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.
Aklavik has begun delivering water again after a software problem affecting a computer at the hamlet’s water plant was resolved. A system error earlier this week meant the hamlet could not monitor water quality and, as a result, trucks were told to stop delivering water to homes, acting senior administrator Tom Ng said on Wednesday. Initially, technicians in British Columbia had struggled to fix the error remotely.
Dr. Melanie O’Gorman (Economics) – How Important are Water and Sanitation? Investigating the Associations between Water/Sanitation and Well-being in First Nations in Manitoba Other UWinnipeg researchers included as co-applicants on SSHRC Insight Grants include: Dr. Luc Clair (Economics), How Important are Water and Sanitation? Investigating the Associations between Water/Sanitation and Well-being in First Nations in Manitoba
Across the country, Canadians are feeling the impacts of climate change. By investing in community initiatives that cut pollution and support efficient local infrastructure, we can keep our air clean and build strong, healthy places for everyone to call home. This is why the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) are investing in smart sustainable solutions from coast to coast to coast.
Sharp recommends a good soaking for larger trees about every 10 days to two weeks that reaches 20 to 25 centimetres into the root zone. Following Capital Regional District watering restriction guidelines, that’s about an hour using a sprinkler or soaker hose. Too much watering might cause root rot and fungus problems, said Sharp, who also recommends surrounding the trees with coarse mulch, such as wood chips, that shades the soil and slows evaporation. People can also help trees by avoiding compacting the soil around the base. “It’s really important to limit traffic around trees, like playgrounds and vehicles, because water just runs off and doesn’t get to the roots,” he said.
Before the liturgy, making the Sign of the Cross towards the four cardinal points — according to indigenous custom — the pope blessed a bowl of the lake’s water, which was brought up to a small wooden structure, shaped like a teepee, overlooking the lake. The pope, after spending a moment in prayer sitting at the water's edge in his wheelchair, later sprinkled the crowds with the blessed water.
Without careful coordination for flood risk management throughout the water year, the Columbia River would have hit a stage of 25 feet at Vancouver in June, a height not seen in the river in springtime since 1956. That level would be considered ‘major flood stage’, as determined by the National Weather Service. Evidence of the same storm’s power was seen further south in the damaging flooding along the Yellowstone River in northern Wyoming.
Take a dip at Mooney’s Bay or the Petrie Island River Beaches Tuesday but Ottawa Public Health says that swimming is “not recommended” at Petrie Island East Bay and Britannia. Water samples are collected daily from City of Ottawa supervised beaches between mid-June and the end of August and tested for E. coli bacteria. When tests find high levels of E. coli, it’s more likely that other disease-causing organisms are in the water, too, the health unit said.Those organisms can cause skin, ear, throat or gastrointestinal illnesses.
This is at least the third body found in the Lake Mead area as the country's largest reservoir has receded to unprecedented levels. The first body, discovered on May 1, was found in a barrel and was likely a murder victim who died from a gunshot wound "some time in the mid '70s to early '80s, based on clothing and footwear the victim was found with," according to a news release from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.
Any water from inside the ship is considered contaminated, so it is getting pumped directly into trucks and taken away by a specialized company to be disposed of properly, said Cormier. “There has not been any release of pollutants into the water or on land,” said Cormier, “But as an abundance of precaution, we have a response organization that is providing containment around the vessel and also containment along the shoreline to habitat, marsh area, to the west of the terminal.” The Canadian Coast Guard environmental response team is still on site, he said. “Our activities we basically discuss and submit plans on what we are doing so that the priority of environmental protection is taken care of,” said Cormier. “So, we always consult with them.”
Amid growing concerns over plastic waste, Oceana Canada is urging the government to take action against the growing plastic pollution crisis. Oceana Canada says the federal government must “continue efforts to reduce the amount of harmful single-use plastics flooding our oceans and devastating marine life.” Earlier this month, the organization called for strict recycled content laws that increase the availability of refillable and reusable packaging choices and stop the burning of plastic waste. Burning plastic is known to release harmful emissions into air, water and soil.
Help is needed to keep citizens cool as temperatures soar towards 40 degrees Celsius this week. The Upper Room Mission and Turning Points Collaborative Society are looking for donations of water to keep people hydrated. “This rising heat is so dangerous,” said the Outreach Team with Turning Points, which provides water and refillable bottles to those in need.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is implementing mandatory Stage 2 water conservation measures in the Duhamel, South Slocan, and Woodland Heights water systems. These measures are necessary due to the high water demand and heat warnings being issued by Environment Canada, according to a July 26 RDCK news release. The same restriction was placed on the Riondel water system on July 18.
Britain is enacting the early stages of drought plans which involve using water carefully to protect supplies, the government said on Tuesday, following record-breaking temperatures. There are so far no plans for curbs on water use but regulators and water companies are working to manage water levels, including by operating water transfer schemes to allow rivers to be artificially maintained, the Environment Agency (EA) said.
Today, René Arseneault, Member of Parliament for Madawaska—Restigouche, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Gary Crossman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation; and His Worship Éric Gagnon, Mayor of Kedgwick, announced a joint investment of more than $3.9 million to improve drinking water security and stormwater management for Kedgwick residents.
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on a sodium hypochlorite solution, a disinfecting agent commonly used in water treatment plants, says that the chemical can cause severe eye damage and skin burns, and is very toxic to aquatic life, having persistent effects. The SDS on sodium hypochlorite says the solution must be disposed of following local and national regulations and that it can’t be mixed with other forms of waste. The tanks are currently past life expectancy and work on this project is crucial because one of the three tanks is leaking.
Environment and Climate Change Canada, heralding Monday’s sentence, said the money will be placed in a fund that supports “projects that benefit the natural environment.” De Beers was charged under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, a prosecution considered significant as one of the first since the act’s regulations were amended in 2020.
One reason for the Middle East’s vulnerability is that there is simply no margin to cushion the blow on millions of people as the rise in temperatures accelerates: The region already has high temperatures and limited water resources even in normal circumstances. Middle East governments also have a limited ability to adapt, the International Monetary Fund noted in a report earlier this year. Economies and infrastructure are weak, and regulations are often unenforced. Poverty is widespread, making job creation a priority over climate protection. Autocratic governments like Egypt’s severely restrict civil society, hampering an important tool in engaging the public on environmental and climate issues.
Metro Vancouver is embarking on one of its largest projects ever that will transform the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The $9.9 billion multi-year program includes construction of a new tertiary treatment facility and a range of ecological restoration and off-site projects that will improve the connection between infrastructure, the community and the environment.
Today, René Arseneault, Member of Parliament for Madawaska—Restigouche, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Gary Crossman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation; and His Worship Ian Comeau, Mayor of the City of Campbellton, announced joint funding for upgrades to community water and wastewater infrastructure along Adam Street and Dufferin Street.
Children across Greater Sudbury have been creating artwork connected to the environment, and some will become marketing posters. It's part of the Tiny Traces along Junction Creek — a project between the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee and Early Childhood Creative Collaboration. It was funded through Healthy Communities Canada.
