Comox Valley Regional District officials and local organizations are calling on residents and visitors to consider their sunscreen choices during the warmer months ahead, and the impacts that chemical sunscreens have on the region’s lakes, rivers, and drinking water supply.
While sunscreen is essential for skin protection during outdoor activities, many popular products contain chemical UV filters such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene, which tend to wash off swimmers and enter our freshwater ecosystems. These chemicals are known to disrupt aquatic life, affecting the growth and survival of insects, plants, and fish species that are vital to the health of the watershed.
“Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of high-quality drinking water,” says Darry Monteith, Manager of Liquid Waste Planning. “Simple shifts in how we protect our skin from the sun can make a real difference that will help support the health of our watershed for generations to come.”
Tips on how you can help protect your skin and the watershed:
- Use mineral-based, freshwater-safe sunscreens containing non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
- If using a chemical sunscreen, apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before swimming to allow it to absorb fully.
- Avoid spray-on formulas near streams, docks, or shorelines.
- Cover up naturally as much as possible with UV-protective clothing and hats.
- Be an ambassador for responsible sunscreen use.
Next time you head out, take a moment to check your sunscreen. A small change can make a real difference.
Learn more about sunscreen and local watershed health
The Comox Lake Watershed Protection Plan
In 2016, the CVRD published the Comox Lake Watershed Protection Plan, with the objective of guiding the management of the Comox Lake watershed to ensure long-term protection of drinking water at the highest possible quality. The plan emphasizes the importance of small, everyday actions to preserve water quality for more than 50,000 local residents. Organizations such as the Courtenay Fish and Game Protective Association and the Lake Park Society are collaborating to raise awareness about the connection between sunscreen use and watershed health.
Learn more about the Watershed Protection Plan
The Comox Valley Regional District is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of the land. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
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Media Contact:
Darry Monteith
Manager of Liquid Waste Planning
250-334-6012