About

The Regional Municipality of York has embarked on an ambitious plan to engage our community in shaping how we think about, protect and use water – now and into the future. One of the fascinating initial steps in this process is the exploration of new possibilities, new innovation and looking ahead 40 years to a new future for water in York Region and then focus on innovative ways to achieve this vision.

This website is intended to serve as a hub for ideas, information and resources related to this initiative. Most importantly, it will be a place where residents can share their water-related ideas, thoughts and experiences.

OUR PROCESS TO DATE

A key part of developing the Long-term Water Conservation Strategy is public engagement. This is what has been happening:

• Speaking with residents at a number of different community events about water conservation and the role of water in their lives
• Hosting a series of water cafes at which stakeholders representing various backgrounds explored various water-related topics
• Getting people involved in building scenarios for the future of water use in York Region
• Development of openwater.ca

To help us create the Long-term Strategy we have:

• Conducted a worldwide review of best-in-class programs and practices in the area of water conservation and efficiency (click here to see best-in-class report) 
• Created ‘Our Water Future’ – a special report on water that was distributed in GTA newspapers in March 2011 (click here to see report)
• Completed a peer review of the draft strategy by the Alliance for Water Efficiency

All of these activities have helped York Region develop the Long-term Water Conservation Strategy.

The strategy will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment on March 31, 2011.(link to come)

Explore this website for ideas and ongoing opportunities to be involved in shaping our water future.