How You Can Help
Wastewater Treatment Starts at Home
As residents, we have a lot of control over what goes down our drains. Pouring fats, oils, grease, detergents, chemicals, medications or food waste into our sinks means that they end up in marine environments, where they have the potential to cause environmental damage. Wastewater treatment starts at the source, and it won’t end once treatment facilities are in place. Wastes and chemicals can be hard on treatment facilities and necessitate more frequent maintenance, higher operation costs and energy demands.
Wastewater treatment starts at the source, & it won’t end once treatment facilities are in place.
The good news is it’s not hard to limit the amount of contaminants that go down our drains. The CRD’s Residential Source Control Program provides many ways you can help protect our marine environment and maintain our wastewater infrastructure.
Medications Return Program
Every year, CRD Residents toss thousands of kilograms of unused or expired medications into the garbage or down the drain. Ultimately, these drugs end up in the ocean, where they can potentially have a negative impact on marine environments.
The good news is there are many pharmacies who collect our waste medications for proper disposal.
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Laundry Detergent Reduction Program
Laundry soap gets its cleaning power from detergent (also known as surfactant), the ingredient responsible for the suds made by many cleaning products. Unfortunately, detergents also have the potential to be toxic to marine life.
The good news is that the CRD has soft water, and soft water requires less detergent to achieve the same degree of cleanliness.
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Fats, Oils & Grease Program
When fats, oils and grease (FOG) go down the drain, they can cause a whole host of problems for our wastewater system and local environment. From clogged pipes to depleted oxygen in the marine receiving environment, the effect of FOG in our wastewater is both costly and ecologically damaging.
The good news is there are some simple alternatives to pouring FOG down the drain.
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Local Harbours & Watersheds Protection
The CRD’s Stormwater, Harbours and Watersheds program works with municipalities and the community to maintain healthy watersheds and protect the near shore receiving environment.
There are many ways you can help protect the health of our watersheds, which in turn helps to protect both our water sources and our local shoreline environments. Protection can be as simple as planting native species near any wetland areas on your property, or as involved as limiting shoreline development.
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