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.
Residential water and sewer bills must increase each of the next four years to keep pace with rising cost pressures. A staff report going to council’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC) recommends water rates rise 2.5 per cent next year — and anticipate similar increases each of the following three years.
It’s something we use everyday — couldn’t survive without, actually — and often take for granted. Yet freshwater could run out by 2040 at our current rate of consumption, says a report by BofA Global Research. “Some 75 per cent of our planet is covered with water, yet less than 1 per cent is usable, and even this is depleting quickly,” said BofA equity strategists led by Haim Israel.
As reservoir levels stabilize in southern Alberta, a consulting company says it’s crucial that all stakeholders work together. Irrigation districts in southern Alberta managed a tough growing season as drought maintains a stubborn hold and calls for maintaining co-operation between stakeholders and better water storage infrastructure continues. From the Milk River along the U.S. border to the Hay River running into the Northwest Territories, 50 water shortage advisories are currently in place across the province.
The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute is recommending that governments across the country develop a national plan to sustainably manage and use water for the agri-food sector. In a report released Monday, the institute called for ambitious commitments from governments and partnerships with stakeholders to prioritize the critical natural resource.
A third-party report into the release of millions of litres of oilsands wastewater at Imperial Oil's Kearl mine has found the Alberta Energy Regulator followed its rules in keeping the public and area First Nations informed — but concludes those rules are significantly lacking. "There were no areas of non-adherence to stated policies and procedures," says the Deloitte report, prepared for the regulator's board.
WaterPower Canada (WPC) has unveiled a comprehensive guidebook aimed at assisting policymakers in unlocking the complete potential of water-generated electricity. Titled "Hydropower’s Contribution to a Net-Zero Electricity Grid" this concise and robust report emphasizes the pivotal role of hydropower in shaping Canada's net-zero future. It underscores the indispensable grid services that hydropower provides and underscores their significance in upholding system dependability, and offers invaluable insights to Canadian electricity policymakers and various stakeholders within the electricity industry.
Yukon mine inspectors found a series of problems at the Hecla Mining Company's Keno Hill property, according to a recent report. Inspectors raised a number of concerns, including sediment runoff from tailings facilities, poor storage of hazardous materials, hydrocarbon stains on the ground, and discharged water that was toxic to fish.
Human waste is to blame for high levels of E. coli bacteria at First Lake in Lower Sackville, N.S., according to a report commissioned by the Halifax Regional Municipality. A popular beach on the lake was removed from the municipality's beach supervision program in 2020 because of high bacteria levels, so no lifeguards have been monitoring the swimming area and the water isn't regularly tested by the municipality.
Niagara Region may have to revisit its water and wastewater master plan if changes by the province, in the form of Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, leave the municipality short of revenue for new growth-related projects. That’s what a recent report to its public works committee said as councillors examined the nuts of bolts of a planned update to the 2016 master plan last week.
So-called “forever” chemicals are being consumed by people on a daily basis from a variety of ordinary materials, revealed a new report. In a study published in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers from the University of Toronto, Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame examined 42 different types of food packaging samples and found the presence of pre-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” in 55 per cent of the samples taken.
An N.W.T. diamond mine "misunderstood" its reporting requirements earlier this year when it failed to flag a massive groundwater spill, according to the territorial government. A broken pipeline leaked 450,000 cubic metres of groundwater — enough to fill 180 Olympic-sized swimming pools — and was first spotted at the Diavik mine on Feb. 7, the N.W.T.'s lands department (now the Department of Environment and Climate Change) said in March.
Twelve City of Hamilton water main breaks in Dundas last year cost $85,997.31 to repair, with 32 per cent of that money spent on two large breaks at Grant Boulevard and Market Street South. The 2022 water main Break report to city’s March 20 Public Works Committee had incorrect dates for all 12 reported municipal breaks, originally reporting all 12 breaks took place within a two-week stretch of March 22. The list was later corrected, indicating Dundas water main breaks in January (3), February, March, August (2) and December (5) last year.
An audit of Halifax Water by the Halifax Regional Municipality's auditor general has found deficiencies in the utility's cybersecurity, including employees clicking links in emails. As part of the audit, an email purporting to be from a legitimate source with a link, known as a phishing email, was sent to 55 employees of the utility to test their awareness of security protocols. According to the report, 45 employees clicked a link in the email and provided their credentials. Three others clicked the link but did not submit their credentials. Auditor General Evangeline Colman-Sadd's audit looked at supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and made 21 recommendations for improving security.
In the changed post COVID-19 business landscape, the global market for Water Treatment Chemicals estimated at US$40.6 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$70 Billion by 2030, growing at aCAGR of 7% over the period 2022-2030. Coagulants & Flocculants, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record 8.4% CAGR and reach US$25.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Taking into account the ongoing post pandemic recovery, growth in the Corrosion Inhibitors segment is readjusted to a revised 7.3% CAGR for the next 8-year period.
The Biden administration on Friday said it would require states to report on cybersecurity threats in their audits of public water systems, a day after it released a broader plan to protect critical infrastructure against cyberattacks. The Environmental Protection Agency said public water systems are increasingly at risk from cyberattacks that amount to a threat to public health.
Mining for lithium can be incredibly water intensive. The process can involve releasing water from aquifers and leaving it to evaporate in what's known as salt flats. What's left is a variety of minerals and metals, including lithium, that is then gathered and processed. It's a common practice in South America, where Argentina, Chile and Bolivia are among the world's top producers.
In the 279 page assessment, the authors outlined a number of concerns including, “Effects on fish and fish habitat resulting from the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of habitat, particularly due to the gradual drying up of Kapisikama Lake, hydrological changes to the watercourses and changes in water quality,” the assessment said and added, “Effects on the wetlands due to their destruction or disturbance, caused by the development of mine infrastructure and the drawdown of the water table.”
A new human rights report released this week highlights Canada’s failures to address long-standing abuses, including the failure to provide clean drinking water to First Nations. The report published by the Human Rights Watch group outlines the lack of safe water access in indigenous communities across the country, despite the federal government’s promise in 2015 to end all drinking water advisories on First Nations reserves by 2021.
The Water Security Agency’s (WSA) Conditions at Freeze-up Report says the province is experiencing a dry winter in most areas. Early summer and spring precipitations were higher than normal while the last half of summer and fall experienced soil conditions drier than normal at freeze-up. Southern and central Saskatchewan have adequate supplies of later water reservoirs.
