Report a Spill

Report all spills immediately

When a spill occurs, follow your spills response plan and report all spills immediately to 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.

What is a spill?

A spill is a discharge into the natural environment, from or out of a structure, vehicle or other container, and that 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
Responding to a spill

In addition to notifying the Region of Waterloo and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Spills Action Centre, the spiller must:

  • Ensure public safety
  • Mitigate the impact of the spill
  • Cleanup the site to pre-spill conditions
  • Provide the necessary information to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Region of Waterloo Environmental Enforcement group
  • Investigate and implement a corrective/preventative action plan, as directed
How can companies prevent a spill?
  1. Develop a Risk Management Plan
  2. Review chemicals to eliminate and/or substitute where possible
  3. Train employees on proper handling, storage of chemicals and spills response
  4. Review your Risk Management Plan annually and revise accordingly to meet regulatory requirements, operating practices and outcomes from spill occurrences and spills training
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.
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