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.
Four communities in New Brunswick will get a combined $22 million from the federal, provincial and municipal governments to support water infrastructure projects. Tracadie and Rivere-du-Nord will receive $13.2 million, with $8.8 million going to Bathurst and Belle-Baie. Tracadie will use the funding to support the second phase of its multi-phased project to renew aging sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer mains on Principale Street.
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.
Most of Canada’s water infrastructure was built between the 1950s and 1970s, and today, Over 30% of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is in a precarious state due to lack of maintenance. Tackling this aging infrastructure will require significant public investment, especially in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta, which will create great business opportunities. Furthermore, the slow progress of digitization in Canada also opens up opportunities for Spanish technology companies.
Some water infrastructure in Port Hawkesbury will see upgrades following the announcement of $3.3 million in funding from three levels of government. The money will be used to upgrade the water supply and distribution system, including the construction of a new above-ground building and associated equipment to replace the Pitt Street water tower and the existing pressure-reducing valve vault on MacDonald Street.
In Welland, this investment will support the installation of approximately 1,500 metres of watermain, along with seven new hydrants on Canal Bank Road. The improvements will help ensure that residents continue to have reliable access to clean drinking water. Roads and sidewalks impacted by work on this project will also be restored through this investment.
The City of Salmon Arm will be looking for voter approval to borrow more than $2 million for one of two water infrastructure projects deemed essential by city council. At its Monday, Feb. 12 meeting, council voted to support a loan authorization bylaw enabling the city to proceed towards an alternate approval process, through which voter assent will be sought to borrow $2,298,000 for the construction of a replacement to the Zone 5 booster (water pumping) station.
The Environmental Protection Agency will move forward with environmental review of several water infrastructure projects intended to address transborder water pollution from the Tijuana River, it was announced Monday. “In order to protect public health and vital ecosystems in this vibrant area, we need a bold solution to the transboundary water pollution challenge,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox.
