Spring is finally here and with it the messy leftovers of winter. Whether you're cleaning up the inside of your home or preparing your yard for spring gardening, here are some tips on how to keep your home and neighborhood clean and green this summer.
Keep your spring blooms green
Are you planning to remove some things from your house during spring cleaning? Don't just throw away all the items you no longer need or want. There are greener options like donate, sell, recycle, repair, or reuse. Visit ottawa.ca/wasteduction for tons of tips on how to keep items from ending up in landfills.
If you have items that you no longer need, like propane cylinders or pool chemicals, there are available starting Sunday, April 24. Visit ottawa for a full list of event dates and items that qualify as hazardous waste . ca/hwh .
Help keep our rivers clean! Avoid disposing of hazardous waste in sinks, cesspits or storm drains as it may end up directly in the river. Not sure where to throw certain items? You can search for it in the Waste Explorer tool .
Moth Moth Awareness
Gypsy moths are an invasive species that can cause defoliation in trees. Recent sightings and egg mass records in the Ottawa area indicate their populations are increasing as part of a cyclical epidemic. The current outbreak is expected to last two to three years, with defoliation expected in 2022 when gypsy moth populations in Ottawa near their peak. If you repérez des masses d'oeufs de mites spongieuses lors du nettoyage de votre jardin, vous pouvez aider à réduire leur nombre en les grattant de vos arbres, buches et meubles d'extérieur et en plaçant les oeufs dans de l'eau savonneuse Pendant some days.
It's important not to mix them with beneficial insects and pollinators that could also be preparing for spring. To learn how to spot sponge moths and how to protect your trees this year, visit ottawa.ca/spongymoth .
spring thaw and showers
Melting snow, leaves and debris can create perfect flooding conditions on driveways, paths and sidewalks. To prevent this, city crews cleaned sinkholes, culverts and ditches. If you notice a clogged swamp, take a minute to clear it out so trails don't form.
If you live in a low-lying, flood-prone area, keep up to date with the spring flood situation by visitingottawa.ca/springfloods or by joining the dedicated Facebook group . Avoid going near bodies of water during the spring thaw, as the ice is unstable and the banks can be a slippery hazard.
Prevent basement flooding from spring meltdowns and heavy summer rains
It's important to prevent basement flooding during the spring thaw, but it's a smart move for summer or fall storms with heavy rain.
Follow these steps to prevent basement flooding:
- Keep an eye on low-lying areas on your property and make sure any items you have near the water are properly stored. This will prevent your belongings from being swept down the river.
- Seals window joints and cracks in floors, walls and foundations.
- Slope the floor away from the foundation to allow rainwater to drain away from the house.
- Point gutter downspouts away from the foundation (at least 4 feet) or toward a rain barrel.
- Disconnect downspouts from sewer or foundation drains.
- If you have a sump pump, make sure it is connected to the storm sewer or drains into the ground at least 4 feet from the foundation.
- Visit ottawa.ca online for more tips and information.
Often forgotten check valves
If your house was built after 2004, it will have a check valve to prevent water from entering your house. What many homeowners often forget or ignore is that their check valve needs to be inspected and cleaned every year.
A pipeline protection device should be inspected periodically, or before heavy rain is expected, to ensure that it is free of debris, is functioning properly, and that cleaning plugs and access covers are securely fastened. You can do the maintenance yourself according to the manufacturer's instructions, or you can contact a licensed plumber to make sure it's working properly. Visit ottawa.ca for more check valve maintenance tips.
Sanitary program to protect residential buildings
For eligible homeowners who don't have protective plumbing devices like check valves, the city's Residential Protective Plumbing Program offers a discount. Visit ottawa.ca for more information on eligibility.
Help us keep the city streets pristine
City crews have been hard at work filling potholes in Ottawa. Since the beginning of the year, more than 69,000 potholes have been covered. You can report a pothole in your area by submitting a service request online .
Salt and ice in winter can affect the visibility of paint on roads. The lane marking program repaints all lanes from May to November each year. Alongside traditional acetone and water-based paints, this marks the second year of widespread use of methyl methacrylate (MMA), a highly durable paint suitable for hot weather applications.
clean up the capital
Do you want to help keep your common spaces nice and green? Registration for A Clean Up the Capital is open now and will remain open until Saturday April 30th. You can help keep parks, roadsides and playgrounds clean and safe for everyone to enjoy. Visit ottawa.ca/clean for more information about the campaign.
For more information on the city's programs and services, go to ottawa.ca , dial 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the city through Relay Service's Canadian video . You can also connect with us via Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
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