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.
Effective since October 1, 2023, C3 Water Inc. ("C3 Water"), joined CIMA+, one of Canada's largest privately-owned consulting engineering firms. "This acquisition is in line with CIMA+'s growth strategy throughout Canada, with a particular focus on sustainable engineering and Ontario's needs.", said Steeve Fiset, Chief Strategy Officer, CIMA+.
The drinking water fountain is located on the periphery of the square across from McCabe’s Irish Pub and is the first of its kind in the Waterloo to be attached to an existing fire hydrant, according to Scott Donelle, the city’s manager of water operations and maintenance. The fountain, which can be removed in the fall, will offer the same clean and safe drinking water as all other taps across the city and can be accessed through four stations: a bottle filling station, a drinking station, an accessible drinking station and a pet station at ground level.
Using water from a rain barrel, watering can or other non-municipal sources does not fall under this restriction. The water conservation bylaw is in effect every year from May 31 to Sept. 30. Before it was enacted, water use spiked by 50 per cent during the summer months, putting a strain on the region’s water supply.
University of Waterloo is leading an interdisciplinary team to identify and treat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – better known as forever chemicals – in water systems affecting more than 2.5 million Canadians. PFAS, are a new class of more than 4,000 environmental contaminants whose impact on human health is unknown. PFAS are used in a wide range of products such as cosmetics, textiles, fire-fighting foams and food packaging materials.
Go into any store these days and there's a mixture of people wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and those who are opting not to wear one. It may have people feeling like they're in COVID-19 limbo. Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the Region of Waterloo's medical officer of health, says currently there's "no cut and dry threshold" when it comes to mask wearing and "it will vary according to individual comfort levels."
The WATER (Waterloo Aquatic Threats in Environmental Research) facility is now one of the largest aquatic test facilities in Ontario and has the capability of studying a wide range of aquatic organisms, from Canadian coldwater fish to tropical fish and amphibians. The facility is also equipped to trace the multi-generational effects different environmental stresses may have on aquatic life over multiple lifespans.
Water samples taken at four public schools in Ontario, Canada, from June 2021 show lead levels are higher than the national safety guideline. The schools are Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School, Stewart Avenue Public School, John Darling Public School and Elmira District Secondary School, reported The Waterloo Regional Record. Water samples taken June 9 to 10 at KCI showed levels of lead in two drinking fountains were higher than provincial targets, according to the principal in a letter, reported The Waterloo Regional Record. Tests at John Darling school on June 11 found one tap water fountain to exceed lead targets.
Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner will table his first ever private member's bill Wednesday. In it, he asks the province to protect a drinking water source for Guelph, Wellington county and Waterloo region. It's the first bill introduced by the party in the provincial legislature. "For decades the people of Guelph have shown the province how to responsibly use water and what it means to defend water against private interests. Now, climate change and sprawl are putting even more strain on our water supply, so we must take action to protect what's left," Schreiner said in a release prior to tabling the bill Wednesday.
Regional councillors do not support planning changes proposed under Bill 66 and will be sending that message to the province about it. During the planning and works committee meeting on Tuesday morning, councillors voted on a staff recommendation to tell the province the region does not support proposed amendments to the Planning Act as set out in Bill 66, the Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, because "it fails to adequately protect human health and safety and in particular the safety of the Region of Waterloo's drinking water resources."
