Pump-Out and the Environment
It's our environment … let's protect it!

Pump-Out

Token box, hose pedestal, fresh water with posted instructions.

The pump machine sits well back from the boardwalk.

To prevent effluent from entering our lakes, please use the Harbourfront Centre Pump-Out. This outstanding state-of-the-art system, designed by Waubaushene Machine and Welding in Ontario, is sold worldwide!

The Pump-Out is located on the boardwalk at the western portion of John Quay near the Toronto Police Marine Unit—Berth 241 on Toronto Harbour chart #2085. Look for the pump-out pedestal (see photos) near the lime green coloured kiosk. Upon docking alongside the wooden faced boardwalk please tie up to the large bollards and pipe rail designed to secure pleasure craft. Ensure you fender your vessel accordingly.

For your convenience, we offer self service or full service options. Tokens are required for either.

Required self serve tokens can be purchased at the Marina Quay West—416.203.1212—or Marina Four—416.203.2620—or at the Pump-Out Station via a Dock Attendant. Staff at both marina offices can also be reached on VHF channel 68. For recorded information call our Pump-Out info line at 416.973.4148.

Please note: the Pump-Out Station is not staffed. If you require either self serve tokens or service assistance, please contact a Dock Attendant to make arrangements for them to meet you at the Pump-Out. For self serve simply follow the instructions posted on the pedestal.

Each token provides ample time to extract up to 30 imperial gallons of effluent (larger tanks=more tokens). Fresh water is available for tank cleansing. Please see our Mariners Rates for token prices and hours of operation.

The Environment

The Ontario Marine Operators Association (OMOA) along with members marinas have been enrolling in the Clean Marine Program to ensure that their marinas are following an environmentally sound series of practices and protecting our waterways for all to enjoy. All Clean Marine Program Eco-rated Marinas proudly fly the OMOA environmental flag.

Just as OMOA member marinas have committed themselves to follow environmental practices, you can too! Look for products with Environment Canada’s Environmental Choice logo to use around your boat. Properly separate and discard recyclable materials and please do not place hazardous wastes such as old batteries and motor oil in waste receptacles.

To review a comprehensive summary of things you can do as a boater to help the environment, please read the Ontario Marine Operators Association Clean Boater Handbook.

Spill Response

Within our marine environment efforts must be made by all to eliminate spills. A spill starts with even a trace amount of undesirable material including petroleum/hydrocarbon-based products, detergents, concentrated liquids/cleaners, raw sewage, trash/debris or other environmentally damaging material. Even milk in concentration kills fish!

At Harbourfront Centre we maintain dialogue with the City of Toronto, Toronto Port Authority, Provincial Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Environment Canada regarding spills. Such agencies work together in event of a spill to mitigate its clean-up, investigate the cause and collect money to cover the clean-up costs from the accused. In some cases criminal charges may also be laid.

Staff spill training.

Many of our staff have taken spill response training from companies like Environmental Marine and Response Products Inc. involving both classroom sessions and on-water practical exercises (see photo).

We have spill response equipment boxes at both Marina Four and Marina Quay West. These contain spill mitigation equipment including special hydrocarbon absorbing booms, pads and personal safety equipment.

Surface debris such as cups, weed, waste and driftwood is picked up with the use of several City of Toronto owned and Harbourfront Centre operated “Slip Cleaning” Machines. These orange, strange-looking, paddle wheel driven and conveyor belted craft work across the waterfront spring, summer and fall to remove massive amounts of debris (see photo).

Slip Cleaner 1.

The most frequent spill tends to be fuel or oil, which creates an undesirable, rainbow-coloured sheen on the water’s surface. Just a few drops of fuel or oil can create what appears to be large spill incident. The source of these sheens may vary. They can come from a boat within the marina, a vessel docked on the waterfront, a shore-side accident washed down from a storm sewer after rainfall (such is the case at the north end of Marina Four) or they can drift in from other areas within the harbour. In many cases we may not be able to do much except aerate the water to dissipate and evaporate the fuel or oil.

If you happen to spill or see fuel or oil in the water DO NOT add dish soap to try to break up the sheen. Doing this is an illusion and actually causes more harm to the environment than leaving the sheen.

If you cause a spill you are legally obligated to report it and may be financially responsible for its clean up. If you don’t report it and it’s traced back to you through investigation you could find yourself in serious trouble.

Make every effort to prevent harmful material from entering the lake! Keep a bilge sock in your boat and follow concepts outlined in the Ontario Marine Operators Association Clean Boater Handbook (see above).

To report a spill, please contact Harbourfront Centre Security at 416-973-4885.

Pump-Out and the Environment It's our environment … let's protect it!

Pump-Out

The Environment

Spill Response

Pump-Out and the Environment
It's our environment … let's protect it!