Ontario Parks Association presents Region of Waterloo
KITCHENER, ON – The Ontario Parks Association (OPA) presented the “Protecting Tomorrow Today®” award to the Region of Waterloo for its work to reduce salt used for winter de-icing of parking lots, roads and walkways. Salt can have long term effects on our environment, vegetation, and our waterways. The OPA motto “Protecting Tomorrow Today” is a commitment to civic beautification and the advancement, protection and conservation of parks, open spaces and the environment in the Province of Ontario.
Chris Ziemski, Vice President, OPA Board of Directors explained, “The Ontario Parks Association is truly thankful for the exemplary leadership and efforts of the Region of Waterloo in reducing the impact that road salts and chlorides are having on their water systems and the water courses throughout the region. Their leadership on this initiative has not only focused on their own concerns, but has drawn in the interest of many other municipalities, parks departments, road authorities and contractors to do the right thing for the environment.”
The Region of Waterloo is also concerned about the long-term effects salt can have on our drinking water. When snow melts or when it rains, the salt is washed into our waterways or travels underground. Over time sodium and chloride levels will increase in the drinking water causing it to taste salty. To address these concerns, the Region of Waterloo Water Services launched the Smart About Salt™ program in 2009. This program was developed in part to teach businesses best management practices on the use of salt, while still maintaining public safety. In 2010, the Smart About Salt Council, a not-for-profit organization, was formed with the responsibility of administering the program province wide.
“It is an honour to be recognized by the Ontario Parks Association,” said Eric Hodgins, Manager, Hydrogeology & Source Water, Region of Waterloo. “it is important for everyone to understand the effects salt can have on our environment and work towards being less reliant on it.”
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For more information on the Smart About Salt program,
call: 647-722-5699 or email: smartaboutsalt@bell.net.
For more information on Waterloo Region’s water supply, visit online at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/water.
Media contacts:
Smart About Salt Council
Bob Hodgins, Executive Director, 647-722-5699, Email: smartaboutsalt@bell.net
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Eric Hodgins, Manager, Hydrogeology & Source Water, 519-575-4434, Email: ehodgins@regionofwaterloo.ca
Ontario Parks Association
Paul Ronan, Executive Director, 905-864-6182 ext. 6730, Email: paul@ontarioparksassociation.ca
The Region of Waterloo provides more than 60 per cent of municipal services to a growing population of 550,000 people. We are committed to creating an inclusive, thriving and sustainable community through innovative leadership and a range of services such as: public health, social services, planning, heritage, water supply, regional roads, waste management, ambulance service, rural libraries, public transit, community housing, emergency planning, Provincial Offences Courts and airport services
The Smart about Salt® symbol is a registered trademark and Smart about Salt™ is a trademark of the Smart about Salt Council. Protecting Tomorrow Today® is a registered trademark of the Ontario Parks Association.