The International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Regional Office is hosting a free public seminar entitled Keeping Our Lakes and Rivers Clean, Monday, September 12, at the Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library, 850 Ouellette Avenue.

The seminar, which will run from 1 to 4 p.m., will feature staff scientists from the commission and experts from the City of Windsor and industry. The focus of the event is on the impact of sewage discharges on water quality and steps being taken by governments to protect lakes and rivers.

Regional director Saad Jasim will outline the commission’s role within the mandate of the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. First signed in 1972, the agreement tasks the commission with providing advice and assessing progress on the part of governments in restoring the chemical, physical and chemical integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.

In addition, presentations will highlight the recent process updates at Windsor’s Lou Romano Reclamation Plant and the improvements to water quality resulting from the new $67 million retention basin project underway on the Windsor riverfront.