Water, Air and Climate Change Branch
WATER QUALITY
Are
You Killing Your Fish?

Do You Know What This Is?
This
is called a 'storm drain' or 'catchbasin'. There are many
of these drains located throughout your neighbourhood.
Their purpose is to collect rain and melted snow that drain
off exposed surfaces such as roads, parking lots and driveways. |
|
Do
You Know Where It Leads To?
Many of
these basins empty into underground storm sewer systems. Their
contents are quickly discharged into nearby streams, which
are important habitat for trout, salmon and other fish. Unlike
domestic wastes collected by sanitary sewers, the contents
of many storm sewers are not treated at sewage plants prior
to their discharge into a stream.
 |
Are
You Polluting a Stream?
Many
people don't realize that household hazardous products
that they wash or dump into these drains go right into
their neighbourhood streams. Oils, detergents, paint
compounds and solvent, pesticides and many other common
household products often end up in streams via the storm
sewers. Most of these contain chemicals that are toxic
to fish, and many small discharges from hundreds of households
can poison many miles of neighbourhood streams. |
What
Can You Do?
Please
don't dump household hazardous products into storm drains.
Some products, such as used motor oil are collected for recycling.
The paint industry has established paint collection depots
in your community to collect unwanted paints, stains and varnishes.
Other products (such as solvents and chemical pesticides) must
undergo special processing to render them harmless.
For information on local recycling and collection facilities,
contact the BC Recycling Hot-line province wide at 1-800-667-4321
or 732-9253 in Greater Vancouver.

Can You Do More To Protect a Neighbourhood Stream?
Yes, you can,
by becoming involved in the Storm Drain Marking Program! In
many neighbourhoods, concerned citizens are voluntarily marking
a yellow fish symbol beside storm drains that discharge into local
streams.
The fish
symbol reminds residents that if they permit toxic substances
to enter marked storm drains they may be poisoning fish in a
nearby stream.
They may also be committing a crime! Under the Fisheries
Act it is an offence to dump toxic substances
into fishbearing waters.
How Do You Become Involved in the Storm Drain Marking Program?
Contact
Enquiry
BC for the Storm Drain Marking Community Advisor for your
neighbourhood,
1-800-663-7867.
These Common Household Products are Hazardous to Fish:
1. AUTOMOTIVE
PRODUCTS
- motor oil
- antifreeze
- brake fluid
- carburetor
cleaner
- gasoline
- gasoline
additives
- transmission
fluid
- degreasers
- sealers
2. PAINTS
AND SOLVENTS
- paints
- shellacs
- lacquers
- varnishes
- enamels
- paint thinners
- paint and
varnish strippers
- rustproof
coatings
3. RECREATIONAL
PRODUCTS
- swimming
pool contents (chlorine)
- outboard
motor products (oil, gas, etc.)
4. PESTICIDES
- disinfectants
(bathroom, kitchen, etc.)
- insecticides
(garden products, flea collars, etc.)
- fungicides
(mold and mildew control)
- rodenticides
(rat and mouse bait)
- molluscicides
(slug bait)
- wood
preservatives (creosote, pentachlorophenol)
5. CLEANING
PRODUCTS
- detergents
- drain and
toilet cleaners
- rug and
upholstery cleaners
- leather
preservers
- dry cleaning
agents
- car wash
detergent
- polishing
agents (shoe products)
Help Preserve Your Neighbourhood Streams and Their Fish and Wildlife
Resources
ENQUIRY
BC
Victoria: 250 387-6121
Vancouver: 604 660-2421
Toll Free: 1-800-663-7867
E-mail: EnquiryBC@gems3.gov.bc.ca
The Storm Drain Marking Program
The
Storm Drain Marking Program is sponsored by the British
Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (now
called Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection) and
the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Initial
funding for the program was provided by the Habitat Conservation
Fund. The Storm Drain Marking Program has two major areas
of emphasis: |
|
- convey
the role that the public can play in maintaining healthy streams
in an urban environment;
- provide
the public, particularly young people, with an opportunity
to participate in "hands on" fisheries management in an urban
environment.
The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (now called Ministry
of Water, Land and Air Protection) has various programs for
environmental education. For further information please contact
the Public
Affairs Bureau.

Originally
published in October 1994