Environmental Spills

See a Spill?

Contact 311 immediately.

Spills that enter the environment (including ditches and rivers) and the city’s sanitary, storm and combined sewer systems should be reported.

City staff will investigate and determine what actions may be required.

If the spill presents an immediate danger to the public, call 911.

Why is Spill Reporting Important?

Reporting spills helps:

Protect drinking water
Protect rivers, lakes and wildlife
Protect public health and safety
Protect sewers and wastewater treatment facilities

Stormwater flows straight into local waterways and ends up in the Detroit River. Never pour oils, fuels, chemicals or waste into catch basins or curb cutouts.

If Your Business Causes a Spill

If you or your business accidently release a substance into the environment or into the sanitary, storm or combined sewer, you must:

Report it immediately to:
1. City of Windsor Pollution Control Department
  - 519-253-7217 (Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  - 311 (after hours, weekends, holidays)
2. Ontario Spills Action Centre
  - 1-800-268-6060 (24/7)
Contain and clean it up.
Within five days of the spill, prepare and submit a detailed report to pollutioncontrol@citywindsor.ca by email.

The person having control or ownership of the spilled material has responsibilities under the City of Windsor’s Sewer Ues By-law 11446 and Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act. Failure to report or properly address a spill may result in enforcement action and recovery of cleanup costs.

Air Pollution and Odour Complaints

For sewer-related odour complaints or wastewater treatment plant odour complaints, contact 311.

For industrial air pollution, odour or emissions complaints, contact the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Windsor Office at 519-948-1464.

Questions?

For general information, contact 311.

For detailed inquiries, contact the Pollution Control Department:
Phone: 519-253-7217
Email: pollutioncontrol@citywindsor.ca