Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

budget

Extra $1.3M needed for Three Rivers water expansion

Extra $1.3M needed for Three Rivers water expansion

The cost to expand the water and sewer system in the eastern P.E.I. community of Three Rivers is coming in about 30 per cent more expensive than first budgeted. Quotes for the project came in higher than anticipated, said Dorothy Macdonald, interim CEO for the town's services. Despite the unexpected expense, she said the town is ready to get started. "The project is a priority for the town's rivers and currently we have in-hand the ability to work toward 70 per cent of the project," she said. "We're also going to work very hard in the next little while to get that extra 30 per cent, so that we are finishing this project to 100 per cent capacity by the end of next summer."The town originally projected a $4.7 million cost for the project, which will extend the current water and sewage system about 2.5 kilometres from the old border of Montague, into the old community of Brudenell and up to MacDonald Road. It is now looking at closer to $6 million. The 80 new customers who will be using the new expansion will cover most of the extra cost. It was important to her to ensure current customers using the utility did not completely cover the cost of the program, Macdonald said.

4.6% tax hike approved for Greater Sudbury

4.6% tax hike approved for Greater Sudbury

Water and wastewater rates are also increasing by 4.8 per cent. "The 2023 municipal budget represents responsible investments for modern, inclusive and sustainable city services that continue to meet resident needs," Mayor Paul Lefebvre said. "Council has approved a plan that emphasizes resident health, safety and well-being along with continued investments in our assets and infrastructure as well as our economic future."

Windsor officials call on federal government to invest in flood prevention

Windsor officials call on federal government to invest in flood prevention

Windsor city officials are calling on the federal government to help with the rising costs of flooding mitigation projects in Windsor's east end. Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens, Ward 6 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac and Windsor West MP Brian Masse want the federal government to invest money in the city's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) for city sewers and water projects as part of Windsor's flooding and sewer master plan.

Water rate hike too high: Brockville council

Water rate hike too high: Brockville council

A proposed water rate increase of 14 per cent is too high, city councillors said Tuesday, asking staff to find efficiencies in the water and sewer budgets. After a lengthy presentation on the water and wastewater budgets, council unanimously approved a motion to refer the vote on those budgets to the Jan. 10 meeting, hoping staff can find a way to reduce the rate increase by five per cent. Coun. Jeff Earle, who introduced the referral motion, said he is not asking for cuts, but efficiencies. He does not know what savings can be achieved, but he challenged staffers to try.

Smart water meters, asset management on Regina council agenda

Smart water meters, asset management on Regina council agenda

Smart water meters and asset management are some items on the agenda for Regina city council's meeting Wednesday afternoon. Last week, the city's executive committee signed off on new bylaw amendments to help introduce new smart water meters in every home and business in the city. According to a report by city staff presented to the executive committee, the new meters align with the city's goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. On Wednesday, council must decide whether to approve the changes.

This is what remediation at Giant Mine looks like. It's going to cost more than expected

This is what remediation at Giant Mine looks like. It's going to cost more than expected

One of the constant responsibilities of the project team is to prevent the underground from flooding — so that water doesn't come into contact with the arsenic trioxide and threaten to carry it elsewhere. Right now, water underground is pumped into the northwest tailings pond year round. Every summer, water in the tailings pond is treated and discharged into Baker Creek, which flows into Yellowknife Bay. Rather than treat water three months per year, a new water treatment plant is being built that will treat water year round. Construction on that plant is set to begin in 2023, and is expected to be done by 2025. Once it's up and running, the northwest tailings pond won't be needed to store contaminated water anymore — allowing the project team to start remediation work there.

City's plan to help Indigenous people with clean water trickling along

City's plan to help Indigenous people with clean water trickling along

A plan to improve water services to Indigenous communities has lost a little current. The proposal is to dedicate 0.2 per cent of Barrie’s water/sewer revenue next year toward Water First and its efforts to improve water services in First Nations communities. The plan would cost about $100,000, or about $1.77 for the average Barrie household in 2022. It was to be part of 2022 budget talks next week, but that will have to wait. While city staff have started consulting local First Nations groups about the donation, those talks haven’t finished at this time. Water First, a Creemore-based non-government organization (NGO), has a program to train young Indigenous people from reserves to become certified in operating a water plant through a 15-month paid apprenticeship, which is where the $100,000 would be spent.

Regina lead water pipe replacement program could take 15 years, $36M: report

Regina lead water pipe replacement program could take 15 years, $36M: report

A city report is recommending a timeline of 15 years and a budget of $36 million to replace all the lead water service connections in Regina. The report is going before the operations and services committee Wednesday afternoon. It says all the pipes would be done by 2036 if the committee, then city council, approves the timeline. "Honestly, this is long overdue," said Ward 3 Councillor Andrew Stevens. Twenty per cent of the lead pipes are in his ward in the Cathedral neighbourhood.

Feds to help fund feasibility study for new water Hay River treatment plant

Feds to help fund feasibility study for new water Hay River treatment plant

The Town of Hay River will be receiving federal funding to cover half the cost of a feasibility study on the potential construction of a replacement water treatment plant and identification of other water treatment options. The federal government will provide $225,000 for the project under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan. Another $225,000 will come from the town. The federal funding was announced on May 6.

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