YORK REGION CELEBRATES WORLD WATER DAY, MARCH 22, 2024

Friday, March 22, 2024 is World Water Day, an annual celebration of water and reminder that a safe and reliable source of water is key to healthy and thriving communities.

Water is an essential part of our everyday lives: from brushing our teeth, to taking a shower, cooking a meal, using electricity in our homes to driving a car. Every day, York Region proudly delivers 325 million litres of clean, safe drinking water to over 1.2 million residents. Our water comes from three sources: Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe and groundwater wells. This World Water Day, take a moment to learn where your water comes from!

From protecting our water sources to meeting regulated treatment processes, York Region has hundreds of dedicated, expert staff who work around the clock to support the delivery of drinking water and wastewater treatment.

Here are three ways you can help support a healthy water system:

• Protect your pipes from fats, oils and grease 
  Fats, oils and grease (FOG) goes in your green bin – not down the toilet or drain. FOG will cool, harden and clog your pipes, causing costly damage or back-ups in your home.  

• Protect our drinking water sources 
  Through our Source Water Protection program, the Region works with governments, businesses, farms and residents to protect our water sources from contamination and overuse now and into the future.

  Residents and businesses also play a vital role in protecting our drinking water sources:  

  • Dispose chemicals such as home heating fuel, paint remover, paints and stains, adhesives, degreasing products and pesticides responsibly
  • Maintain your septic system 
  • Return expired or unused medications and pharmaceuticals to a participating pharmacy or a York Region Household Hazardous Waste Depot for safe disposal 
• Get to know your Outdoor Water Use bylaw 
  Every summer, outdoor activities such as watering lawns and gardens nearly doubles water demand, putting our drinking and emergency water supply at risk. Before reaching for the hose, get to know your city or town’s Outdoor Water Use bylaw.
   
  Join the conversation! What do you value about water? Share your views on social media and upload pictures or a video of the role water plays in your life. Whether it’s skating on a rink, planting seeds for your garden or simply having access to clean, safe drinking tap water, tag your post with #WorldWaterDay and #water2me