World Water Day is an annual observance day on March 22 to celebrate water and raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. A core focus on World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and Sanitation for All by 2030. This year’s theme is The Secret Life of Glaciers, highlighting the important role glaciers play in life, including their meltwater, which is essential to drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production, and healthy ecosystems.
Businesses of all sizes and sectors have a unique opportunity and role to play in protecting and conserving this precious resource. Partners in Project Green supports businesses in conserving freshwater and sustainable on-site stormwater management. through our programs and resources.
- Municipal Water Efficiency Program
Rising water costs and ageing municipal infrastructure present challenges for businesses and their water use. But it also presents an opportunity for businesses to reduce their water use and improve efficiency. The Water Efficiency program supports our municipal partners (City of Toronto, Peel Region, and York Region) in raising awareness of their program offerings. Check out what is offered in your region to support your business in reducing its water footprint.
Case studies and recordings of previous webinars are available showcasing regional offerings and real-life application of how organizations have reduced their water usage:
- Case Study: Enviro-Stewarts Conducts Water Audit of Giraffe Foods
- Webinar: Slow the Flow and Speed Up Savings: Water Efficiency for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Facilities in Peel
- Webinar: Slow the Flow and Speed Up Savings: Water Efficiency in Action
- Corporate Flood and Heat Risk Management Program
The Corporate Flood and Heat Risk Management program delivered in partnership with Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP), supports the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI)/Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) sectors with free educational modules and site assessments to assist qualifying organizations in the Greater Toronto Area identify their risks to flood and heat while highlighting opportunities for mitigation measures to build resilience through Low Impact Development/Green Infrastructure solutions.
Included in the education modules is a special section, Understanding Our Connection to Water: An Anishinaabe Woman’s Perspective. As Water carriers, care takers, and protectors, Indigenous women of Canada have always fought and advocated for the rights of Water. This module shares an Anishinaabe woman’s perspective on the significance that Water holds, not only through the lens of an Anishinaabe woman, but as a shared connection for all of us residing on this land.
- Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy
The Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy (Floatables Strategy) is a collaborative strategy with a mission to reduce plastic pollution and other floating litter in the Toronto harbour. It is a collaboration between the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the Toronto Remedial Action Plan, University of Toronto Trash Team, PortsToronto, City of Toronto, Swim Drink Fish, Waterfront Business Improvement Area, Harbourfront Centre, and Waterfront Toronto.
The Floatables Strategy seeks to work collaboratively with stakeholders and community to maintain an adaptive and evidence-informed strategy to reduce floatable pollution in the Toronto Inner Harbour through ongoing prevention, monitoring, clean up, outreach, education, and policy.
- Sustainable Salt Management Resource Hub
Did you know that 7 million tonnes of road salt are applied to Canadian roads every winter? Experts at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority estimate that more than 10 times the appropriate amount of salt is being applied to parking lots and walkways, which is negatively impacting nearby waterways, lakes, groundwater, and soil. Find out how you can reduce road salt use on your property with the Sustainable Salt Management Resource Hub.
Do your part to address water pollution and equal access to clean water. See how you can benefit from the above programs. Contact Chaya Chengappa, Program Manager at chaya.chengappa@trca.ca for details.