be swimmable, not because we massage the numbers, but because the waters are free from the sewage and stormwater pollution that cause beach postings.
Sewage hits Sunnyside beach, just in time for the summer swim season
If it pours rain on Friday afternoon and you head to the beach on Saturday, there’s a good chance you’re exposing yourself to sewage pollution despite that green flag flying. How often do you really want to hear about sewage spills and Lake Ontario? Are you afraid to swim in the lake? We want to hear from you.
We told the Ontario government a microbeads law would help the Great Lakes (and we meant it)
This 5-minute presentation by Krystyn Tully of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper summarizes the reasons the legislation would help to better protect the Great Lakes. It was delivered to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on June 4, 2015.
Tanis Rideout attends the Joe Burke Wolfe Island Literary Festival every year
Every year I get asked by writers, how do I get asked to Wolfe Island? I hear it’s incredible. And they’re right.
For Media