Did you ever wonder where the drains in your neighbourhood lead to or what happens to all that rainfall?

Well, those drains, known as storm drains, collect the rain and melted snow that drains off roads, parking lots and driveways. The storm drains empty into an underground storm drain system and the contents are quickly discharged into the streams. These streams are home to trout, salmon and other fish and we need to protect their habitat by not introducing a deleterious substance into those storm drains.

Some residents don’t realize that what they are dumping down the storm drain might be harmful to fish in a nearby stream.

Common household products that are hazardous to fish

Paints and Solvents

• paints
• shellacs
• lacquers
• varnishes
• enamels
• paint thinners
• paint and varnish strippers
• rustproof coatings

Pesticides

• disinfectants
• insecticides
• fungicides
• rodenticides
• herbicides
• molluscides
• wood preservatives