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

Water Tower Rehabilitation Project Update and Design Considerations

Water Tower Rehabilitation Project Update and Design Considerations

The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to advise residents that CIMA Canada Inc. (CIMA+) has been retained to provide engineering services for the rehabilitation of the Victoria Street Water Tower. Rehabilitation of the Victoria Street Water Tower was identified as a preferred alternative solution through the West Side Water Storage Environmental Assessment. The rehabilitation project will include full stripping of the existing coating from the exterior and interior of the structure, exterior and interior steel repairs, interior lining upgrades and exterior coating upgrades. The work is expected to extend the water tower’s service lifespan by 18-25 years.

Canada and PEI Sign Agreement in Principle to Deepen Collaboration on Planting 2 Billion Trees Nationally

Canada and PEI Sign Agreement in Principle to Deepen Collaboration on Planting 2 Billion Trees Nationally

Prince Edward Island is focused on creating new forests by planting currently unforested areas and riparian zones, along with supporting municipalities with urban planting. In the wake of the extreme weather the province has faced, it is also necessary to incorporate replanting of hurricane-damaged areas. These actions will contribute to the province's climate change adaptation and net-zero goals and while supporting biodiversity, air and water quality, erosion control and wildlife habitat.

Rewilding a school wetland is a lesson in climate resilience

Rewilding a school wetland is a lesson in climate resilience

The 60-plus children recently gathered with members of the We Wai Kai Nation, Quadra Island school and community leaders and the B.C. Wildlife Federation to celebrate their new wetland restoration project by planting a selection of native trees and shrubs. The wetland will provide a habitat for endemic plants and animals and serve as an outdoor classroom for students, said Sheldon Etheridge, the School District 72 teacher who spearheaded the project. Nothing underscores the importance of protecting or restoring wetlands at a community level like drought conditions across the province provoked by a global climate crisis. “It’s exciting. The project’s all coming together,” Etheridge said. “Except for the water.”

Tanker hauling beef fat falls into Kingston, Ont. area lake

Tanker hauling beef fat falls into Kingston, Ont. area lake

Residents were seen checking out the damage on Buck Lake early Thursday morning, the day after a tanker truck hauling edible beef fat rolled into the body of water. The truck was driving on Perth Road near Hilltop Lane Wednesday when it fell into the western basin of Buck Lake in South Frontenac Township, Ont. The Ministry of Environment assessed the damage that same day, along with any possible environmental concerns.

From radiation to water pollution to cities, humans are now a driver of evolution in the ‘natural’ world – podcast

From radiation to water pollution to cities, humans are now a driver of evolution in the ‘natural’ world – podcast

Andrew Whitehead, an environmental toxicologist at the University of California, Davis in the U.S. is intimately familiar with another striking example of how humans can drive rapid evolution in animals. In particular, he looks at a little fish called the killifish. “There are populations living in these radically human-altered estuaries, and these are environments that should be lethal to them,” he explains. Certain estuaries in the U.S. are full of chemical pollution, yet the fish are thriving. As Whitehead says, “Killifish from those sites are resistant to up to 8,000 times the normally lethal concentration of these chemicals.”

Canada must upgrade flood-control infrastructure to avoid food security disaster: senators

Canada must upgrade flood-control infrastructure to avoid food security disaster: senators

Flood mitigation infrastructure that did not meet provincial standards caused British Columbia’s agriculture sector to lose $285 million, according to a new Senate report. The study, “Treading Water: The Impact and Response to the 2021 British Columbia Floods,” released on Thursday included testimony and previous analysis on local infrastructure, which concluded 87 per cent of dikes in the province’s Lower Mainland were in “less than fair condition,” and 71 per cent of dikes were expected to “fail simply by overtopping.”

The 2004 Peterborough flood was disastrous. AI aims to prevent a repeat

The 2004 Peterborough flood was disastrous. AI aims to prevent a repeat

To strengthen Peterborough’s climate resilience, an integrated flood model (IFM) was created. The IFM depicts the entire storm sewer system and projects the potential surface flooding that could occur. Highly detailed data is needed to accurately model all the different types of built surfaces and vegetation, so the city enlisted the help of Ecopia AI, a Toronto-based tech company that uses geospatial data and artificial intelligence (AI) to create high-resolution images of landscapes.

Ottawa should help B.C. create better flood relief plan, Senate report finds

Ottawa should help B.C. create better flood relief plan, Senate report finds

A new Senate report is calling on the federal government to work with the provincial and local governments in B.C. to create a better, more comprehensive flood relief plan to protect the Fraser Valley from disastrous flooding in the future. The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released its findings on Thursday after hearing from nearly two dozen witnesses about the disastrous effects of flooding last November and the support the province offered in the aftermath.

Climate Changed: Quebec farmers improve soil as water supply becomes less reliable

Climate Changed: Quebec farmers improve soil as water supply becomes less reliable

On the Beauchemin family farm in southern Quebec, the problem used to be too much water. But Raphaël Beauchemin says that over the years, his grandfather, father and uncles learned how to cope. Now, with the changing climate, he said, Fermes J.N. Beauchemin et Fils faces a new challenge: long dry periods in the summer. Beauchemin’s father, Ghislain Beauchemin, who has been bringing his children into the dairy and grain farming business for around 15 years, said there are still intense rains that sometimes bring 10 centimetres in 24 hours, but at other times the ground can be parched for two months.

Government of Nunavut tables $338-million capital budget

Government of Nunavut tables $338-million capital budget

Water and wastewater treatment "Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental of community life," said Joanasie. "As communities grow and regulations change, so do the demands on our existing, aging infrastructure." A total of $31 million is being put toward improvements in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in seven communities. The project allocations are as follows: $187,000 to design a water treatment plant to replace the current pump house in Arctic Bay. $2,091,000 for the construction of a new water treatment plant in Grise Fiord. $698,000 for construction work to complete upgrades to the water intake in Kugluktuk. $188,000 to begin design of a new water treatment plant in Pond Inlet. $275,000 to proceed with the design of a wastewater treatment plant to adequately treat both piped and trucked wastewater in Resolute Bay. $188,000 to begin design on a new water treatment plant in Sanikiluaq. $450,000 to begin design work on upgrades and new sewage lagoon to treat wastewater in Sanikiluaq.

Onigaming member honoured with Clean Water award

Onigaming member honoured with Clean Water award

A band member from the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation’s work to protect his community and provide them with safe and clean water is being honoured and recognized by the federal government. Brian Indian of Onigaming First Nation has been awarded the 2022 National First Nations Water Leadership Award, recognizing his 17 years of service as one of the community’s only certified water operators.

Lebret, Star Blanket Cree Nation unveil new $3.3M wastewater treatment facility

Lebret, Star Blanket Cree Nation unveil new $3.3M wastewater treatment facility

Two communities in southern Saskatchewan officially cut the ribbon Tuesday on a new $3.3-million wastewater treatment facility that is being touted as eco-responsible and award-winning. The facility will serve businesses and about 300 people in Lebret, and another 126 people in Wa-Pii Moos-Toosis on Star Blanket Cree Nation, according to a release.

BQE Water Signs Multi-Year Operating Agreement for Mine Water Treatment Services at Minto Mine

BQE Water Signs Multi-Year Operating Agreement for Mine Water Treatment Services at Minto Mine

BQE Water Inc. (TSX-V: BQE), a leader in the treatment and management of mine impacted waters, has entered into an Operating Services Agreement with Minto Metals Corp to provide plant operations services for an existing water treatment plant at Minto Mine located approximately 240 km northwest of Whitehorse, Yukon through to 2024. Under the agreement, BQE Water will be responsible for clean water production at the mine where the final effluent must meet stringent requirements not only for metals but ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to protect the aquatic life in the receiving environment. Included in the operations services provided by BQE Water will be on-site technical supervision, coordination with Minto's environmental and metallurgical team to maximize the volume of water discharged into the environment, operator training, and on-site and off-site engineering support.

TBM planning water tower rehabilitation project

TBM planning water tower rehabilitation project

The Town of The Blue Mountains has selected CIMA Canada Inc. to provide engineering services for the rehabilitation of the Victoria Street water tower. The town is planning for rehabilitation of the tower after an environmental assessment identified the best option was to reconstruct the tower. The work will include stripping the existing coating from the exterior and interior of the structure, exterior and interior steel repairs, interior lining upgrades and exterior coating upgrades.

DUC’s position regarding proposed changes in Bill 23

DUC’s position regarding proposed changes in Bill 23

On October 25, 2022, the Government of Ontario introduced Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 This bill touches on many areas of legislation and policy including: a commitment to offset development pressures on wetlands by requiring a net positive impact, a review of the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES) to find opportunities to remove duplicates and streamline evaluation processes, and changes to the Conservation Authority Act, which would affect how Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities regulate development activities within municipalities, improving consistency in policies and processes which reduce the impacts of flooding and natural hazards

Brian Indian of Onigaming First Nation announced as 2022 National First Nations Water Leadership Award recipient

Brian Indian of Onigaming First Nation announced as 2022 National First Nations Water Leadership Award recipient

Each year, First Nations individuals and organizations from across Canada are recognized by their peers for demonstrating leadership and outstanding dedication to the advancement of clean and safe drinking water in First Nations communities through the National First Nations Water Leadership Award. Today, Indigenous Services Canada is pleased to announce that Brian Indian of Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation is the recipient of the 2022 National First Nations Water Leadership Award. Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, spoke with the recipient earlier this week to deliver the exciting news and learn more about his experience as a water operator.

Schneider Electric Canada Announces Delco Automation as a Water & Wastewater Preferred Alliance Partner

Schneider Electric Canada Announces Delco Automation as a Water & Wastewater Preferred Alliance Partner

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced it has recognized Delco Automation, a premiere integrator of process automation and control systems in North America, as a Certified System Integrator Alliance partner with Water & Wastewater (WWW) segment badge distinction. The recognition acknowledges Delco Automation’s commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and the application expertise of Schneider Electric Water & Wastewater solutions, while demonstrating how a close relationship between the manufacturer and programmer can lead to successful project deliveries and efficient executions. To earn this distinction and status, Delco Automation completed various competencies in this specialist area and showcased a history of successful WWW projects.

EU targets deadly air pollution, pushes for cleaner water

EU targets deadly air pollution, pushes for cleaner water

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday tougher legal limits on health-damaging dirty air and rules to make pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies pay to clean up wastewater polluted by their products. The European Union's executive proposed three laws targeting air and water pollution. Among them is a requirement that, by 2030, EU countries must meet new legally-binding air pollution limits that will be closer to the stricter World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

State of glaciers in the Canadian Rockies is 'dire right now,' expert warns

State of glaciers in the Canadian Rockies is 'dire right now,' expert warns

A Canadian professor is warning many of the iconic glaciers in the Canadian Rockies will be gone in the coming decades due to climate change. John Pomeroy is the Canada research chair in water resources and climate change at the University of Saskatchewan. He says the state of the glaciers in the Canadian Rockies is "dire right now." "We've lost hundreds of them already, just over the last few decades, and we'll be losing most of the rest over this century - including over most peoples' lifetimes."

FREDsense wins Foresight Canada and United Utilities water quality innovation challenge

FREDsense wins Foresight Canada and United Utilities water quality innovation challenge

Recently it was announced that FREDsense Technologies Corp. (FREDsense) was named one of two cleantech innovation challenge winners. They are being honored for their technology which allows one-hour water quality monitoring for contaminants in the field with the same accuracy as traditional labs. The award was announced in a joint news release by Foresight Canada and United Utilities.

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