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

Youth conservation group analyzing water quality of Virginia River in St. John's

Youth conservation group analyzing water quality of Virginia River in St. John's

A conservation team is working to research lost or covered waterways using geographic technology to analyze water quality. The Conversation Corp N.L.’s Green Team, in partnership with Northeast Avalon ACAP (NAACAP), has begun analyzing the Virginia River and implementing other guidelines to assess other spots along the river. The team has been recording measurements of the sites and assessing culvert conditions, depth and velocity of the water, PH value, dissolved oxygen, total organic solids, salt content and temperature conditions.

Canada goose poop problem in Greater Victoria needs new solutions, experts say

Canada goose poop problem in Greater Victoria needs new solutions, experts say

Beyond ruining a perfectly good soccer pitch, the kilogram of daily droppings a single adult Canada goose can produce can also contaminate water and cause algae blooms that steal oxygen and block sunlight for underwater plants. Local birder Geoffrey Newell said they can also be aggressive birds and sometimes steal food from ducks and other goose species. He noted this doesn’t apply to Canada geese fully native to B.C., which migrate to the Arctic in winter.

Oil spill off San Juan Island 'pretty well impossible to clean up,' expert says Social Sharing

Oil spill off San Juan Island 'pretty well impossible to clean up,' expert says Social Sharing

Crews are assessing the waters off San Juan Island in the Salish Sea near Vancouver Island after a fishing boat sank and leaked fuel on Saturday. The Aleutian Isle had nearly 9,840 litres of oil and diesel on board when it went down off the west coast of San Juan Island in Washington state. Gerald Graham, a Victoria-based consultant who specializes in marine oil spill response and prevention, said the diesel fuel flowing from the boat is very light, which means crews can't use booms or skimmers to clean it up.

Halifax providing drinking water to residents whose wells are going dry

Halifax providing drinking water to residents whose wells are going dry

The Halifax Regional Municipality is making drinking water available to people whose wells are going dry. Each household can receive two litres per person per day, plus one litre per day per pet, and residents can collect one week's supply at a time. Beginning Aug. 16, residents can get drinkable water at six different fire stations each Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., except station 38 and 42, which have different hours:

Chlorine prompts boil water advisory in Gjoa Haven

Chlorine prompts boil water advisory in Gjoa Haven

A precautionary boil water advisory has been issued in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, because of inconsistent chlorine levels at the community's water treatment plant, according to the territory's health department. Health officials say all water that's being consumed should be boiled for at least a minute. That includes water being used to wash fruits and vegetables, to cook, and to brush teeth. The department says it'll let the community know when the advisory has lifted.

Canada, Germany to sign hydrogen deal in N.L.

Canada, Germany to sign hydrogen deal in N.L.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are set to sign a green energy agreement later this month in Newfoundland that could prove pivotal to Canada's nascent hydrogen industry. The German government on Friday issued a statement confirming the agreement will be signed Aug. 23 in Stephenville, where a Newfoundland-based company plans to build a zero-emission plant that will use wind energy to produce hydrogen and ammonia for export.

St. Henri residents seek answers as yellow water flows out of their taps

St. Henri residents seek answers as yellow water flows out of their taps

Some residents in a Montreal borough are trying to determine why yellow water is flowing out of their taps -- but to no avail, they say. The taps of at least three triplexes on Saint-Henri's St-Antoine St. have been affected for two weeks. Resident Andre Duchesne said he and his neighbours reached out to the city for help but have not received any guidance. "They say they're going to look into it, and we didn't get an answer," he told CTV News.

The UN just recognized access to a healthy environment is a universal human right. It’s time for Canada to take action

The UN just recognized access to a healthy environment is a universal human right. It’s time for Canada to take action

The authors are all professors at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability. David Boyd is also the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment. The world’s future became a little bit brighter recently. On July 28, for the first time in history, the United Nations General Assembly recognized that everyone, everywhere, has a right to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Now it’s time for Canada to step up and take action to ensure that right for all its citizens.

Water advisories put in place for 6 Saskatchewan areas

Water advisories put in place for 6 Saskatchewan areas

A number of drinking water advisories have been put in place throughout parts of Saskatchewan. At least six separate warnings have been issued as of Sunday afternoon, impacting the communities of Elbow, Srongfield, Loreburn, Danielson Provincial Park, Douglas Provincial Park and Pleasantdale. The province has told residents to boil water for at least one minute prior to any usage, including drinking, baking purposes, washing of fruits and vegetables and brushing teeth.

Spaghetti Sauce Is Under Threat as Water Crisis Slams Tomatoes

Spaghetti Sauce Is Under Threat as Water Crisis Slams Tomatoes

California leads the world in production of processing tomatoes — the variety that gets canned and used in commercial kitchens to make some of the most popular foods. The problem is the worst drought in 1,200 years is forcing farmers to grapple with a water crisis that’s undermining the crop, threatening to further push up prices from salsa to spaghetti sauce.

Canada, Manitoba help build a new water treatment plant, reservoir in Beausejour

Canada, Manitoba help build a new water treatment plant, reservoir in Beausejour

Joint federal and provincial funding will help build a new water treatment plant and reservoir in Beausejour, Man. “The new water treatment plant will provide a safe drinking water source well into the future which will make the Town of Beausejour a sustainable and attractive place to live and invest, ensuring our kids and our families have clean air, water and soil,” said Ray Schirle, mayor of Beausejour.

Artists draw on Indigenous teachings, land-based learning to create water vessels at Manitoba workshop

Artists draw on Indigenous teachings, land-based learning to create water vessels at Manitoba workshop

A Winnipeg-based artist is getting her hands dirty this summer for a 10-day workshop in Grand Rapids, Man., that focuses on harvesting clay by hand to create traditional Indigenous water vessels. Visual artist KC Adams, who is Anishinaabe, Nêhiyaw and British, is leading the workshop, titled Water Knowledge, where she guides a group of women-identifying and non-binary artists deep into the land on Lake Winnipeg's northeastern shore, teaching them the traditional practice.

16 days later, Imperial Oil still investigating if Norman Wells spill entered Mackenzie River

16 days later, Imperial Oil still investigating if Norman Wells spill entered Mackenzie River

Imperial Oil is still investigating whether produced water that spilled at the Norman Wells, N.W.T. operation in late July has entered the Mackenzie River. A spokesperson for Imperial Oil said in an email that the company is monitoring the water quality and there are no indications there is a risk to public health. This comes after people downriver in Fort Good Hope reported surface contaminants on the water.

Epcor to add lead-reducing chemical to Edmonton's water in 2023, two years behind schedule

Epcor to add lead-reducing chemical to Edmonton's water in 2023, two years behind schedule

Levels of lead in drinking water city-wide should begin dropping in early 2023 when orthophosphate is added at Edmonton’s water treatment plant, two years later than initially promised. Epcor announced Thursday the odourless, colourless chemical will be added to city water by early 2023. Orthophosphate creates a protective barrier inside a pipe to prevent lead from leaching into the water. Around 4,200 Edmonton homes are currently serviced by lead pipes owned by Epcor, the utility said. Adding this treatment by the end of 2020 was promised as part of broader lead-reducing plans approved by city council in March 2019 around the time Health Canada reduced the concentration of lead in water allowed to five micrograms per litre from 10 micrograms per litre.

Aecom adds Rod Conde in Calgary, wins Vernon water treatment contract

Aecom adds Rod Conde in Calgary, wins Vernon water treatment contract

Aecom, a global design and engineering consultancy, has hired Rod Conde as operations manager for its buildings and places business in Calgary. The firm also announced it won a contract to provide engineering services for a new filtration facility at the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant in Vernon, BC. Conde is an architect who brings over 22 years of experience across a range of design scopes, delivery models, building scales, and complexities. He has worked on projects for clients across retail, light industrial, residential, and institutional.

USask among top 100 globally in water, veterinary and environmental engineering sciences

USask among top 100 globally in water, veterinary and environmental engineering sciences

USask ranked 23rd worldwide and first in Canada in water resources, from 51-75 globally and fourth in Canada in veterinary sciences, and 76-100 globally and sixth in the country in environmental science and engineering. “We are proud that USask continues to lead Canada and is among the top performers globally in water science,” said USask Vice-President Research Baljit Singh.

Water shortage prompts Iqaluit to declare state of emergency

Water shortage prompts Iqaluit to declare state of emergency

The city of Iqaluit is declaring a state of emergency due to historically low water levels caused by a lack of rain this summer. This moves the municipality one step closer to begin pumping water from a nearby lake, referred to as Unnamed Lake or Qikiqtalik Lake, to fill the water reservoir in Lake Geraldine ahead of freeze-up. The city still needs approval from the Nunavut Water Board before pumping can begin.

Rash of Parlee Beach no-swim advisories continues to cause concern

Rash of Parlee Beach no-swim advisories continues to cause concern

Three no-swimming advisories at Parlee Beach due to high fecal bacteria were issued this week, bringing the total to 13 so far this summer. The advisories were issued because E. coli and enterococcus bacteria counts exceeded Canadian recreational water quality guidelines at the provincial park east of Shediac, N.B. Barb Leck, who has a cottage in nearby Pointe-du-Chêne, has been coming to the beach each summer.

High water levels on Lake Winnipeg play havoc with businesses, tourism

High water levels on Lake Winnipeg play havoc with businesses, tourism

Sandy Roman calls her work "the best job in the whole world," but lately, she's been facing a world of frustration. Roman owns Sandy's Chipstand, a snack shack in Patricia Beach Provincial Park, along the east side of Lake Winnipeg, which is seeing its worst flooding since Manitoba Hydro started regulating levels in 1976. "It's a little difficult. It's a little difficult for sure. You just don't know when you wake up in the morning, am I going to work today? Are people are going to get fries?" she told CBC Information Radio host Marcy Markusa on Friday.

Natural gas for Europe can’t come at a cost to Indigenous Rights and safety in Nova Scotia

Natural gas for Europe can’t come at a cost to Indigenous Rights and safety in Nova Scotia

I am a grandmother, water protector and high school teacher from the Mi’kmaq Nation, in what is currently known as Nova Scotia, Canada. I have been working to protect our waters and lands from colonial control and dangerous resource extraction my whole life. When Europeans arrived in Mi’kmaq territory, we never ceded lands or accepted defeat, though for the last 450 years Canada has been constantly assaulting our people, invading our lands and communities and stealing our resources.

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