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.
Windsor city officials are calling on the federal government to help with the rising costs of flooding mitigation projects in Windsor's east end. Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens, Ward 6 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac and Windsor West MP Brian Masse want the federal government to invest money in the city's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) for city sewers and water projects as part of Windsor's flooding and sewer master plan.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is accepting applications for its 2023 Water Conservation and Quality Improvement (WCQI) grant program. With a funding pool of $350,000, eligible applicants, including local governments and First Nations, irrigation districts and non-profit organizations, can receive grants ranging from $3,000 to $30,000 for water projects within the Okanagan Basin.
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has announced the winners of its annual Operational and Design Excellence Awards competition, demonstrating excellence in operations and design, which contribute to the advancement of the water environment industry. The Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award was presented to Bush Beans Process Water Reclamation Facility located in the Great Smoky Mountains, about 40 miles from Knoxville, Tenn. Designed and built by a joint venture of Brown and Caldwell and Haskell Company, the 2.1 million gallons per day facility treats production process water to a high effluent quality to irrigate more than 900 acres of Bush Brothers & Company-owned agriculture, indicates a release, adding some of the treated water is reused in non-food-contact applications to reduce the demand for source water.
Fifteen communities will receive support for water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste projects through the Provincial Capital Assistance Program, the Province announced today, August 26. “Access to safe drinking water and wastewater treatment are vital for strong, healthy communities,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables and MLA for Cumberland South, on behalf of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr.
The federal government has announced $27 million in funding for three projects to improve public services and protect waters in St. John’s, Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove and surrounding communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. In St. John’s, new wastewater infrastructure will improve municipal services in the Goulds area and help protect Shoal Bay and the harbour. In addition, there will be ditching and erosion control measures taken along the Motion Bay Road extension in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove. The federal government is spending $9.8 million, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing $7.4 million and the municipalities are providing a total of $9.8 million, stated a release.
Almost $50 million will be poured into water projects by the Province of Manitoba. Officials announced Manitoba will invest nearly $50 million in critical water and wastewater services projects under the Manitoba Restart Program “These projects are significant capital works that support the ongoing supply of clean water and wastewater treatment in our municipalities and parks,” said Derek Johnson, municipal relations minister, in a statement. “Our government is committed to growing Manitoba’s economy and protecting Manitobans, and these investments will help create jobs and improve the safety and well-being of our communities.”
Rebecca Zagozewski, executive director of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association, said she has seen contractors save on costs when building water treatment plants on reserves by using obsolete parts and failing to include maintenance manuals, ventilation or chemical rooms, and bathrooms. “Engineering companies will put in their bids obviously as low as they can go,” said Zagozewski.
The federal government and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador have announced $5.4 million in joint funding for seven water and wastewater projects in communities on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador. In Holyrood, new funding will support the installation of a 500,000-gallon water storage tank as well as a new control system and watermains, stated a Jan. 14 release. There will also be watermain and related infrastructure improvements for the towns of Branch, Colliers, Ferryland, Harbour Main-Chapel’s Cove-Lakeview, and St. Mary’s. There will be storm and sewer pipe installation in Ferryland, as well as road upgrades where project work is being completed. As well, the town of Placentia will be served by a lift station and new sewage treatment unit.
