Imperial Oil Ltd. says it is investigating a spill from a produced water line at its facility in Norman Wells, N.W.T. The petroleum refining company says about 55,000 litres of produced water was released on Wednesday.
What if Teenagers Renegotiate the Columbia River Treaty?
You may have heard about the Columbia River Treaty in the news once, or perhaps many times, over the last decade. The Columbia River Treaty is an agreement between Canada and the United States about our shared watershed. It was originally ratified in 1964 with negotiations to “modernize” it ongoing since May 2018. It’s big. It’s complicated. It’s important. It’s confusing.
Centralized water and wastewater operator training at Yukon University to benefit First Nations and operators in the region
Water and wastewater operators play a critical role in ensuring drinking water safety by helping to prevent and reduce risks to water and wastewater systems. Access to ongoing training, mentoring and support is key to building First Nations' capacity to manage water systems, and recruit and retain qualified water operators. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Yukon University today announced a new program delivery model to enhance water and wastewater operator training and support in the region.
Heat wave puts water restrictions on tap for Okanagan community
High temperatures putting a stress on the water system have prompted restrictions in Spallumcheen. Hand watering only is in effect, as of 1 p.m. July 28, 2022, for all residents of the Highland Park, Silver Star, Stardel, Round Prairie, Hankey, Pleasant Valley, Lansdowne and Larkin local area services. The stage two restrictions means no sprinlers or irrigation systems can be used to water lawns, gardens, trees or shrubs. Washing of driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and exterior building surfaces is also not permitted.
Treatment system proposed to prevent 'Ukee brown water days'
Ucluelet residents are being asked to approve borrowing up to $13 million for a new water-treatment system for the community of slightly more than 2,000 on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The goal is to put an end to what’s known locally as “Ukee brown water days.” Council will be permitted to borrow the money unless 10 per cent of electors fill out a form in opposition.
Pope Francis to see effects of climate change in visit to Canada’s Arctic
Pope Francis‘s upcoming visit to Canada’s Arctic territory of Nunavut draws attention to a focal point for global climate change, with sea ice disappearing fast and permafrost thawing. Francis, who arrives in the capital Iqaluit of predominantly Indigenous Nunavut on Friday, is in Canada to apologize in person for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in abuses that residential schools inflicted on Indigenous children.
Back to top RDCK issues Stage 2 water conservation measures for some some systems
Effective immediately, 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 as well as Erickson and the Town of Creston in the East Kootenay. These measures are necessary due to the high water demand and heat warnings being issued by Environment Canada. “The extended hot and dry weather forecasted for the region has prompted the RDCK to be proactive with these water systems that have historical supply and demand concerns,” said Jason McDiarmid, RDCK Water Utilities Manager.
Plastic bottles from Iqaluit water crisis bound for recycling in Montreal
Eight sea cans full of plastic bottles left over from Iqaluit’s water crisis last year will be sent for recycling to Montreal by the end of July. The water bottles were used in Nunavut’s capital last fall when fuel contamination in the municipal water supply prevented approximately 8,000 Iqalummiut from drinking tap water for two months.
California outlines plan for scaled back giant water tunnel
A new plan to reroute how water moves from wetter Northern California to drier Southern California would ferry it through a single, 45-mile (72-kilometer) underground tunnel, wrapping around the state’s existing water delivery system and dumping the water straight into the main aqueduct that sends it south to vast swaths of farmland and millions of people. The scaled back proposal released Wednesday would build one tunnel to take water from the Sacramento River, the state’s largest, to the California Aqueduct for delivery to millions of people and farmland further south.
Anthrax outbreak confirmed in Wood Buffalo National Park
A suspected anthrax outbreak at Wood Buffalo National Park has been confirmed. Samples sent to a lab early last week came back positive on Thursday said Parks Canada in a news release the same day, confirming the presence of anthrax in at least one dead bison at the park. Bison will usually contract the disease from contaminated soil while wallowing in dust baths. Spores develop in hotter temperatures and fluctuating water levels. Cooler temperatures will kill the spores and slow the outbreak.
Chemical spraying to kill invasive bass is back on for Miramichi watershed
After opponents stopped the project last year, chemical spraying to wipe out an invasive bass population in Miramichi Lake is set to take place later this summer. Last year's attempt to eradicate smallmouth bass was halted because Wolastoqey grandmothers and mothers concerned about the environmental impact of the spray took to the lake in canoes. It is unsafe to spray rotenone, the fish-killing pesticide being used, when people are on the water.
Warm water, low levels prompt DFO to restrict salmon fishing in central Newfoundland
High water temperatures and declining levels in several central Newfoundland rivers have prompted the federal fisheries regulator to impose restrictions on salmon harvesting in the region. Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced Wednesday that the Exploits, Leamington and Western Arm rivers, as well as Peter's River and Charles Brook in the Bay of Exploits, will be closed to salmon anglers outside the morning hours.
$350,000 investment in Ducks Unlimited Canada wetland conservation project
The provincial government is investing $350,000 in a project that aims to conserve and restore wetlands along the lower Saint John River and mitigate the effects of climate change. “Our government has made it clear, protecting and preserving New Brunswick's natural areas is a priority,” said Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland. “This includes wetlands. Not only do wetlands provide important habitat for waterfowl and wildlife, but they also play a key role in increasing the province’s resilience to climate change.”
From farm waste to water bottles: Biotech gets a boost
The company has partnered with major players like Danone, Nestle and Pepsi as they prepare to launch 100 per cent plant-based plastic products that are fully recyclable and 100 per cent carbon neutral. "There is a significant effort that is happening,” says Lambton College’s Vice President of Research and Innovation Mehdi Sheikhzadeh. “Across the region, across Canada, around building a clean-tech sector, but in this specific case this is a bio-clean tech sector."
City of Iqaluit to pay $800K to clean contaminated underground water tanks
The City of Iqaluit has awarded Tower Arctic Ltd. an $800,000 contract to clean three contaminated underground water tanks at the city’s water treatment plant. City councillors voted unanimously during Tuesday’s council meeting to hire the company to remediate the North and South Clear wells and the mixing chamber at the plant. The tanks were contaminated by fuel last fall and winter. Tower Arctic Ltd. had the lowest of three bids, the highest coming in at nearly $6 million.
Edenshaw's TANU Puts the Spotlight on Water Leak Detection due to Partnership with Eddy Solutions and PCL Construction
Eddy Smart Home Solutions Ltd.'s (Eddy Solutions) (TSXV: EDY) is pleased to announce an ongoing partnership with Southern Ontario progressive developer Edenshaw. The partnership started during the early days of the construction of Edenshaw's Port Credit-based luxury mid-rise development, TANU, built by PCL Construction. The first full-scale deployment through Eddy's partnership with PCL, the project aligned all stakeholders including the mechanical and electrical design consultants from construction through to operations, protecting the property from the builder's risk period to turnover and beyond.
As an engineer, here's how I look at the idea of pumping water from Mississippi to the West
The proposed flow of 250,000 gallons/second represents a lot of water. Converting it into a more normal engineering unit, this would represent about 32,000 cubic feet/second (CFS). That happens to be about the same rate of flow as passes through the generating turbines at Hoover Dam at full capacity. In the original letter, this flow was correctly calculated as the amount of flow necessary to fill Lake Powell in one year. Even at today’s record low level, Lake Powell is not empty. Lesser flows could reduce the costs and difficulty of the project while still providing significant benefits.
Hell yes, we should sue Big Oil
Vancouverites were taken aback last week at the news that city council, in a divided vote, passed a motion by Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr to allocate up to $700,000 towards a class action lawsuit against fossil fuel companies. This measure was instantly slammed as a performative stunt and window dressing for the enviro vote as we head into election season.
Penhorn Lake Beach closed to swimming
Penhorn Lake Beach is a supervised beach. Municipal staff regularly test the water quality at all supervised municipal beaches, as well as two unsupervised beaches, during the summer months. Recent test results indicate bacteria levels at this beach exceed Health Canada swimming guidelines. High bacteria levels can be caused by a number of factors, including dogs, birds, wildlife, and high temperatures. Staff will continue testing the water until bacteria levels return to safe levels. The municipality will advise residents when the beach reopens.
High winds could raise water levels more than 5 feet around Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba
Strong winds could cause waves and high water levels along the southern basins of Lake Manitoba and areas around Lake Winnipeg beginning on Wednesday. Affected areas include the western shoreline near Gimli, and Victoria Beach on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. Northwest winds up to 55 km/h will develop Wednesday afternoon and last until early morning on Thursday, and could raise water levels by more than five feet, Manitoba's Hydrologic Forecast Centre advised.