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

city

Infrastructure projects to keep the City running

Infrastructure projects to keep the City running

Water and drainage may not be as exciting as a new park or recreation centre, but they are vital to keep a city running. In 2022, $35 million will be invested in water, wastewater and stormwater protection projects that help with the daily function of our City. “Our Water and Wastewater Utilities at the City operate and maintain infrastructure that ensures what’s underground is in shape,” said Rod MacLean, Infrastructure delivery project manager. “This year, a number of capital projects across the City will improve the function of our water, wastewater, drainage and flood protection systems.”

Environment ministry alerted after reports of oil spill in Rideau River

Environment ministry alerted after reports of oil spill in Rideau River

The province's environment ministry was alerted after firefighters responded to reports of a petroleum spill Sunday evening in the Rideau River. Ottawa Fire Services received a call at approximately 7 p.m. from a passerby who reported what they believed to be petroleum under the Adàwe Crossing connecting Overbrook and Sandy Hill. Firefighters went to the area to investigate and saw some material in the water. Crews were unable to determine what the floating material was or the source of the potential spill, the fire department said, but reported it to the Ministry of the Environment.

Free well testing could be part of larger water discussion, says minister

Free well testing could be part of larger water discussion, says minister

A P.E.I. woman who has been lobbying for years for free well water testing may finally get what she has been looking for as part of larger discussions around the new Water Act. Little Sands resident Lynda Kelly has been writing to various provincial officials making the case for one free water test a year. Kelly said it is an important public health issue, and the $40 cost of the test may be enough to put some people off.

OTTAWA, CANADA, HELPS RESIDENTS CUT STORM WATER RUNOFF

OTTAWA, CANADA, HELPS RESIDENTS CUT STORM WATER RUNOFF

Ottawa, Canada is offering to pay to improve some homeowners' properties. The aim is to do a better job of managing rain water, reported Ottawa Citizen. The city will provide grants for some homeowners to help cover a portion of the costs related to adding redirection devices for downspouts or installing rain gardens, soakaway pits and permeable paving, according to Ottawa Citizen. Certified landscape design is also be eligible for a grant. Ottawa is capping the maximum grant at $5,000 per household.

Saskatoon says COVID outbreak declared among a group of water and sewer workers

Saskatoon says COVID outbreak declared among a group of water and sewer workers

Saskatoon officials say a COVID-19 outbreak has been declared among a group of water and sewer maintenance crews. The city says in a news release that it recently received confirmation from the Saskatchewan Health Authority about the outbreak in a city work group at a facility at 88 King St. It says the facility is only accessible by employees. The release says the city does not expect that there will be an impact to operations.

Changes to city's drinking water licence will likely affect construction and traffic

Changes to city's drinking water licence will likely affect construction and traffic

Ottawa’s construction and development industries will likely be affected by changes to the city’s drinking water licence that come into effect with province-wide changes on Monday. The changes may also affect traffic because water mains will take longer to connect in the right of way, Kevin Wylie, the city’s general manager of public works and environmental services, wrote in a memo to city council.

Côte Saint-Luc has some of the worst tap water in Quebec due to lead contamination

Côte Saint-Luc has some of the worst tap water in Quebec due to lead contamination

The Montreal Island city of Côte Saint-Luc has some of the worst tap water in the province, according to testing results for lead released through access to information legislation. The test results, compiled by Quebec’s Environment Ministry, show that 46 tap water samples from the Montreal Island city of 30,000 people had more than 10 parts per billion (ppb) of lead over a four-year period from 2015 to 2018.

Saskatoon water treatment workers reject contract offer from city

Saskatoon water treatment workers reject contract offer from city

The union that represents more than 100 workers at Saskatoon's water and wastewater treatment plants have turned down an offer from the city. Earlier this week, workers in Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 47 voted 93 per cent against the city's latest offer. The union has been without a contract since January 2017.

Drought leaves Indian city of 4.65 million people without water

Drought leaves Indian city of 4.65 million people without water

It is becoming an increasingly common story - Another city is running out of drinking water. Chennai, India, the country's sixth-largest metropolis with 4.65 million people, is facing a dire water shortage. The coastal metropolis is the world's first major city to be facing a severe water shortage, but several large cities around the world may soon face a similar crisis. The four reservoirs supplying the region have dried up, leaving small potholes filled with muddy stagnant puddles of dirty water.

Follow us