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

'Forever chemicals' in the ocean become airborne from sea spray, study says

'Forever chemicals' in the ocean become airborne from sea spray, study says

So-called “forever chemicals,” which are compounds that do not break down easily in the environment, are entering the air from the water through sea spray, a new Swedish study says. Detailing their findings in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, researchers said lab results showed that when bubbles containing perfluoralkyl acids (PFAS) burst at the surface of saltwater, the compounds were aerosolized and entered the air in tiny particles. In order to find out if sea spray could be a vehicle for the compounds to be transported long distances, researchers did field observations at two coastal locations in Norway, collecting more than 100 air samples between 2018 and 2020.

Some Northern residents vow to oppose federal plan to release treated oilsands tailings

Some Northern residents vow to oppose federal plan to release treated oilsands tailings

Northerners say the federal government's plan to regulate the release of treated oilsands tailings water will be met with opposition by communities downstream. As the N.W.T. Environment minister gears up for a diplomatic approach with Alberta and Canada, Dene leaders like Smith's Landing First Nation Chief Gerry Cheezie are prepared to take legal action with Dene Nation, and to bring their opposition to the release of tailings all the way to Ottawa.

Sault Ste. Marie makes bid for Canada Water Agency

Sault Ste. Marie makes bid for Canada Water Agency

Sault Ste. Marie wants to be the home for a new federal government agency that could create at least 100 full-time jobs in the community. The city is making the case that it would be the ideal location for the new Canada Water Agency, which would improve freshwater management across the country. Kathleen Heymans, the city's business development manager, said the agency would expand on existing expertise built around freshwater management in Sault Ste. Marie.

Boil water advisory declared for Chippewas of the Thames

Boil water advisory declared for Chippewas of the Thames

Residents of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation are being cautioned to boil their water immediately as it has been deemed unsafe to drink. A precautionary boil water advisory came into effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday, cautioning residents to boil water from their supply. The advisory also applies to Muncee-Delaware Nation. "Any water being used for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, making beverages, washing babies, and washing fruit and vegetables should be boiled for ONE MINUTE and cooled before use," read a statement on the Chippewas of the Thames website.

Final pitch being prepared for Sault to land new Canada Water Agency HQ

Final pitch being prepared for Sault to land new Canada Water Agency HQ

Some believe Sault Ste. Marie is the perfect location for the headquarters of the soon-to-be-created Canada Water Agency and a city task force is preparing to make its final pitch for the project. The federal government announced during its previous mandate that it wanted to create the agency intended to improve freshwater management across Canada. That promise was solidified in the government’s most recent Speech from the Throne. The city of Sault Ste. Marie put together a task force to explore the possibility of bringing that new agency to the city.

HotSpots H2O: Report Spotlights Funding Gap in Canada’s First Nations Water Crisis

HotSpots H2O: Report Spotlights Funding Gap in Canada’s First Nations Water Crisis

Canada will need to spend significantly more to solve the decades-long water crisis in its Indigenous First Nations, according to a new report from the country’s federal budget officer. The report, published last week, found that the government has allocated more than enough funding to build the necessary water infrastructure. But an additional $138 million is needed annually to allow First Nations to maintain and operate those systems. This would mark a 50 percent increase from planned spending.

Why 'unwanted water' in London, Ont. sewers is a pricey problem and a big flood factor

Why 'unwanted water' in London, Ont. sewers is a pricey problem and a big flood factor

It's a problem that's costing the City of London about $1.4-million a year while adding to the risk of basement flooding. The engineering term is "inflow infiltration," but a report coming to the city's Civic Works committee on Tuesday uses a simpler one: Unwanted water. Essentially, it's water that ends up in the city's sewer system that shouldn't be there.

Water in Burnside deemed safe after possibility of high chlorine levels

Water in Burnside deemed safe after possibility of high chlorine levels

Halifax Water has determined its drinking water in the Burnside area of Dartmouth is safe after it reported potentially high levels of chlorine early Sunday. The water utility said in a release issued overnight that it "experienced an issue" with its water treatment plant in Burnside that could temporarily cause the higher levels. The utility said a few hundred customers in the area were advised to run cold water from their taps if they smelled a strong odour of chlorine.

Restoration work at Hillman Marsh to protect region from erosion, maintain wildlife

Restoration work at Hillman Marsh to protect region from erosion, maintain wildlife

Two years after erosion at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area was considered "gravely concerning," the coastal wetland in Ontario is now undergoing restoration work to better protect it. In 2019, the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) told CBC News that erosion along the coastline — specifically along Wheatley Provincial Park, Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee National Park — was "active and significant."

B.C. flood update: Officials to provide update on province's flood recovery | Feds commit $5 billion for flood recovery | Owners of drinking-water wells told water 'not fit for human consumption'

B.C. flood update: Officials to provide update on province's flood recovery | Feds commit $5 billion for flood recovery | Owners of drinking-water wells told water 'not fit for human consumption'

While the rain has eased and flood levels begin to decrease, the road to recovery remains long and challenging. Here are the latest updates on B.C. flood recovery efforts. A series of atmospheric rivers hit southern B.C. in November, causing evacuations, widespread flooding and mudslides. But while recovery efforts are underway, there’s still a long road ahead. Watch this file for updates with the latest on the B.C. flood recovery efforts.

Zhiibaahaasing First Nation water operator wins national leadership award

Zhiibaahaasing First Nation water operator wins national leadership award

A water operator in an Ontario First Nation is being nationally recognized for his hard work and dedication to his community. Jonathan Riberdy has been awarded the 2021 National First Nations Water Leadership Award for his work to make safe and clean drinking water a reality for Zhiibaahaasing First Nation in Ontario. The water leadership award was created in 2018 by Indigenous Services Canada.

Former deputy CPHO says she was ‘lone voice’ warning against water test results

Former deputy CPHO says she was ‘lone voice’ warning against water test results

Iqaluit city officials relied too much on an initial set of negative test results at the beginning of their investigation into the city’s water supply, says Nunavut’s former deputy chief public health officer, Dr. Anne Huang. It ended up influencing how decisions were made before the public was warned the water might not be safe, she added. Huang described herself as “the lone voice” in early October calling for caution in the interpretation of early results that indicated the city’s drinking water was what the city called “satisfactory.”

B.C. floods cause at least $450M in damage, Insurance Bureau of Canada reports

B.C. floods cause at least $450M in damage, Insurance Bureau of Canada reports

The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates the insured damage caused by flooding in British Columbia last month at $450 million, calling it the “most costly severe weather event in the province's history.” However, the overall costs are expected to be much higher since many people affected by the flooding in southwestern B.C. were located in high-risk areas where flood insurance was not available, the bureau said in a news release.

Iqaluit residents can drink tap water again, Nunavut's health department says

Iqaluit residents can drink tap water again, Nunavut's health department says

Nunavut's Department of Health lifted the do-not-consume order in Iqaluit, meaning residents there can once again drink from the city's water supply. Iqaluit's 8,000 residents have spent the last two months unable to drink the city's water from their taps due to concerns about fuel contamination. Officials originally told residents not to drink the tap water on Oct. 12, after complaints started flooding in about a smell of fuel in the water. In a news release Friday afternoon, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson stated that all tests done after Oct. 19 have shown the drinking water is safe to consume.

Brampton resident and engineer named a winner of Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award

Brampton resident and engineer named a winner of Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award

A highly decorated Ontario Public Service employee living in Brampton has been named a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winner. Indra Maharjan is a wastewater professional and the current director of innovation, technology and alternative delivery at the Ontario Clean Water Agency. Born in Nepal, Maharjan has been creating innovation solutions for the Canadian water and wastewater industry since moving to Canada more than 10 years ago. “My current role is to promote innovative solutions around energy, climate change and resource recovery,” he said, in a release announcing his win. “It involves working with stakeholders to demonstrate new technology and implementation models that reduce the cost of operating the system making it more sustainable and resilient.”

Sipekne'katik First Nation under boil-water advisory

Sipekne'katik First Nation under boil-water advisory

Sipekne'katik First Nation is a under a boil-water advisory. According to a Facebook post made by Chief Mike Sack Thursday, two water samples taken from the community on Dec. 8 came back with unacceptable levels of E. coli. Sack's post said the boil-water advisory is expected to stay in place until at least Sunday or when all samples come back with safe levels.

Homes flood, huge hole opens up after 2 water mains break in Halifax

Homes flood, huge hole opens up after 2 water mains break in Halifax

Separate water main breaks shut down traffic and disrupted water service to thousands of homes and businesses in two Halifax neighbourhoods Thursday, opening up a huge hole along one road and leading to flooding in some homes. A water main break overnight opened a hole and closed part of Herring Cove Road near Dentith Road, Halifax Regional Police said in a news release. Halifax Water said in an email about 7,000 service connections were impacted in the area. The number of people affected is higher, since an apartment building is counted as a single service connection.

Boil-water advisory issued for Chelsea, Que.

Boil-water advisory issued for Chelsea, Que.

A boil-water advisory has been issued for the town of Chelsea, Que. The advisory was issued Thursday evening following repairs earlier in the day to a burst watermain on chemin Old Chelsea, the public works department said in a press release. Any residents who use the municipal water system should boil their water for at least one minute before consuming it.

Work is ongoing to end remaining long-term drinking water advisories: Trudeau

Work is ongoing to end remaining long-term drinking water advisories: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his Liberal government remains committed to ending all long-term drinking water advisories that exist on First Nations, despite not setting a new date to do so. Trudeau discussed the work done up to now on the issue during an address Thursday to a virtual gathering of chiefs with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). To date, he says, the Liberals have helped lift 120 long-term drinking water advisories. A government website reports there are 42 such advisories still in place in 30 different communities.

Mining Association of B.C. offers cash prize for water innovation

Mining Association of B.C. offers cash prize for water innovation

Companies that come up with new ways to conserve and treat water in B.C. mining operations have a chance to win $150,000, in a contest organized by the Mining Association of B.C. MABC president Michael Goehring announced the industry’s first-ever Mining Innovation Challenge on Thursday. Co-sponsored by the B.C. government, Natural Resources Canada and industry players Teck Resources and Newcrest Mining, the competition for entrepreneurs is open until Feb. 18 for expressions of interest, with a winner to be announced at the end of June.

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