City of Barrie offers seasonal tips for residents to help protect Lake Simcoe

The City of Barrie is reminding residents of ways they can help keep Lake Simcoe clean this summer. Source water is the untreated water from streams, lakes, rivers or underground aquifers that is used to supply people with drinking water.

In Barrie, a mix of surface water (from Kempenfelt Bay) and groundwater make up the drinking water supply.

Source water protection is about protecting our sources of drinking water from overuse and contamination. It’s one component of Ontario’s multi-barrier approach to ensure clean and safe drinking water from source to tap. 

“We all have a role to play in protecting our environment and preserving the quality of our drinking water. Small steps can make a big difference,” said Katie Thompson, Manager of Environmental Risk Management and Compliance.

“There are actions residents can take each day to help keep our drinking water clean.”

This summer, please consider the following tips to protect Barrie’s source water:

• Wash your car at a car wash. Car washes are required to treat their wastewater before releasing it into the sewer. If you do wash your car at home, you can lessen the environmental impact by:
  • Choosing non-toxic, biodegradable soap that is free of phosphates, fragrance, chlorine and petroleum-based ingredients.
  • Avoiding using acid-based wheel cleaners or hose-off engine degreasers.
  • Washing your car on the lawn or over an unpaved surface if possible, so the rinse water can be filtered before reaching a storm drain or waterway.
• Fuel up your boat on land or at a marina, where proper spill response materials can be found.
• Ease up on applying fertilizer especially near water sources or before a heavy rainfall event.
• Discharge your pool or hot tub across your lawn, leading to the storm sewer, so your lawn can absorb most of the water.

For more information visit barrie.ca/SourceWaterProtection.