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

Arnprior water use remains well below full capacity

Arnprior water use remains well below full capacity

Drinking water and wastewater are well below the maximum capacity each plant is able to process, Arnprior town staff revealed at a recent council meeting. Some social media commentators often remark that town infrastructure can’t provide services for all the new residential units, let alone any more industrial or other types of growth. The annual reports presented at the March 28 meeting dispute that assertion. The water filtration plant (WFP) and waste pollution control centre (WPCC) currently have average daily flows between 39 and 39 per cent of their design capabilities, CAO Robin Paquette said after the meeting. Even factoring in future growth –Statistics Canada recently named Arnprior the 10th fastest-growing community in its category – infrastructure remains ahead.

First Nations-led water authority in Mi'kma'ki sees $173 million investment in federal budget

First Nations-led water authority in Mi'kma'ki sees $173 million investment in federal budget

The federal government’s proposed 2022 budget includes millions for a first-of-its-kind Indigenous-led water authority to assume responsibility for water systems in First Nations communities. Indigenous Services Canada is set to receive $173 million in funding over 10 years to support the transfer of water and wastewater services in 17 First Nations communities in Eastern Canada to the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority. “We were optimistic about the budget submission but did not want to get ahead of ourselves leading up to the announcement. As Chief of a community that faced problems with its water for many years, (Thursday’s) announcement is a huge step in the right direction,” Potlotek Chief Wilbert Marshall, chair of the water authority’s board of directors said in a written statement.

Quebec City repairs valve at water treatment plant, halting raw sewage flow into St. Lawrence

Quebec City repairs valve at water treatment plant, halting raw sewage flow into St. Lawrence

Emergency repairs in one of Quebec City's two wastewater treatment plants have succeeded in stopping the release of untreated sewage into the St. Lawrence River. Some 21,000 cubic metres of raw sewage had been flowing untreated into the river every hour since Saturday night because of a broken valve. Late yesterday, an underwater diver working in the tunnel filled with wastewater managed to make repairs, allowing the treatment plant to resume operating at about 60 per cent capacity. It's expected to be back at full capacity today.

What are Canada's Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations?

What are Canada's Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations?

To conserve fish and their habitat and human health from harmful substances from pulp and paper mills, the government of Canada has introduced Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations that were created under the Fisheries Act in 1971 in Canada to control deposits of harmful substances in water frequented by fish. Today, in this article, we will learn about these regulations. To improve water quality, conserve fish, fish habitat, and fisheries resources’ usage, the government of Canada has designed Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations (PPER). Elements of Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations: The regulations put a limit on the suspended solids and maximum quantities of biochemical oxygen that can be deposited by pulp and paper mills into water frequented by fish under prescribed conditions. The regulations prohibit any effluent deposits which can be acutely deadly to fish. To identify effluents impacts on fish and fish habitats, these regulations include requirements for mills to host environmental effects monitoring.

Hindus push for designated space to scatter ashes along Bow River in Calgary

Hindus push for designated space to scatter ashes along Bow River in Calgary

Members of Alberta's Hindu community are asking the City of Calgary to provide a designated spot along the banks of the Bow River to scatter the ashes of loved ones, in line with their faith. It's traditional in Hinduism and other religions, including Sikhism, for ashes to be placed into flowing water after a cremation. Similar riverside spaces for the ritual have been provided around the world in cities that have large Hindu communities.

Spring storm could bring 30 to 80 cm of snow to Manitoba next week, flood forecasters warn

Spring storm could bring 30 to 80 cm of snow to Manitoba next week, flood forecasters warn

Manitoba's flood forecasters are keeping an eye on a spring storm that the province says could dump 30 to 80 centimetres of snow on southern Manitoba in the next week. In a Saturday flood bulletin, the province said the system may result in a mix of snow and rain between Tuesday and Friday. Temperatures are forecast to drop to below freezing by Wednesday and remain below freezing until April 19 in most locations, the province said. Runoff from the forecast precipitation is not expected to start before April 20, according to the bulletin.

How can Pemberton cut down on water usage?

How can Pemberton cut down on water usage?

With summer right around the corner, Pemberton’s water usage is once again a hot topic at the Village’s council table. According to Village of Pemberton (VOP) manager of operations Tom Csima, who presented the VOP’s Water Conservation Plan at the village’s regular council meeting on Tuesday, April 5, the village’s water usage is higher than average. The community uses about 600 litres of water per capita per day, according to the plan’s technical memo prepared by Keir Wood Leidal—well above the Canadian average of 427 litres per person per day.

Feds to establish Canada water agency; just one of many investments in water resources

Feds to establish Canada water agency; just one of many investments in water resources

The federal government will spend $43.5 million over five years to establish a Canada water agency that will co-ordinate the more than 20 federal groups, departments and agencies that currently help to regulate freshwater in the country. It will also put in another $8.7 million in ongoing funding. The funding was announced in the Liberals’ 2022 budget and is just some of the money being put into water resources.

No water, no school: How water delivery issues disrupt learning for Inuit children in Nunavik

No water, no school: How water delivery issues disrupt learning for Inuit children in Nunavik

Once every week or two, Elom Akpo runs out of the principal's office at Tarsakallak School in Aupaluk, Que., jumps into the school truck and cruises the streets of the village, looking for a water delivery truck. This wasn't part of the job description when Akpo took up his duties as principal last January, but it's what he does to keep the only school in the village of 233 open. Tarsakallak School routinely runs out of water. If its reservoirs are not filled before they run dry, Akpo has to send all 60 or so students home.

SUMA expresses disappointment in federal budget

SUMA expresses disappointment in federal budget

In a news release this week, SUMA expressed disappointment that the federal government failed to address mental health and addictions or ensure equal access to broadband, clean water and safe transportation. SUMA as well the Federation of Canadian Municipalities are also calling on the feds to invest in high-speed internet, clean water and transportation infrastructure, and inter-community bus services. Goulden states every Saskatchewan resident "deserves access to reliable, high-speed internet, clean water, and safe transportation infrastructure."

Atlantic First Nations Water Authority to build, maintain clean water around the region

Atlantic First Nations Water Authority to build, maintain clean water around the region

After decades of dealing with discoloured water, residents of Potlotek First Nation in Nova Scotia are able to put it in the past. A water treatment plant and tower has cleared and made the water safe to use, but despite the work, some residents still have concerns. "Still a lot of people won't drink it and I don't blame them. It's going to take a while yet. There's some skepticism, I guess if the water is safe," said Potlotek First Nation Chief, Wilbert Marshall. The Atlantic First Nations Water Authority is hoping for that to change.

Companies fined after beaver dam removal floods Nesslin Lake in northern Sask.

Companies fined after beaver dam removal floods Nesslin Lake in northern Sask.

Two forestry companies and a contractor have been fined for their roles in 2019 road repairs gone wrong that led to flooding in a northern Saskatchewan lake, the province says. A track hoe was used to remove a beaver dam during road repairs in July 2019 near Nesslin Lake, about 200 kilometres north of Saskatoon, the province said in a Friday news release. Water and other sediment leaked into a creek before flowing south into the lake, causing water levels to rise quickly and resulting in flooding.

Liberals pouring funds into the Great Lakes in the 2022 federal budget

Liberals pouring funds into the Great Lakes in the 2022 federal budget

Canada is back at the binational table with funding in the 2022 federal budget to protect the Great Lakes fishery. Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey said it’s the first time in 40 years the federal government has fully funded the binational treaty organization Great Lakes Fishery Commission. “The fishery contributes $8 billion in economic return each year, the fishery is integral to our culture, and a healthy fishery means a healthy environment,” said Badawey in a release following Thursday’s budget announcement.

Red River Floodway now in operation, diverting rising waters around Winnipeg

Red River Floodway now in operation, diverting rising waters around Winnipeg

The Red River Floodway is now in operation, taking some of the river water around Winnipeg into the diversion channel. The control structure was activated shortly before 10 a.m. Friday by Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk, who posted about it on his Twitter account. The province uses the floodway — a 47-kilometre channel between St. Norbert and Lockport that runs along the eastern edge of Winnipeg — to divert some of the Red's flow and maintain a manageable level through the city in flood season.

Water main break causes sinkhole in Garneau area

Water main break causes sinkhole in Garneau area

Utility crews responded to a water main break that caused a sinkhole in the Garneau area Friday evening. EPCOR told CTV News Edmonton that crews were notified of the sinkhole after 6 p.m. at 107 Street and 85 Avenue. Officials shut off the water in the area at 7 p.m. as they started to make repairs, affecting five apartment buildings and one home. In the meantime, EPCOR says a water tank has been made available to residents. The utility provider asks residents and motorists to stay away from the area as crews continue to make repairs and restore water service.

Some in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T. still being told to drink bottled water

Some in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T. still being told to drink bottled water

Some people in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T are still being told not to drink the water that comes out of their taps — until a water sample for each affected home or building shows it is safe to drink. The entire community was advised, on March 23, not to drink delivered water because it smelled of fuel and had an oily sheen. Since then, Jeremy Bird, a spokesperson for the territory's department of health, told CBC News the community had been cleared to distribute water using an alternative water truck two days later.

The Columbia River Treaty

The Columbia River Treaty

A myriad of First Nations on either side of the border like the Secwépemc (Shuswap) and Ktunaxa (Akisqnuk) have had deep seeded roots to the Columbia River for thousands of years, long before the Treaty attached to it ever became a notion. What is the Columbia River Treaty? The Columbia River Treaty is a water management agreement that was implemented in 1964 between the United States and Canada and is well-respected internationally.

Canada moves closer to selecting site for infrastructure project to safely store Canada's used nuclear fuel for millennia

Canada moves closer to selecting site for infrastructure project to safely store Canada's used nuclear fuel for millennia

"We need to be sure that used nuclear fuel can be safely contained in the rock to ensure water, people and the environment are safe," said Sarah Hirschorn, Director of Geoscience at the NWMO. "This work will support greater understanding of geological characterization so that local communities are informed as they consider what will be one of the largest environmental infrastructure programs in Canadian history."

Anglian Water Wins Innovation Excellence Award Using Copperleaf's Solutions

Anglian Water Wins Innovation Excellence Award Using Copperleaf's Solutions

Copperleaf® Technologies Inc. (TSX: CPLF) ("Copperleaf" or the "Company"), a global leader in decision analytics solutions, is pleased to have been recognized alongside its client, Anglian Water, for an Innovation Excellence Award. Verdantix, a leading independent research and advisory firm, selected Anglian Water as the winner in the category of Enterprise Carbon Management. These awards recognize people and organizations who are instrumental in implementing successful, innovative technologies that improve processes, management, and reporting.

Rama First Nation member nominated for prestigious list compiled by Canadian law publication

Rama First Nation member nominated for prestigious list compiled by Canadian law publication

A Rama First Nation lawyer has been nominated for a prestigious distinction from a leading law publication. Ted Williams, the Chief of Rama First Nation, nominated Stephanie Willsey for Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential list. Her biggest accomplishment thus far was recently winning a $8 billion class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government, on behalf of Indigenous communities who have not had access to clean drinking water.

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