Living by Water - Summer Nature Guide

75 Albert St, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5E7, Canada
Phone: 1-800-267-4088
or 613-562-3447
Fax: 613-562-3371

To protect and conserve wildlife and habitats in Canada by engaging people and advocating on behalf of nature.

If your well is at risk of failure during dry spells, minimize water use and supplement with other sources such as rainwater collection.
Install a drip irrigation or soaker hose system; it allows water to seep slowly into the ground, reducing evaporation and preventing runoff.
Use a thick layer of mulch, like straw or shredded leaves, to reduce watering.

Mark where the water is safe for swimming, and be mindful of swift currents and undertows. Keep a reach pole and personal flotation devices handy for rescues.
Keep fires small, avoid burning beach driftwood that may be protecting your shoreline from erosion, and don’t burn treated or painted wood.
To avoid swimmer’s itch, apply waterproof suntan lotion and towel off vigorously immediately after swimming.

If you draw from a water body, check to make sure that the intake pipe extends well past the low water mark or below the lowest stream flow level.
Move a floating dock out as water levels drop, to avoid being suddenly stuck high and dry!

Nutrients from fertilizer runoff or septic leaching can make still waters more susceptible to algal growth. In hot, calm weather, blue-green algae can “bloom” in huge numbers and may be toxic to animals or people.
Avoid water contaminated with blue-green algae. Do not drink it (boiling won’t remove the toxins), shower or do laundry with it, or swim in it. Keep you pets away from the water and do not eat fish caught in these waters.
Stay away from the water until it’s been tested and declared safe to drink or swim in.