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

precious resource

Graphic Truth: When it comes to freshwater, Canada is king

Graphic Truth: When it comes to freshwater, Canada is king

Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface, but good ol’ H2O is a much more precious resource than it appears. Less than 0.8% of Earth’s water is freshwater in lakes, rivers, or underground aquifers. And much of that already tiny fraction has been rendered unusable by pollution or is lost to poor management and inefficient agricultural practices. What’s worse, climate change and overexploitation of existing water resources mean that communities from California to Cambodia are struggling to provide safe water at an affordable price.

MANITOBA GOVERNMENT ENHANCES INITIATIVES TO PROTECT PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES

MANITOBA GOVERNMENT ENHANCES INITIATIVES TO PROTECT PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES

The Manitoba government is advancing protection and support for water resources through a number of initiatives including enhancing the Lake Friendly Initiative and expanding watershed districts, Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein announced today to kick off the week leading up to Earth Day on April 22. “Water is a precious resource and we all need to work together to ensure we make every drop count,” said Klein. “We are making investments in initiatives that enhance protections for Lake Winnipeg and our watersheds, helping ensure the sustainable management of our valuable water resources, now and for future generations.”

Origami hummingbirds to make a splash at UN Water Conference

Origami hummingbirds to make a splash at UN Water Conference

In an ancient Peruvian folktale, a hummingbird fetches water to put out a forest fire, one drop at a time. The other animals look on and laugh at her. Then, the little bird replies, “I’m doing what I can.” The tale inspired UN-Water, which coordinates the world body’s work on water and sanitation, to launch the ‘Be the change’ campaign for World Water Day on 22 March,  that urges everyone to do what they can to change the way they use and manage water.

A suburb in Arizona lost its source of water. Residents warn: We're only the beginning

A suburb in Arizona lost its source of water. Residents warn: We're only the beginning

A man in Arizona sees a glimpse of a potentially frightening future. A future where the planet is hotter, the soil is drier, and our most precious resource is evaporating. His job is delivering water. And his job is getting harder. John Hornewer is now having to drive hours farther each day to fill his truck, which, in turn, fills the subterranean tanks at homes in an area outside Phoenix. His normal supplier cut him off; more precisely, on Jan. 1, the city of Scottsdale, Ariz., cut off transfers to the exurban community he serves in a desire to conserve water for its own residents. He found new suppliers, farther away. Then another supplier cut him off.

$18M Taza Water Reservoir project taking care of a ‘precious resource’

$18M Taza Water Reservoir project taking care of a ‘precious resource’

Now being constructed by Chandos Construction on the edge of Calgary, the $18-million Taza Water Reservoir won’t be the typical standard reservoir the public largely ignores. With a decorative curvature, although still protective, cedar pole fence, it will be the gateway feature for Taza Park East, just one phase of Taza Park, an environmentally sustainable community being developed by the Tsuut’ina Nation with Canderel.

Thieves in California are stealing scarce water amid extreme drought, 'devastating' some communities

Thieves in California are stealing scarce water amid extreme drought, 'devastating' some communities

As an extreme drought grips California, making water increasingly scarce, thieves are making off with billions of gallons of the precious resource, tapping into fire hydrants, rivers, and even small family homes and farms. State and local officials say water theft is a long running-issue, but the intensifying drought has driven the thefts to record levels as reservoirs dry up and bandits make off with stolen water, often to cultivate the growth of illegal marijuana crops.

Fighting to save crops - Vancouver Island drought: tourists asked to bring own water

Fighting to save crops - Vancouver Island drought: tourists asked to bring own water

At Michell Farms on the Saanich Peninsula, the pumps are working 24/7. Water is rushing out of wells at about 600 gallons a minute into a series of ponds, and then pushed through pipes to ­irrigation systems to keep the family’s crops alive and growing. With no measurable rain for nearly two months now, and nothing but heat in the forecast, water is becoming a precious resource. On many of the Gulf Islands, visitors are being asked to bring their own water. Residents are urged to do everything to preserve wells, aquifers and natural bodies of water. Some marinas aren’t filling water tanks for boaters.

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