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

technology

Inspired by insects, scientists pull water from thin air

Inspired by insects, scientists pull water from thin air

Water scarcity is a pressing global challenge, and researchers at the University of Waterloo are turning to insects for inspiration to address the problem. A research team at the university has developed technology inspired by spiderwebs and Namib desert beetles, both of which capture moisture from the air and convert it to fresh water. The research is led by Prof. Michael Tam, University Research Chair in the chemical engineering department, and two students, Eva Wang and Weinan Zhao. The team aims to use the techniques perfected by insects and upscale them to deliver larger volumes of water for society.

Reusing some household water can help with drought. Here's why that's tricky in Canada

Reusing some household water can help with drought. Here's why that's tricky in Canada

For a while, every time Caetano Dorea's kids took a bath, he used a bilge pump to save the water and pour it on his plants outside. As a University of Victoria engineering professor specializing in wastewater treatment, Dorea knows more than the average person about how much water the average household uses in Canada.   

WasteSharks are lurking in Toronto's harbour — and cleaning up trash

WasteSharks are lurking in Toronto's harbour — and cleaning up trash

Two new sharks are popping up in Toronto's harbour — but it's garbage, not people, who should be afraid of heading into the water. PortsToronto has brought in two WasteShark aquadrones to add to its larger trash trapping program. "It's essentially a Roomba that operates on the surface of the water," said Jessica Pellerin, manager of media relations and public affairs for PortsToronto. "[It] cleans up microplastics, debris… things that we don't want on the surface of the water and then we're able to dispose of it properly afterward."

New net-zero innovation network to fast track B.C.’s clean-tech sector

New net-zero innovation network to fast track B.C.’s clean-tech sector

A new business innovation network is launching on the West Coast, aimed at helping British Columbia transition to a clean, net-zero economy. “A sustainable, clean economy for our future is a priority for all British Columbians, and developing and launching the necessary technology is essential for businesses, researchers and innovators,” said Adam Walker, Parliamentary Secretary for the Sustainable Economy. “To tackle this, Foresight’s Net Zero Innovation Network will help support the adoption and growth of clean tech in B.C. This will help to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets, drive economic growth, and enhance industrial competitiveness, expanding B.C.’s position as a global leader in clean energy technology.”

Drought-stricken work together to fight water woes

Drought-stricken work together to fight water woes

Drought-stricken countries, led by Senegal and Spain, announced an alliance Monday to help each other manage water scarcity by sharing technology and expertise. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference, COP27, which is taking place in the sun-baked Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after a fifth failed rainy season on the Horn of Africa.

FREDsense wins Foresight Canada and United Utilities water quality innovation challenge

FREDsense wins Foresight Canada and United Utilities water quality innovation challenge

Recently it was announced that FREDsense Technologies Corp. (FREDsense) was named one of two cleantech innovation challenge winners. They are being honored for their technology which allows one-hour water quality monitoring for contaminants in the field with the same accuracy as traditional labs. The award was announced in a joint news release by Foresight Canada and United Utilities.

Mining association objects to proposed federal coal effluent rules

Mining association objects to proposed federal coal effluent rules

Canada’s mining industry is pushing back against proposed tougher federal coal effluent rules, saying the draft regulations aren’t practical or backed by science. “We just do not see a path to achieving those limits,” said Pierre Gratton of the Mining Association of Canada, which expressed its concerns in a March 2 letter to Environment Canada. “(Environment Canada) has not articulated a justification for going further than the limits that have been agreed to.” The federal government has been trying to write effluent rules for coal since 2017, in response to requests from industry.

Toronto is home to the world’s largest lake- powered cooling system. Here’s how it works.

Toronto is home to the world’s largest lake- powered cooling system. Here’s how it works.

But unlike other sports venues, Scotiabank Arena doesn’t keep its temperatures in check using air conditioners. Toronto is home to the world’s largest deep lake water cooling (DLWC) system. Conceptually, the technology is relatively simple. Instead of relying on energy-intensive compressors and chillers to dissipate heat from buildings, DLWC uses water from nearby Lake Ontario to whisk away the warmth.

Letter: Time to address water quality in Quamichan Lake

Letter: Time to address water quality in Quamichan Lake

Rowing Canada’s continued use of Quamichan Lake for training winning Olympians is a golden opportunity to address the obscene multi-source pollution that is killing our lake. North Cowichan councillors could win gold medals among environmentalists if they act now to save our over-studied lake. Councillors must urgently work with Victoria and Ottawa to declare Quamichan Lake an eco-zone.

WSP Canada Wins Award for Innovative Solution for Safe Water in Remote Communities

WSP Canada Wins Award for Innovative Solution for Safe Water in Remote Communities

WSP won for its work in developing an innovative solution for safe water in remote communities. Like many remote communities, the people of the Tl’azt’en Nation in northern B.C. had no access to clean drinking water. Because conventional water treatment technology was unfeasible, WSP Canada and the RES’EAU-WaterNET partnered to develop a treatment system for organic material. The project delivered a full-scale plant that allowed a 14-year boil water advisory to be lifted. The system uses natural biological processes, is low in consumables, reduces chemical requirements, produces little waste and is simple for operators to use.

UBC researchers develop inexpensive tool to test drinking water

UBC researchers develop inexpensive tool to test drinking water

A handheld ‘tricorder’ that can test for biological contamination in real-time has been the dream of science fiction fans for decades. And UBC Okanagan engineers say the technology is closer to science fact than ever before. Using a small and inexpensive biosensor, researchers in the School of Engineering have developed a novel low-cost technique that quickly and accurately detects cryptosporidium contamination in water samples.

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