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

Flooding after downpour damaged 800 homes in Teulon last week, mayor says

Flooding after downpour damaged 800 homes in Teulon last week, mayor says

Residents of Teulon, Man., are cleaning up and filing insurance claims six days after the Interlake town was inundated with water. Last week, rain came down in sheets in the town 60 kilometres north of Winnipeg, damaging roughly 800 homes — about 75 per cent of the community's residences, Mayor Anna Pazdzierski said. "There was one home, the water was halfway up the basement windows and just flowing in. The same level outside was the level inside," she said on Monday. "It just filled up everything it could fill up."

'Smart taxes,' compost, better public transit ideas floated by mayoral hopefuls for greener Winnipeg

'Smart taxes,' compost, better public transit ideas floated by mayoral hopefuls for greener Winnipeg

A mayoral hopeful wants to use his social enterprise background to get Winnipeggers thinking about — and acting on — climate change. "This city hall thinks that our carbon emissions are a problem, and we have to spend money to address the problem. Its not a problem. It's our biggest economic opportunity we've had available to us in a generation," Shaun Loney said. Loney, who's helped create five different social enterprise businesses, wants to introduce "smart taxes" if he were mayor. Essentially, they're taxes or policies that reward businesses who focus on things like cutting carbon emissions or reducing the amount of water runoff in the city's sewer system, which eventually runs into Lake Winnipeg.

Anglian Water chief lands £1.3m pay despite two-star pollution rating

Anglian Water chief lands £1.3m pay despite two-star pollution rating

The boss of a water company with one of the worst pollution records in England has been handed more than £1m in pay and bonuses. Anglian Water chief executive Peter Simpson faces criticism after he landed a “substantial” £337,651 bonus as part of a £1.3m pay package. The reward comes despite English water firms overseeing such shocking levels of pollution that the Environment Agency has said water company bosses should be jailed for serious offences.

Beach season 'so far, so good' in Ottawa

Beach season 'so far, so good' in Ottawa

Beachgoers in the Ottawa region have hardly had to avoid the water this summer after weeks of E. coli testing showing low levels in the city's monitored beaches. Katy Alambo, a biologist with Ottawa Riverkeeper, says that while it's difficult to predict a trend from summer to summer, this season is shaping up to be much better than last. "So far, so good. The majority of the beaches have been testing really well," Alambo said.

Algae bloom season in Alberta is here. What can we do about it?

Algae bloom season in Alberta is here. What can we do about it?

As glorious as Alberta summers can be, they come with their own set of problems, like blue-green algae. Unfortunately for eager campers and swimmers, the blooms — which happen every year — can effectively shut down lakes. So, what exactly is blue-green algae? Blue-green algae or cyanobacteria forms in slow-moving, shallow waters and is usually the result of an excess of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are essential for plant growth, but big blooms of the bacteria are largely caused by human activity like agriculture or residential development.

Poor water access limited early efforts to fight Lytton fire

Poor water access limited early efforts to fight Lytton fire

In the first minutes of the Nohomin Creek wildfire, poor access to water hampered efforts to fight the blaze that would go on to consume several homes on Lytton First Nations’ land, according to Indigenous leaders. With the wildfire still burning and a heat wave on the horizon, First Nations in the Fraser Canyon are calling for greater water rights and better access to water for their communities. “I can only run my garden hose for 20 minutes before I run out of water,” said Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council chairman Matt Pasco, chief of the Oregon Jack Creek Band. “That’s not going to fight any fire.”

Group questions accuracy of IJC's Georgian Bay water-level data

Group questions accuracy of IJC's Georgian Bay water-level data

The need for water quality along Georgian Bay is no mere drop in the bucket. Members of the Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation (GBGLF) addressed Tiny Township council at the recent committee of the whole meeting, presenting an update on Georgian Bay water levels and water quality, and asking the township for a letter of support for funding from the federal government.

Untreated wastewater no longer being released into harbour, says Halifax Water

Untreated wastewater no longer being released into harbour, says Halifax Water

Untreated wastewater and stormwater are no longer flowing untreated into Halifax harbour three days after a pump failed at Halifax Water's Duffus Street pump station. The pump began operating again at 4 p.m. Friday and was monitored overnight, Halifax Water said in a media release Saturday. Wastewater and stormwater are now being pumped from the station to the wastewater treatment facility on Upper Water Street.

Stay out of the water at six Niagara beaches including Fifty Point Conservation Area (July 22)

Stay out of the water at six Niagara beaches including Fifty Point Conservation Area (July 22)

Heading to the beach? You’ll want to stay out of the water at Fifty Point Conservation Area, Long Nelles, Reebs Bay, Sunset and Waverly as of July 22 at 3 p.m. Here’s the latest beach water quality report from Niagara Region Public Health: Bernard Avenue Beach in Fort Erie (1 Bernard Avenue) tested safe for swimming on July 21

Regional District of Nanaimo to borrow money to pay for Whiskey Creek water system upgrade

Regional District of Nanaimo to borrow money to pay for Whiskey Creek water system upgrade

The Whiskey Creek Water Service Area is scheduled for a much-needed upgrade to meet Island Health’s requirement deadline. The facility has been under notice from Island Health to address deficiencies in the water supply since 2013. The water supply system to Whiskey Creek has required improvement since 2012. In 2021, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) commissioned a new groundwater source, but due to lack of funds, a temporary overland transmission water main and portable diesel-powered electric generator as a power source were installed.

Japan regulators approve release of Fukushima water into sea

Japan regulators approve release of Fukushima water into sea

Japan's nuclear regulators have approved a plan to release into the ocean water from the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the government said on Friday. The water, used to cool reactors in the aftermath of the 2011 nuclear disaster, is being stored in huge tanks in the plant, and amounted to more than 1.3 million tonnes by July. The regulators deemed it safe to release the water, which will still contain traces of tritium after treatment, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

East Gwillimbury to replace water mains in Sharon and Holland Landing for $5 million

East Gwillimbury to replace water mains in Sharon and Holland Landing for $5 million

Water mains are going to be replaced in Sharon and Holland Landing with a little help from the provincial government. The Town of East Gwillimbury authorized a transfer payment agreement with the Province of Ontario for $3.67 million in grant funding that will contribute toward the $5-million cost of replacing water mains in Holland Landing and Sharon. Funding for this project was secured through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

Cleansing stations to be added at Lac Ste. Anne to deal with blue-green algae

Cleansing stations to be added at Lac Ste. Anne to deal with blue-green algae

Organizers of the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage say cleansing stations are to be provided for anyone who wants to enter the lake next week. Alberta Health Services issued a blue-green algae bloom advisory for the lake Thursday afternoon. It comes just days before the Pope is set to visit the lake and kick off the pilgrimage at the site west of Edmonton. Each July, thousands of people go to the shores of Lac Ste. Anne in search of healing and spiritual renewal. But those who come into contact with visible blue-green algae or drink water containing it may get a rash, sore throat, nausea or diarrhea.

Sask. First Nation faces flooding after nearby road collapse

Sask. First Nation faces flooding after nearby road collapse

Seven homes on the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation, approximately 65 kilometres northeast of Regina, were recently evacuated after floodwater from a nearby stream moved in earlier this week. It came after over 100 millimetres of rain fell in the area late Monday and through the day Tuesday. Jim Pratt, an emergency coordinator for the First Nation, told CBC the heavy rain filled the stream with water. When it began backing up at culverts running underneath Township Road 210 — a gravel road upstream from Muscowpetung — it started running over the road. The road and culverts eventually gave way.

Cut water consumption by 20%, GRCA urges

Cut water consumption by 20%, GRCA urges

The Grand River Conservation Authority is urging people and businesses along the watershed to drop their water usage by 20 per cent. This week, the low water response team placed the entire watershed at level two. It means the authority is asking all water users — municipalities, aggregate operations, golf courses, water bottlers, farms for irrigation and private users — to decrease the amount of water they use. The last time a level two was declared for the entire watershed was 2016.

Summerland reservoir upgrade completed under budget

Summerland reservoir upgrade completed under budget

An upgrade project at one of Summerland’s reservoirs has been completed under budget. The official opening of the Isintok Dam outlet was held on July 19 at the reservoir lake west of Summerland. A dam has been in place at this lake since 1926. In 2013, a video inspection revealed the outlet pipe would need to be replaced. The contract for the detail design work was awarded in the spring of 2019 and the construction work began in August 2021.

Water stewardship group, Gibson Energy team up to combat invasive purple loosestrife plant

Water stewardship group, Gibson Energy team up to combat invasive purple loosestrife plant

Just as leafy spurge looks harmless but is really an invasive species, purple loosestrife is another attractive-looking plant that can do more damage to the local environment. Purple loosestrife is a wetland invasive species that has taken over the river systems in Eastern Canada. While it looks like a beautiful flower, it is extremely aggressive and can wipe out cattails and other native flora. If its seeds spread, they can choke out wetlands. Purple loosestrife is native to Europe and Asia and was brought to North America in the early 19th century. It was likely introduced when its seeds were included in soil used as ballast in European sailing ships and discarded in North America.

Jury gets Flint water case about liability for engineers

Jury gets Flint water case about liability for engineers

Jurors heard closing arguments Thursday in the only trial to arise thus far from the Flint water crisis, a dispute over whether two engineering firms should be held partially responsible for the city’s lead contamination in 2014-15. Attorneys representing four Flint children said Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, known as LAN, didn’t do enough to get the city to treat the highly corrosive water or to urge a return to a regional water supplier. Veolia and LAN, which performed work for Flint, were not part of a landmark $626 million settlement involving Flint residents, the state of Michigan and other parties.

Why some Halifax-area beaches keep closing — and what's being done to keep them open

Why some Halifax-area beaches keep closing — and what's being done to keep them open

A Dartmouth, N.S., councillor says work is underway to keep city beaches safe for swimming, including discouraging pigeons from roosting nearby and collecting storm water so it doesn't run into the lakes. But Coun. Sam Austin admits the amount of development around some lakes, such as Lake Banook in Dartmouth, poses significant challenges to water quality this time of year.

Dry rivers compound water crisis, stressing food and energy supplies

Dry rivers compound water crisis, stressing food and energy supplies

Due to drought, which has lasted for 60 days, the source of the Po river is dry and the landscape is snowless, in Pian del Re, Crissolo, under the Monviso in the Cottian Alps. The snow melted due to high temperatures. Two people sunbathe on the dry riverbed at the confluence between the Po and Ticino rivers, next to Ponte della Becca (Becca Bridge), in Linarolo, near Pavia, northern Italy, in July. A state of emergency was declared in five northern regions amid a worsening drought, as Italy experiences an early heat wave and a lack of rainfall.

Follow us