Take Action

We are frustrated and disappointed by Ottawa Public Health’s decision to stick with weekly testing at City-run beaches into the 2026 swim season, and by the Board of Health’s refusal to intervene. This is bad news for public health and the long-term understanding of water quality trends.

Ottawa Riverkeeper has released a detailed report on the distribution and abundance of key invasive species within the Ottawa River watershed. Alongside the report, we have launched new tools to help community scientists identify and report invasive species in their regions.

Ottawa has long been a leader in taking water quality seriously. However, recent reductions in testing, as announced by the City of Ottawa, are a massive step backward. Urge the City to return to daily testing in 2025 so swimmers have the information they need!

Today marks the start of our annual Road Salt Reduction Week! This year, we’re shining a light on the harmful effects of road salt on our waterways while sharing solutions to reduce its impact.

The Ottawa River gives us so much – it’s the lake you swim in, the river you drink from, the stream you fish from, the creek you paddle down, and the shoreline you walk along – here’s how we give back.