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.
As the city of Montreal looks for solutions for its aging, leaky water infrastructure, Mayor Valérie Plante has made it clear that residential water meters are not an option. In theory, meters could be used to charge each household for consumption, thus encouraging people to use less and reduce the strain on a system that is essentially hemorrhaging drinking water.
Climate change has brought higher temperatures in Texas that has accelerated reservoir evaporation and created arid conditions. That has reduced water volumes flowing into rivers and streams. State data indicates reservoir storage was only about 67 per cent of capacity last October from a year earlier. The 30 million people living in Texas cannot survive without water. The state’s rapid economic and population growth has put strain on existing water infrastructure. Even before taking that growth into account, time has taken its toll on water infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. About 132 billion gallons of water were lost in 2021 through breaks, leakage and other causes, according to data submitted by public water suppliers to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Old leaky pipes not only waste water but can increase health risks due to contaminants like arsenic.
In Whistler, this investment will support the construction of a new water treatment plant in the south. It will also enable the replacement of an existing well pump, the decommissioning of one well and two chlorine dosing systems, and the construction of approximately 600 metres of new water main. This work will ensure wastewater is properly treated and improve the connection with the Whistler Main system.
“Three interdependent projects that are in close physical proximity will increase the capacity to treat and manage wastewater and storm water and increase access to potable water. The Vancouver Street intersection will be improved, including the water lines supplying the Yarmouth Regional Hospital," reads the project description. "In the neighbouring combined sewer overflow, a tidal check valve will be installed to prevent tidal water from entering the combined sewer system. The Gardner Street Lift Station will be disconnected from the storm water connection to receive a new exterior dedicated line and outfall."
The Province is investing a total of $3.9 million in infrastructure upgrades in Mahone Bay, Yarmouth, Digby and Clare that will help prepare the municipalities for future growth. “Our municipalities depend on modern infrastructure to be competitive and attract new residents to their communities,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr. “By making these investments, we will improve the efficiency of the water and wastewater systems, ensuring residents and businesses have the services they expect and depend on every day and laying the foundation for continued growth for years to come.”
Ted Laking, the president of the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC), was in Ajax, Ont. earlier this month representing the Yukon at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) board meetings. Municipal leaders from across the country discussed a number of priorities for the federal abudget to be tabled Tuesday. According to Statistics Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure Survey, 14 per cent of municipal and water infrastructure and 12 per cent of municipal transportation infrastructure is in “poor” or “very poor” condition.
In 2021, Federal Court approved a class-action settlement between Canada and several First Nations that were subject to long-term drinking water advisories from 1995 to 2021. Now, settlement negotiators have extended the deadline for First Nations to submit a claim until March 7. If the Band Council Acceptance Resolution that a First Nation files with the settlement administrator is accepted, it will receive a $500,000 base payment and be eligible for additional payments of up to 50% of the amounts paid to eligible individuals in the community.
Residents of Mississippi's capital are ending the year unable to count on clean running water in their homes after a freezing winter storm brought a fresh crisis to Jackson's beleaguered water infrastructure. Residents of the majority-Black city say their main water treatment plant has been poorly maintained and funded for years. In August, its pumps failed entirely, overwhelmed by historic flooding along the Pearl River, cutting off running water entirely for Jackson's 150,000 residents and about 30,000 people in the surrounding area.
The Province is investing more than $3.5 million in water and wastewater infrastructure in Kings County. “Reliable infrastructure is the foundation for building strong, sustainable communities,” said John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We are pleased to fund these projects to upgrade the water distribution and wastewater collection systems to ensure they are reliable and safe. With these investments, we are also investing in the sustainability and growth of these communities.”
Public Safety Canada (PSC) recently released a new version of its cyber security tool for owners and operators of water and other critical infrastructure. The Canadian Cyber Security Tool Version 2.0 (CCST 2.0) is a virtual self-assessment tool that gives users an overview of their organization’s ability to resist cyber attacks. CCST 2.0 is a short self-assessment that also gives owners and operators comparative results in critical infrastructure.
Integrated Sustainability, Canada, acquires Ecohesion Ltd, Barbados, effective September 1st, 2022. Climate sensitivity in the Caribbean necessitates inventive solutions now. The merger between our two purpose-driven companies facilitates faster technology exchange between regions and consolidates our endeavours to deliver conscientious water, waste, and energy solutions.
The world is in desperate need of water. Drought and increasing temperatures have threatened to impact nearly every major sector of the economy, from energy to agriculture to shipping. Markets are taking note. The S&P Global Water Index, which tracks 50 companies from around the world that are involved in water utilities, infrastructure, equipment and materials, has outperformed the S&P Global Broad Market Index by more than 3 percentage points per year since its beginning in late 2001. So far this year, the Global Water Index return has been nearly 5 percentage points higher than the S&P Global BMI.
A water shortage in Nunavut has prompted the region's territorial government to declare a state of emergency, leading experts to re-evaluate water infrastructure in areas they say lack necessary funding. "Families are frustrated. Businesses are frustrated," MP Lori Idlout told CTV News Channel. "Water is such an essential human right." Iqaluit, which reported a water shortage last week, is now working on getting regulatory approval to pump in water from a nearby lake.
Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, welcomed the latest release of data on the status of Canada's water infrastructure through Canada's Core Public Infrastructure (CCPI) survey, for reference year 2020. The survey supports an evidence and results-based approach to public infrastructure policies, programs and investment decisions. The CCPI presents a statistically accurate and comprehensive landscape of public infrastructure in Canada. It provides communities across Canada with the tools and support they need to make evidence-based decisions for well-planned, modern public infrastructure that will help create healthier, safer and stronger communities.
Grimsby’s aging downtown water infrastructure is set to be upgraded thanks to funding from two upper levels of government. On April 18, the Town of Grimsby was awarded a $1.9-million grant to replace the water mains, service pipes and fire hydrants on Main and Elm streets. The project will include the replacement of the old cast-iron water pipes with ones made from PVC. The design phase of the program will start in 2023, with construction expected to begin in 2024.
Funding will support a study of the existing undersized storm water system in Charlottetown in order to replace it to help meet the increasing needs and development of the community. Following the study, funding will also support the construction of a new 800 metre storm water system that will help the City collect and manage storm flows during peak rainfall events, eliminating the possibility of future flash flood events. Once complete this project will help protect homes and businesses, creating a more resilient and safer community.
While the City maintains its water infrastructure from the road to your property line, homeowners are responsible for maintaining the pipes on private property. There are a few tricks you can use to protect water service pipes on your own property, in between episodes of your favourite show! Here are a few you should know: Insulate all pipes located near exterior walls; Keep indoor air temperature above eight degrees Celsius throughout the winter; Seal air leaks in your home and garage, especially in areas where pipes are located; Visit ottawa.ca for additional tips to prevent frozen water service pipes
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced in Iqaluit on Tuesday his party intends to push the federal government to spend $180 million to address Iqaluit’s water emergency. “In any major [Canadian] city, if there was a problem with the water, if there were hydrocarbons in the water, what would the federal government do?” Singh said at a news conference at the Iqaluit public library. “They would act immediately to fix the problem.”
A massive new piece of the Metro Vancouver’s water infrastructure network deep below Burrard Inlet is now complete. Metro Vancouver issued a release Monday morning confirming a 1.1-kilometre tunnel linking North Vancouver to Burnaby is now finished. “Completing this tunnel is an important milestone in this project and a remarkable testament to the innovation that is being used in Metro Vancouver to bring clean drinking water from the North Shore to the rest of the region,” said Sav Dhaliwal, chair of Metro Vancouver’s board of directors.
Sarnia is going to spend a lot of money replacing water and sewer assets over the next 60 years, according to the latest projections from city staff. Building off a recent storm sewer infrastructure report that predicts hundreds of millions of dollars in replacement expenses cumulatively until around 2080, the story is about the same for water pipes and sewer system replacement costs, city officials recently reported to council.
