Waterfront Living and Rideau River Health

You can help the health of the Rideau River, your property and its birds, fish and children, by doing simple things such as:

1. Retain rainfall in rain barrels;
   
2. Plant more trees and shrubs to prevent rain run-off and pollution
   
3. Reduce water consumption using water-efficient shower heads, low-flush toilets, full-load clothes washing.
   
4. Use environmentally friendly household and garden products
   
5. Dig up weeds rather than using pesticides and weed killers
   
6. Soak weeds with vinegar during dry weather to kill them
   
7. If you must use chemical weed killer (i.e. 24D), apply with a spot sprayer at the beginning of 2 or 3 days of dry weather.
   
8. Use organic fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer
   
9. Keep plants healthy to reduce the need for chemical treatment
   
10. Use biodegradable soap to wash your car
    
11. Get involved in neighbourhood water-protection activities

From the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) River Regulations for Ontario:
"In the Rideau watershed, off the waters of the Rideau Canal, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority will review your proposal ... will normally be undertaken associated with our ongoing review of a planning application or a "Fill, Construction and Alteration to Waterways" permit review under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. ... Play it safe. Have your project checked out first."

Related Information

• Environmental Tips for Your Yard
  Organic lawn and yard, kill weeds without chemicals, tips for waterfront property

  Recycling, Donating and Selling

  Links for give-away, recycling computers and electronics, and selling online

Links

• Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
  Environmental agency controls land in the Rideau flood plain. Septic information can be obtained from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority 692-0160
• Landowner Resource Centre (LRC)
  Information and grants for agriculture, shoreline, forests, septic and wells, fish and wildlife, recreation 692-2390
• Rideau River health - Burritts Rapids to Long Island
• Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region
  Information on source water protection, the Clean Water Act, and local projects.
• City of Ottawa - Rural clean water programs 560-6086 x3292
• Brownlee Water Quality Management Inc.
  Test your well-water to ensure it really is safe to drink. Goes far beyond city testing.
• Links for Home and Yard (Manotick Directory)
  Local food producers, farmers markets, links