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

‘In our culture, water is so much more. It’s sacred.’ New wave of Indigenous operators look to tackle drinking-water woes

‘In our culture, water is so much more. It’s sacred.’ New wave of Indigenous operators look to tackle drinking-water woes

Jamie Lee Parenteau knows that water is where life originates. She knows that it must be protected in every way possible from pollution or waste. The Ojibway woman’s ancestors were able to live off the water as a resource, and to sustain all living things in their care. Yet in some First Nation communities today, water has become a curse. “In our culture, water is so much more. It’s sacred,” says Parenteau, who is from the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation. “Our people could just go to the lake for everything. That was before all these things like the (pulp) mills and mercury poisoning. Our people drink that water and got poisoned by it.” The young mother is a water protector — and she now has a licence that says so.

Military arrives in Iqaluit to set up reverse osmosis water purification

Military arrives in Iqaluit to set up reverse osmosis water purification

The Canadian Armed Forces says its members have arrived in Nunavut's capital to assist with the city's ongoing water emergency. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Friday that he had spoken with Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq and the military would be deployed to Iqaluit to co-ordinate and deliver clean drinking water. Late Saturday, the military tweeted that there are over 20 Canadian Armed Forces members in Iqaluit setting up deployable equipment for reverse osmosis water purification.

As Calgary votes for fluoride, some in B.C. have hope for 'rotten tooth capital of Canada'

As Calgary votes for fluoride, some in B.C. have hope for 'rotten tooth capital of Canada'

After a year that saw both Regina and Calgary voting to add fluoride to their drinking water, some British Columbians are wondering whether it's time for cities in the province to finally consider fluoridation. About two-thirds of Calgarians who voted in Monday's plebiscite supported the fluoride measure — hopeful news for Dr. Mario Brondani, an associate professor of dentistry at the University of British Columbia and a self-described "passionate advocate for fluoride."

Erin council awards water distribution model to WSP Canada Inc. for $162,872

Erin council awards water distribution model to WSP Canada Inc. for $162,872

Town council has approved a bid from a company to construct a model for its water infrastructure project. Council voted in favour of directing staff to accept a bid from WSP Canada Inc. for the development and calibration of a water distribution system model for $162,872. The bid was significantly higher than the one submitted by Triton, something Mayor Allan Alls noted. “I must admit, when I first saw the difference in money, I was concerned,” Alls said. “When you read the report, you see Triton wasn’t offering all the services that WSP was offering.”

Ice loss, toxic algae blooms: Canadian study looks at Northern Hemisphere's warming lakes

Ice loss, toxic algae blooms: Canadian study looks at Northern Hemisphere's warming lakes

Lakes in the Northern Hemisphere have been warming six times faster since 1992 than they were at any other time period in the past 100 years, a Canadian study suggests. The study, entitled “Loss of Ice Cover, Shifting Phenology and More Extreme Events in Northern Hemisphere Lakes,” was published in the October issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences and led by York University in Ontario.

New study aims to uncover source of E. coli contamination in First Lake

New study aims to uncover source of E. coli contamination in First Lake

Is it poop from humans, dogs, waterfowl or another source that keeps fouling the waters of First Lake in Lower Sackville, N.S.? That's one of the questions an upcoming study will tackle. The Halifax Regional Municipality is seeking a company to conduct a study to figure out how much fecal bacteria is in the lake and where it's coming from, as well as to make recommendations on how to decrease the pollution.

Iqaluit staff recommend full rebate for water customers due to emergency

Iqaluit staff recommend full rebate for water customers due to emergency

Iqaluit residents could get a break on their water bills as they continue to deal with fuel contamination that's prevented them from being able to drink their tap water. Mayor Kenny Bell says in a social media post that he asked city staff for a "request for decision" on a water rebate ahead of this coming Tuesday's council meeting. Bell posted the resulting document on Saturday, which calls for a full rebate for the month of October for customers who receive their water via the city's pipes, as well as those who receive water from trucks.

This city will rely on bottled water for weeks because of high lead levels

This city will rely on bottled water for weeks because of high lead levels

State officials on Thursday defended their response to a lead crisis in a small southwestern Michigan city, telling lawmakers that steps to reduce corrosion in aging water pipes began in 2019, just a few months after tests revealed troubling results. Benton Harbor residents will be urged to use free bottled water for drinking and cooking for weeks more, until a federal study confirms that filters can work effectively with the city's tap water, Liesl Clark, the head of Michigan's environmental agency, said.

Martock's season to go ahead as ski hill gets OK to make changes to Avon River

Martock's season to go ahead as ski hill gets OK to make changes to Avon River

Work is underway to make changes to Nova Scotia's Avon River to allow freshwater to be pumped to Ski Martock for their snowmaking guns. For years, water has been pumped from the river to the ski hill, which is located near Windsor. But in March, a federal ministerial order stated gates at the river causeway were to be kept open for longer periods to allow for the passage of fish. As a result, water levels receded drastically and there was no way water could be pumped to the hill.

No more excuses: Fix the clean water problem

No more excuses: Fix the clean water problem

Clean, safe, reliable water should be available to all people in Canada in this day and age, and yet it isn’t. We have all heard the promises of politicians on the campaign trails, and still, there are many places in this country where there are consistent boil water advisories or just plain water that is unusable for numerous reasons. In 2016, there were 105 communities with long-term drinking water advisories in place, where the water had been unsafe to use or consume for at least a year. By this year, the number of communities without water is 61.

Province installs 'control structure' to protect Fredericton wetland that was accidentally drained

Province installs 'control structure' to protect Fredericton wetland that was accidentally drained

The New Brunswick government says it's taking steps to prevent a Fredericton wetland from getting accidentally drained again. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jill Green said department staff are currently working to install a "water control structure" on a road culvert that's adjacent to the northside Ferris Street Wetland Nature Preserve, which was accidentally drained of about half a metre of water earlier this year.

New thinking required for our watershed management

New thinking required for our watershed management

Unprecedented changes are taking place in our rivers, creeks, and lakes. To ensure the long-term protection of our water sources, community-based water monitoring is becoming an increasingly important tool at local and regional levels. Water monitoring is used by governments and communities to assess the health of our watersheds and improve decision-making about our freshwater supply. Community-based water monitoring (CBWM) allows citizens to partner with decision-makers and work collectively towards watershed management.

Regulator lays charges against Tidewater Midstream for acidic water release

Regulator lays charges against Tidewater Midstream for acidic water release

The Alberta Energy Regulator has laid charges against Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd. for a release of acidic water in west-central Alberta. The regulator says the release occurred in Oct. 2019 at Tidewater’s Ram River sour gas processing plant near Rocky Mountain House. It says the acidic water flowed into a nearby creek. Calgary-based Tidewater has been charged with 10 violations under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, including releasing a substance to the environment that caused or may have caused an adverse effect.

CIBC donates $25,000 to provide clean drinking water to the residents of Iqaluit

CIBC donates $25,000 to provide clean drinking water to the residents of Iqaluit

CIBC announced today it is donating $25,000 to True North Aid to support relief efforts in Iqaluit, where a state of emergency is in effect over fuel contamination of the city's tap water. "This is a truly devasting situation for the Iqaluit community. We join our clients and team members in helping ensure the people of Iqaluit have access to safe drinking water," said Stephen Forbes, Executive Vice-President, Purpose, Brand, and Corporate Affairs, CIBC.

Water shortages are a major risk of climate change. Alberta may already be seeing warning signs

Water shortages are a major risk of climate change. Alberta may already be seeing warning signs

But this year, Costa said, he's been seeing some of the lowest flow rates on the river he can ever recall. "The river finds its way lower and lower and lower," Costa said. "In fact, to the point that as low as it is now, I won't even fish it. Because the fish are too stressed, and they're in oxygen debt." What's happening in this section of the Oldman River comes as no surprise, experts say, and the effects of climate change could lead to water shortages across Alberta in years to come.

Iqaluit’s water crisis unveils a bigger problem: There’s no recycling in the Arctic

Iqaluit’s water crisis unveils a bigger problem: There’s no recycling in the Arctic

A week-long water crisis that has left residents of Nunavut's capital city Iqaluit without drinking water is also exposing a chronic problem for many northern communities: It's almost impossible to safely get rid of garbage. Close to 750,000 plastic water bottles have flooded the city in recent days after city staff last week found fuel in Iqaluit's water supply. While a coalition of businesses has since teamed up to ship the empty bottles back, most of the city's trash never returns south.

Iqaluit’s water is contaminated: This is what it’s like for one teen

Iqaluit’s water is contaminated: This is what it’s like for one teen

Have you ever been told to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth because you’re “wasting water”? For a lot of Canadian kids, the supply of clean water might seem endless. You turn on your tap and it’s just there. But for more than a week now, people in Iqaluit, Nunavut, have not had it so easy when it comes to accessing safe drinking water. The city has been in a state of emergency since Oct. 12, with officials telling residents not to drink the city-supplied water because of a possible contamination.

Instead of a coal mine, this Alberta mountain may now become a 'green energy complex'

Instead of a coal mine, this Alberta mountain may now become a 'green energy complex'

An Australian mining company that had proposed a major open-pit coal mine in southwestern Alberta now says it may want to build a "renewable energy complex" on the site instead. Montem Resources had initially planned to develop an open-pit coal mine on Tent Mountain, just southwest of Crowsnest Pass, and was in the process of seeking regulatory approvals for the project. But after the federal and provincial governments rejected a nearby mining proposal — Riversdale Resources' Grassy Mountain project — Montem rethought its plans for Tent Mountain.

Council awards $5M engineering contract in first phase of leaked chemical clean-up agreement with DND

Council awards $5M engineering contract in first phase of leaked chemical clean-up agreement with DND

North Bay City Council has approved a nearly $5 million contract for engineering consulting services associated with the remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) at Jack Garland Airport. In July, the City of North Bay and the Department of National Defence (DND) reached a $20-million contribution agreement related to the leakage of chemicals at the local airport. PFAS are manufactured substances found in many consumer and industrial products, including firefighting foam. Past use of the airport lands for firefighter training between the early 1970s and mid-1990s has been identified as the main source of PFAS on the airport property. Although firefighting foam containing PFAS was an accepted practice and was in accordance with regulations at that time, its use is very limited today.

Water theft among reasons for 27% loss of TBM’s drinking water supply: official

Water theft among reasons for 27% loss of TBM’s drinking water supply: official

Theft is one of the factors contributing to a spike in the amount of drinking water lost between The Blue Mountains water treatment plant and household water metres, according to town staff. TBM reported a 27.3-per-cent loss in its drinking water system in 2020, a sharp increase over the 16-per-cent loss posted in 2019. Leaking infrastructure, water theft, and meter issues are among the reasons for the loss, according to water and wastewater service staff. Incidents of water theft reported by TBM staff include the illegal operation of fire hydrants, bypassing water meters, and contractors accessing water mains via curb stops.

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