There are over 5 million people on the Canadian and American sides of the Detroit River who live in the watershed and depend on it for drinking water. Residents in Canada who live in Turkey Creek, Little River and Canard River watersheds can be stewards of the Detroit River, and do many things to reduce negative impacts on the shared resource.
Pollutants of the Detroit River originating from Windsor generally include:
The City of Windsor’s, Town of LaSalle’s and Amherstburg’s sewer system and associated Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)
Collection of litter in storm drains
Improper disposal of oils, gasoline and other substances
Household Actions
The sanitary sewers (connected to our homes) and waste water treatment plants (where our water goes to from our homes) are designed to treat only sanitary wastes only. DO NOT put fats, oils and greases (FOGs), plastics, sanitary products, “flushable wipes” or household hazardous chemicals down your drains.
Fats, Oils and Grease (FOGs): FOGs accumulate in the sewers, restricting flows, and may contribute to basement flooding. FOGs that make it to the WWTP clog pipes and screens, and reduce the effectiveness of the overall treatment process, increasing plant operation costs. FOGs should be allowed to solidify in a jar and then be disposed of with the garbage.
Plastics: Plastics and rags are unhealthy for sewers. These objects float and by-pass the chemical and physical collection processes at WWTP. The following should be disposed of as regular garbage: personal hygiene products, wrappers, rags and product labels.
Household Chemicals: The WWTPs are designed to treat human waste only. Other chemicals entering the WWTP may pass through the plant to the Detroit River. All household chemicals, including pesticides should be taken to the Household Chemical Waste Depot.
Household chemicals can include expired or unwanted medication, pesticides, flea sprays and collars, paints, stains, thinners and acids, drain cleaners, pool chemicals, car products such as motor oil and antifreeze, gas, kerosene, diesel and propane tanks and items that contain Mercury such as thermometers, thermostats and CFL bulbs.
#1, #2, and TP, that’s it!
A friendly reminder that to prevent sewer backups, only #1, #2, and TP are flushable. ‘Flushable’ wipes do not break down like TP and can clog sewers. Check out our wastewater video we created in partnership with The City of Windsor for more information.
Outdoor Actions
Help reduce the volume of sewage, runoff, pollution, litter and organic matter that could end up in the river untreated through storm sewers.
Storm Sewers carry stormwater runoff only. Storm Sewers eventually drain to the Detroit River, untreated. There are 732 kilometres of storm sewers within the City of Windsor
Disconnecting downspouts allows rainwater to flow onto lawns freeing up capacity in the sewers during storms.
Installing a rain barrel will help you conserve water, as rain water collected during a storm can be used to water your garden on dry days.
Keep storm drains clear of debris during storm events. This not only helps protect fish and wildlife in the Detroit River watershed, but also prevents storm drain backups that can lead to street flooding.
Keep a tight lid on your trash can and recycle bins to reduce wind blown litter.
When pesticides and fertilizers are applied to lawns, between 60-90% of the chemical sprays are washed into sewer drains and eventually rivers, where they impact wildlife. If you have unwanted weeds in your yard, pull them out by hand.
Pick up your pet’s waste while at home and out in parks, trails and conservation areas.
Consider washing your vehicle at a facility that recycles water by sending it to the sanitary sewer, instead of washing it in your driveway.
Happy World Water Day! Did you know the Great Lakes are one of the world's largest surface freshwater ecosystems? We're extremely lucky to live in the great lakes basin which accounts for 21 percent of the world's freshwater. The lakes provide drinking water to millions of people in the United States and Canada. If you are located in Windsor, LaSalle, or Amherstburg, you likely get your drinking water from the Detroit River! Freshwater ecosystems our among our most vital resources on earth, and their protection and preservation are of paramount importance #WorldWaterDay#detroitriver#greatlakes#healthywatersheds#cleandrinkingwater#essexregion... See MoreSee Less
We are excited to roll up the sleeves and make a positive change along the Ganatchio Trail and Little River next month. Join us on April 13 between 10-12pm at Teedie Park, Windsor for our annual litter clean up. Registration is required as spots are limited due to high interest. Volunteer parking is available at Canadian Tire off of Tecumseh Road east. We ask volunteers to not park in the neighbourhood near Teedie Park. Funding for the Little River Cleanup has been provided by the Detroit River Canadian CleanupRegistration and more information: www.essexregionconservation.ca/event-details/little-river-litter-cleanup... See MoreSee Less
On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup hosted their 14th Annual Film Screening Event at Imagine Cinemas in Lakeshore. This year, we featured two The Water Brothers documentaries – Paving over Paradise, a documentary on wetland loss, and The Forever Chemicals, a documentary on a group of chemicals called PFAS. Thank you to our expert panelists for sharing your expertise with our audience. Thank you to our audience for spending the evening with us and we hope you enjoyed the event. We were so impressed with the quality of questions, and were pleased to hear how much everyone cares about the health of our watersheds. Special thanks to Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for helping to make this event possible, and to all the Essex Region Conservation staff and Imagine Cinemas for their support with the event. Thank you! ... See MoreSee Less
Meet the expert panelists for the PFAS - “Forever Chemicals” episode to be featured at our upcoming free film screening event on February 20.Our three panelists include Dr. Cheryl Murphy, Director, MSU Center for PFAS Research, Mark Burrows, Physical Scientist & Senior Project Manager, IJC - International Joint Commission Great Lakes Regional Office, and Abby Hendershott, Executive Director of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.Registration is required and spaces are limited. For more information and to register, please visit our website: www.detroitriver.ca/movie. ... See MoreSee Less
Join us on Tuesday February 20th, 2024 at 7pm for a free screening of two Water Brothers documentaries at the Imagine Lakeshore Cinemas, 164 Commercia […]
The DRCC wants to hear your questions and comments on the redesignation of BUI #3 (Fish) and #5. We are planning to redesignate the BUIs from impaired […]
Get Involved!
From tree plantings and clean ups, to advocacy and education programs, CLICK HERE to find out how you can be involved with protecting and enhancing the Detroit River.