Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News is the newsletter of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund, published five times per year. The News is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin.
Volume 15, Number 3 • Fall 2007
Lake Ontario
Basin Update
Concerned about pollution? How to protect your community
By Krystyn Tully, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
People contact Lake Ontario
Waterkeeper nearly every day with
questions about pollution in their
communities. There's a plant next door
that is sending soot into the air. There's a
landfill down the street that is leaking
into a nearby creek.There's a funny smell
at the local beach and the water is often
murky. We've written up a few basic
steps that will help you take action when pollution affects your
community.Whether you want government to act, need the help
of an environmental group, or want to take the issue to the
media, these steps will help to get you started. Whether your
concern is air pollution or water pollution, your first steps as a
citizen investigator are often the same.
Step 1: Visit the site.
Visit the site that you are concerned about. Walk around the
perimeter (without trespasssing on private property). How big is
it?What kind of neighbours does it have? Is there water nearby?
Are their stacks going up in the air? Are their pipes that lead to
thewater?Make sure you write down and photograph everything
you see.
Step 2: Document everything.
Often themost effective thing you can do is to start documenting
what you see. Make a note every time the ash appears on your
porch or you see the funny-coloured liquid leaking into the creek.
Take a picture or make a video if you can. Even if this happens
every day, you should make a separate note each time.
Step 3: Phone the government.
Most pollution issues in Ontario are dealt with by theMinistry of
the Environment. You can reach them at 1-866-MOE-TIPS. Write
down the date that you call and the name of the person(s) who
speaks to you. Be clear about what you want them to do (for
example: come out and investigate, phone the polluter, clean up
a spill).Make a note of the response.
Step 4: Gather more facts.
If you've already contacted the government or the polluter but
the problem persists, strengthen your case. If the pollution is
happening without a licence, you can hold the polluter
accountable or get the licencing process started to get the
pollution under control. If there is a licence but your community is
still affected, you can helpmake the licence better to protect your
family and neighbours.
No matter what your goal is, you'll need to be able to answer the
following questions. Where is the pollution coming from? Who
controls the source of the pollution? Is the pollution licenced?
What does the licence say? Is the pollution in compliancewith the
licence? Have their been any complaints or charges in the past?
Step 5: Build Your Community.
Contact your neighbours. Share your thoughts and ideas and
work together. Each individual can contribute in a different, yet
equally important fashion. Support for and from others will help
you be effective in working for clean air and water.
Step 6: Determine your action.
Once you know who is polluting,when,where, how and whether
or not it's legal, you have a range of options.We've described the
Canada’s federal tools in the Waterkeeper’s Clean Water Primer
#2(www.waterkeeper.ca/documents/CWPrimer2-v1.pdf).
Depending on which province you live in, you also have a host of
provincial tools to help you protect your community.
Need help? Call us with your concerns and let us know what Step
you're stuck at.Waterkeeper's staff is more than happy to help!
For more information contact Krystyn at
Krystyn@waterkeeper.ca or visit http://www.waterkeeper.ca.
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