Learn more about the Town's Water Initiative below!

Water Initiatives

Learn more about the Town’s Water Initiatives below!

Blue Community Project
In December of 2011, the Town of Ajax became the second Blue Community in Ontario and just the fourth in all of Canada. The Blue Communities Project is a joint initiative of the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). A Blue Community is one that seeks to protect the water commons and views all water systems as shared resources that should be kept clean, safe and accessible for all Canadians. The movement is a reaction against increasing pressure to privatize water services in the country.

The Project calls on communities to adopt a water commons framework by adopting three specific actions:

  1. Recognizing water as a human right.
  2. Promoting publicly financed, owned and operated water and wastewater services.
  3. Banning the sale of bottled water in public facilities and at municipal events.

Related Stories

April 1, 2012 - Ajax & Pickering News Advertiser: Ajax presented with blue community award
Stormwater Initiatives
Water Conservation

How can you help improve the water quality in Lake Ontario?

Reuse, Return, Reduce, Stop and Speak Out

How can you help improve the water quality in Lake Ontario?

Rain Gardens Stormwater Retrofit

In 2011, The Town of Ajax completed a Master Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) for Stormwater Retrofit Study to investigate stormwater management retrofit opportunities and new stormwater management practices. The EA established a list of recommended water quality improvements for sewer sheds in the Town. These recommendations provide a long term strategy, ensuring the Town continues to be an innovative leader committed to introducing new technologies while updating infrastructure and policies to enhance the environment.

The Rain Garden project was a recommendation from the EA. The location for the first phase is on the south side of Lake Driveway from Harwood Avenue to Anstead Crescent within the boulevard and the Ajax Waterfront park. Construction was completed in late fall of 2014. The rain gardens were monitored for two years following construction to measure their effectiveness at providing water quality treatment. The rain gardens were each designed with different substrate materials to compare their levels of effectiveness. All three rain gardens succeeded at improving the water quality discharging to Lake Ontario. The two rain gardens that were constructed with enhanced additives were also very effective at removing Phosphorus, which contributes to algae growth at the waterfront. In 2023, The Town of Ajax has planned new rain gardens to be added along Lake Driveway from Finley Avenue to Bartlett Drive to intercept, filter/infiltrate and transpire stormwater runoff.

The full monitoring report is available here:

Stormwater Management

Stormwater management involves using various techniques and practices to capture, treat, and store runoff water before it enters our waterways. This can help reduce the negative impacts of stormwater on the environment and protect water quality.

Stormwater Funding Feasibility Study and Implementation

The Town of Ajax completed the Stormwater Funding Feasibility Study to review and recommend a sustainable and reliable funding source to support the Town’s current and future stormwater management program.

Click here to find out more information about the Stormwater Funding Implementation process and Stormwater Fee.