Toxic Liquids Into Street Drains Kills Fish in Our Creeks
West Vancouver Bylaws
“Creeks and streams are an important part of our coastal environment. They carry rain and melted snow to the ocean, and provide important habitat for fish.
A maze of underground storm drains carry rain and melting snow as it runs off roofs, driveways, roads and other hard surfaces. Along the way, it picks up pet waste, oil, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants.
These substances are harmful, and if they enter drains and catch basins, they end up in our waterways and eventually the ocean.”
West Vancouver Watercourse Protection Bylaw
“It shall be unlawful for any person to foul, obstruct or impede or permit anything to remain within a creek which may foul the flow of any creek or drainage works within the Municipality”
Creeks Bylaw andSewerage and Drainage Regulation Bylaw No. 5263, 2023
“Storm drains collect rain, melting snow and other water and channel it directly into the nearest creek, river or the ocean.
By the time it reaches storm drains, water has picked up motor oil, fertilizers and other pollution that can harm fish and aquatic habitat.
You can help protect local waters by keeping harmful materials off the ground and out of storm drains.”
(Metro Region, (Dispose of Products Safely)
Just a few of the recent chemical spill news stories
“Highway contractor fined $1M for West Vancouver fish kill.
A B.C. highway contractor has been fined $1 million after a chemical spill from its West Vancouver job site led to a fish kill on Larson Creek“
North Shore News, March 18, 2023
A BC conservation group believes a common chemical found in car tires is responsible for the death of dozens of salmon in a North Shore creek.”
Global News Nov 9, 2023 ,”Chemical found in tires suspected in West Vancouver death of salmon,”
“Aug 7, 2024 — Chemical spills in creeks are far too common on the North Shore.,,
Too often, these spills are traced back to work being done around the house, like painting, concrete and power washing.
Anytime we – or someone we’ve hired – is doing work with chemicals, we must take the utmost responsibility to ensure that not a single drop ends up in the stormwater system, which leads directly to fish bearing waters.”
Why are there so many chemical spills in our creeks?, Shore News, Aug 7, 2024
“Chemical spill culls fish population in ‘major tragedy’, Investigators are looking into incidents of dead fish found in three North Shore creeks in West Vancouver. Officials believe the fish died after being exposed to a chemical spill.”
Insurance Business America
“If you witness a spill, paint, or chemicals being washed into a stormwater drain, or a contaminated stream”…
A phone call to the District of West Vancouver Dispatch confirmed:
to report a spill you contact Dispatch at the number below. Below that is The City of North Vancouver information which has some excellent online information as well as additional details.