Report a Spill

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Report all spills immediately

We provide 24-hour emergency response to environmental spills. When a spill occurs, follow your spills response plan and report all spills immediately. 

Contact the Region of Waterloo at 519-650-8200; Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TTY): 519-575-4608

Provide:

  • Name of company or individual responsible
  • Location of the spill
  • Your name and phone number
  • Time of the spill
  • Type and quantity of material discharged and any associated hazards
  • Status, including corrective actions being taken to control the spill

Where applicable, notify the Ministry's Spills Action Centre: 1-800-268-6060; Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TTY): 1-855-889-5775.

Responding to a spill

  • Follow your spills response plan
  • Notify the Region of Waterloo at 519-650-8200
  • Notify the Ministry's Spills Action Centre (where applicable) at 1-800-268-6060
  • Ensure public safety
  • Mitigate the impact of the spill
  • Cleanup the site to pre-spill conditions
  • Provide the necessary information to the Region of Waterloo Environmental Enforcement group and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
  • Investigate and implement a corrective/preventative action plan, as directed

Region of Waterloo responsibilities include:

  • prompt investigation of reported spills
  • containment or cleanup measures to minimize damage to the natural environment
  • notifying affected parties if a chemical spill could affect the Region of Waterloo Mannheim and/or Brantford drinking water treatment plants

What is a spill

A discharge into the natural environment, from or out of a structure, vehicle, or other container. It is abnormal in quality or quantity in light of all the circumstances of the discharge. Examples of pollutants include:

  • Oil and gasoline
  • Chemicals, paint, and concrete
  • Liquid industrial/hazardous waste, sewage, food, or manure
  • Chlorinated pool water

Spill enforcement

Under the Region's Sewer Use By-law 21-036, Environmental Officers are now authorized to issue Orders, tickets or even a summons to appear in court, to anyone found dumping or discharging harmful materials into the sanitary or storm sewer system.

What businesses can do to prevent spills

  • Develop a Risk Management Plan
  • Review chemicals to eliminate and/or substitute where possible
  • Train employees on proper handling, storage of chemicals and spills response
  • Display contact information of who to call in case of a spill
  • Review your Risk Management Plan once a year. Revise the plan to meet regulatory requirements, operating practices and outcomes from spill occurrences and spills training.

Free spill prevention resources

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