Water in Burlington

Halton Children's Water Festival

The Halton Children's Water Festival combines Ontario curriculum requirements and offers fun, hands-on learning activity centres that are displayed throughout the event in a natural outdoor setting. Nearly 60 interactive activity centres teach children about water conservation and protection, water health and safety, water science and technology, and water and society.

Visit Halton Children's Water Festival...

Ontario's Great Lakes Strategy 2016 Progress Report

This progress report outlines some of the key accomplishments and new scientific findings established during the first three years of Ontario's Great Lakes Strategy. It represents the actions across 14 different Great Lakes ministries and numerous partners.

Read Ontario's Great Lakes Strategy 2016 Progress Report...

Lake Ontario Shoreline Management Program

Conservation Halton works on the Lake Ontario Shoreline Management Program in partnership with local municipalities, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Learn more about the Lake Ontario Shoreline Management Program...

Register for the Great Waters Challenge

The Great Waters Challenge (GWC) will guide young Canadians  (grades 4-12 & youth groups such as scouts, girl guides or eco-clubs for age 9-18)  to uncover and celebrate water stories in their communities. These stories will be showcased on an interactive online map, to make visible how water connects us all across our communities from coast to coast.

Register for the Great Waters Challenge...

Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan

A remedial action plan for Hamilton Harbour was developed in 1992 and updated in 2002. The RAP includes a set of actions to improve harbour water quality and environmental conditions, and is intended to remove the harbour as an area of concern, designated by the International Joint Commission (IJC) in 1987.

Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change co-ordinate the development and implementation of RAPs to protect and restore areas of concern in Canada. A number of local stakeholders are involved in the actions, including the cities of Burlington and Hamilton, Halton Region and the Bay Area Restoration Council.

Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan...

Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project

Hamilton Harbour, also known as Burlington Bay, is home to the largest and most contaminated site within the Canadian side of the Great Lakes - Randle Reef.

The cities of Hamilton and Burlington are located within and around the watershed. Cleaning up Randle Reef is one of the most significant steps remaining to remediate Hamilton Harbour and remove it from the list of Areas of Concern. The project will reduce the amount and spread of contaminants through the Harbour, significantly improving water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.

Visit the Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project...

Clean Up Green Up with BurlingtonGreen

Each April, BurlingtonGreen hosts this citywide event inviting all sectors of the community to get involved in cleaning up our beautiful city. To date, more than 55,000 participants have joined the collective effort resulting in cleaner parks, streams, school yards and neighbourhoods.

Visit Clean Up Green Up with BurlingtonGreen...

Halton Watershed Stewardship Program

Conservation Halton offers a free environmental assistance program to landowners in its jurisdiction called Halton Watershed Stewardship (formerly the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program). The mission is to protect and restore environmentally significant natural areas and watercourses, such as creeks and streams, in the Conservation Halton watersheds.

Visit Halton Watershed Stewardship Program...

Field and Stream Rescue Team

The Field and Stream Rescue Team holds several projects a year that count on community volunteers to participate and aid in cleaning, general stream rehabilitation and native tree and shrub plantings. The goal is to educate communities through hands-on activities and create an overall cleaner, more natural environment. Each cleanup removes debris and litter from the streams and creeks to reduce potential harmful material from entering the Great Lakes, our fresh water resource. Cleanups also improve water flow and reduce stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.

Visit Field and Stream Rescue Team...

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup allows participants to register for a cleanup any time of the year, anywhere land connects to water. Search the interactive map to lead or join a cleanup. Nearly 60,000 registrants cleaned more than 2,000 shorelines across Canada in 2015, removing almost 180,000 kilograms of litter from more than 3,000 kilometres of shoreline.

Visit Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup...

Halton Region 

Halton Region consistently monitors our water to make sure that it's safe and available 24/7. The region carefully treats water to remove any potentially harmful contaminants and disinfects water to make sure it's safe when it reaches our faucets. The region maintains an elaborate underground network of pipes to get it there.

Visit Halton Region...

Thirsty? Try the tap!

In 2010, Burlington City Council endorsed the Thirsty? Try the tap! campaign to promote tap water and introduce restrictions on the sale of bottled water in city facilities. As part of this campaign, Council approved a plan to update and/or replace water fountains with bottle fillers at indoor and outdoor facilities, including two water bars now used for outdoor city events.

Learn more about Burlington's waste initiatives...

Well Water

Many Halton Region residents, living primarily in rural areas, rely on private wells, cisterns or other sources for their drinking water.

Learn more about well water...

Outdoor Water Use Program

During the hot summer months, water consumption can increase by 50 per cent. Despite the increase in demand for water, there are limits to both the amount of potable water any given treatment plan can produce and the amount of water the region is permitted to take from any given water source.

Learn more about the Outdoor Water Use Program...

Water Conservation

To make sure there is the same accessibility to fresh water resources in the future, we need to make water conservation an important part of our daily lives today.

Learn more about water conservation...

Province Supporting Pilot to Assess 4,000 Burlington Homes

Ontario is investing $237,000 in a pilot project that will help Burlington homeowners reduce the risk of basement flooding from severe weather events associated with climate change.

After experiencing substantial residential flooding in August 2014, Burlington was selected as the ideal location to run the first large-scale basement-flood risk reduction program.

Learn more about the support pilot project...

Natural Hazards: Flooding and Erosion

Flooding and erosion are natural hazard concerns in Conservation Halton's watershed. Threats directly associated with flooding and erosion includes property damage, personal injury, or loss of life, as well as impacts to water quality and the area's animals and plants.

Learn more about Natural Hazards: Flooding and Erosion...

Basement Flooding

Halton Region has been taking action to reduce future overloading of the region's wastewater system and the potential for basement flooding due to sewer backups. Halton has a number of programs and services to support residents to protect themselves, their properties and their community.

Learn more about Basement Flooding...

Storm Water Management in Burlington

Water generated from a variety of sources, including rain, snowmelt or excess water from residential and commercial properties is referred to as storm water. This water flows and reaches one or a combination of systems designed to transport storm water such as swales (a v-shaped ditch), roadside ditches, storm sewers and creeks. Through these channels, the water is ultimately discharged into Lake Ontario.

Storm Water Management in Burlington...

Participate in an environmental education program to learn more about water stewardship:

• Yellow Fish Road Program
• Halton Children's Water Festival
• Stream of Dreams
• Celebrate World Water Day on March 22

Subscribe to the city's Take Action Burlington blog full of great information about how collectively we can make a difference. Blog posts related to water include:

• Empty your pool, spa or hot tub the right way
• Paint the city yellow!
• Help keep our creeks and lakes clean

Waterfront at Downtown Burlington

Burlington's Downtown Waterfront is a unique destination offering Burlington residents and visitors a place to discover, celebrate, play, and relax. The waterfront includes four primary areas:  The Brant Street Pier, Spencer Smith Park, Discovery Landing and Beach way Park.

Waterfront at Downtown Burlington...

Beach Water Monitoring Results

Halton Region's Health Department monitors area beaches to protect swimmers from illnesses or harm that may be linked to unsafe water quality.

Beach Water Monitoring Results...

Great Lakes Waterfront Trail

Stretching 1,600 kilometers along the Canadian shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and the Niagara, Detroit and St. Lawrence Rivers, the Waterfront Trail connects 84 communities; three Great Lakes; three bi-national Rivers; three UNESCO biospheres; and 10 cycle-friendly communities. It includes more than 40 major connecting trails, including the Greenbelt Route and the Bruce Trail.

Great Lakes Waterfront Trail...

LaSalle Park

LaSalle Park and Pavilion is a beautiful 57-acre park located on North Shore Boulevard, developed and operated by the City of Burlington since 1970s.  It includes sports fields, a playground, a wading pool and splash pad and an extensive picnic area and a marina.

Visit LaSalle Park...

Paletta Lakefront Park and Mansion

This picturesque park with mature trees is located on the south side of Lakeshore Road, between Appleby and Walkers Line. The park is divided into two distinct areas, the estate lands and the valley walls and flood plain of Shore acres Creek.

Paletta Lakefront Park...

Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan

The Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park is a premier waterfront park located in downtown Burlington on the Lake Ontario shoreline. The park is approximately 35 hectares in size and is made up of two city parks, Spencer Smith Park and Beach way Park. The new Master Plan will provide a long-term strategic vision for the park.

Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan...

Burloak Waterfront Park Master Plan

Halton Regional Council approved the revised master plan for Burl oak Regional Waterfront Park. The city is working with its partners from Halton Region and the Town of Oakville to develop construction drawings for the phased development of the park. The first phase may include construction of the main walkway system, seating areas and a shade pavilion.

Burloak Waterfront Park Master Plan...

Spencer Smith Park...

Burlington Sewer Systems

Did you know the City of Burlington has two different sewer systems?

Sanitary Sewer - A sanitary sewer carries water from drains and toilets to a wastewater treatment plant for treatment before it is released into Lake Ontario, several kilometres from shore.
Storm Sewer - A storm sewer carries rain and melted snow through large grates on the ground, known as catch basins. Anything entering a catch basin goes directly into the nearest creek and eventually Lake Ontario. This water, referred to as storm water, is not treated.

Did You Know?

• Saltwater pools must always be drained to the sanitary sewer due to the high level of chlorides.
• Chemicals should not be added to your pool, spa or hot tub for one week or longer before draining.
• Draining your chlorinated water into the storm sewer kills fish.
• Drain your pool, spa or hot tub water across your lawn.
• Never drain your pool, spa or hot tub water on a rainy day because it will make it harder for your lawn to absorb the water and will overwhelm the storm sewer system.
• Never drain into a ravine. It could cause the slopes to become unstable and kill the vegetation. 

Why Should I Be Concerned About Chlorine and Saltwater from My Pool, Spa or Hot Tub?

• Both saltwater and chlorinated pools, spas and hot tubs are filled with chemicals that are needed to keep them clean and safe. 
• The main chemicals found in pools - such as chlorine, bromine, salt, copper-based algaecides, nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates - are harmful to the fish and organisms that live in the creeks across Burlington and Lake Ontario. 
• The thousands of residential pools in Burlington can have a significant impact on creeks and ultimately Lake Ontario. 

Ravines and Valleys

Pool water (of any kind) can never be drained into a ravine or valley, or onto the ground near a ravine or valley. Pool water will cause erosion and serious damage to vegetation.

Your Responsibility

As the owner of a private swimming pool, hot tub or spa, you and your pool service company are legally responsible to:

• Safely maintain and operate your pool, hot tub or spa.
• Report a spill to provincial and municipal authorities if your pool water has gone into a stream, river, lake or storm sewer system without proper treatment. 

Dispose of expired or leftover pool chemicals properly. Take them to the Halton Waste Management Site - Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 5400 Regional Rd. 25, Milton and watch for annual Special Waste Drop-off Days at halton.ca/waste.  

Maintaining Your Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Water the Right Way

Opening Your Pool in the Springtime

• REMOVE all debris, leaves or pet waste from the pool cover or tarp. Do not dispose in a ravine.
• DRAIN the accumulated snow and rainwater on top of the pool cover or tarp by a hose across your lawn or to the storm sewer. 

Filter Backwash Water

• The water from routine backwashing or pool filters also contains chemicals. 
• FILTER AND DECHLORINATE the backwash water if going to storm sewers OR
• DRAIN to the sanitary sewer OR
• DRAIN onto your property if it can be properly absorbed into the ground. 

Draining your pool, spa and hot tub water

Never drain on a rainy day or into a ravine.

Chlorinated Water

• SUPER CHLORINATE to get rid of the bacteria, algae and organic matter.
• DECHLORINATE THE WATER before draining it by placing a dechlorination tablet in the water then letting it sit for one week or longer to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
• RUN THE PUMP to circulate the water and assist in the dissipation of the chlorine. Sunlight will also help.
• FILTER BACKWASH water and dechlorinate. 
• TEST YOUR POOL, HOT TUB OR SPA WATER ensuring chemical levels are as close to zero as possible before draining.
• DRAIN YOUR POOL, SPA OR HOT TUB WATER ACROSS YOUR LAWN leading to the storm sewer, so your lawn can absorb most of the water and reduce the flow.
• REPORT ANY SPILL of untreated pool water to the provincial and municipal authorities if it has gone into a stream, river, lake or storm sewer system.

Saltwater

• DRAIN SALTWATER pools to the sanitary sewer system connection on your property (sink, toilet, etc.) using a small hose during non-peak times OR
• DRAIN ONTO YOUR LAWN surrounding your home, if it can be properly absorbed into the ground without flowing onto your neighbour's property OR
• HAVE THE WATER HAULED by a Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change approved and licensed hauler if it cannot be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or solely onto your lawn.
• REPORT ANY SPILL to the provincial and municipal authorities if it has gone into a stream, river, lake or storm sewer system.

Report a Spill

• Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Spills Action Centre - 1-800-268-6060
• City of Burlington's Roads, Parks and Forestry Department - 905-333-6166
• Halton Region Industrial Waste Team - 311, 905-825-6000, 1-866-442-5866

Link to "Your Guide to Proper Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Maintenance" brochure (pdf)