Community
Partnering with our clients to provide clean, safe water and sustainable water solutions to Ontario communities is what we do at OCWA, but our commitment to sustainability goes well beyond operating plants and pipes.
- Our
Community - Our
Enviroment - Our
People
Sustainability
Our Community Partnership Framework reflects the way we feel about our role in supporting local communities and the environment. It is divided into three key pillars: Our Community, Our Environment and Our People. These areas help guide our activities and initiatives and genuinely speak to what is important to us as OCWA employees. Within these three areas, we continue to focus on our successful education programs and the charitable organizations to which we contribute. At the same time we continue to look for new ways to further our commitment to environmental responsibility and take great pride in sharing OCWA’s water knowledge and resources.
Education & Awareness
Building Water Awareness
Our employees regularly participate in children’s water festivals, lead tours of our facilities and help students learn how their activities impact water treatment systems. We are building teaching tools with educators that will reach Ontario’s young people and promote interesting careers in the water industry.
OCWA OneWater® Education Program
By working with educators and operators from communities across Ontario, we developed materials for grade 8 students, to strengthen and formalize OCWA’s commitment to water literacy. After successful implementation into many schools across the province, OCWA is excited to expand the OneWater® initiative in the 2016/2017 school year.
I Don’t Flush
OCWA partnered with the Clean Water Foundation (CWF) to launch the I Don’t Flush awareness campaign, encouraging the public to properly dispose of household items rather than flush them down their toilets. With support from various municipalities, the campaign has reached more than 30 million people!
OCWA In The Community
Integral Part of the Community
Not only are OCWA employees the providers of safe, clean drinking water, but in many communities they are also consumers. As an integral part of the communities they serve, many OCWA employees choose to support local events and initiatives. They organize food drives, support families during the holiday season, provide tours of the facilities, attend water festivals and donate money and expertise to help local camps.
Charities at Home & Abroad
OCWA staff raises funds and volunteers for countless charitable organizations such as the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Movember and Trillium Health Centre. In 2012, OCWA began supporting GlobalMedic, which deploys assistance around the world for disaster relief. OCWA’s support focuses on providing clean drinking water solutions to people in crisis.