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

Washington Farmers Blame Canada for Contaminated Water

Washington Farmers Blame Canada for Contaminated Water

A northern Washington farmer advocacy group is calling on Gov. Jay Inslee to act swiftly to address poor water quality in their region due to what they claim is contamination flowing from rivers originating in Canada. In their June 6 letter to Inslee, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director Fred Likkel and Northern Lynden Water Improvement District President Larry Stap described the Nooksack River Basin as contaminated with "extremely high levels of bacteria" coming from the other side of the Canadian border. "Given the current issues surrounding international flooding, as well as issues surrounding water rights and an impending adjudication of water rights in Whatcom County, immediate action is imperative on this subject," the letter states.

Water briefs: Okanagan water board buys $700,000 milfoil harvester

Water briefs: Okanagan water board buys $700,000 milfoil harvester

The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has approved a $700,000 expenditure for a new milfoil harvester. Following an RFP process, the milfoil contract was awarded to Berky GMBH of Germany. The new machine is expected to be delivered in June 2024. The new equipment will be able to remove invasive milfoil 1.5 metres deeper than the current machines and hold 5.5 cubic metres compared to the current 2-3 cubic metres.

Blue-green algae is back. Here are some tips to protect you and your pet

Blue-green algae is back. Here are some tips to protect you and your pet

Although it isn't quite summer yet, blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, is already showing up in New Brunswick waterways. Meghann Bruce, a researcher and instructor with the University of New Brunswick Canadian Rivers Institute, said as soon as the ice went out in early May, there was a "bloom" in Blue Bell Lake near Grand Falls.

Diving for debris: Kingston divers pull garbage out of Lake Ontario on day of cleanup, awareness

Diving for debris: Kingston divers pull garbage out of Lake Ontario on day of cleanup, awareness

Pulling a large truck tire from the water, volunteer Derek Evans says he is not sure how long it has been at the bottom of Lake Ontario. It’s filled with zebra mussels and mud, but the rubber has the potential to be a serious issue. "This is at least 50 pounds," Evans says. "It definitely would be a lot of damage to the fish and the wildlife in the water." Getting this tire, and other garbage, is part of a massive project called, 'Kingston Waters Clean Up.' More than 70 divers, kayakers and shorelines volunteers are bagging up garbage to keep it out of the water and drawing awareness to the issue, explains organizer Guillaume Courcy.

'Where's the rock?': Photographer captures dramatic before-and-after shots of N.W.T. waterfall

'Where's the rock?': Photographer captures dramatic before-and-after shots of N.W.T. waterfall

It was the perfect setting for some spectacular and dramatic wedding photos — a wide, rocky ledge, overlooking a stunning northern waterfall. And standing proudly at the bottom of the N.W.T.'s Carcajou Falls, seemingly immovable amid the churning river, a massive, craggy pillar of rock, the very symbol of solidity and stability. That was then. Now, the pillar is gone, apparently reduced by the river to rubble in a matter of days. "It's kind of sad to see that it's gone," said photographer Nicky Lynn Richards, who lives in Norman Wells, N.W.T., one of the communities nearest to the remote falls. She's taken plenty of photographs there — including some amazing wedding photos. 

Sicamous implements Stage 1 water restrictions ahead of hot summer

Sicamous implements Stage 1 water restrictions ahead of hot summer

Sicamous is under its first stage of water restrictions, limiting the times when residents can water their lawns. The district’s Stage 1 of water restrictions go into effect from May 1 to September 30. Sprinklers and irrigation systems are allowed to run at odd-numbered civic addresses on odd days and at even-numbered addresses on even days. There is no time restriction for watering under this schedule. Manual watering is allowed at any time, on any day for all addresses under Stage 1.

Sunshine Coast stress on the rise as temperatures heat up, water shortage threat looms again Social Sharing

Sunshine Coast stress on the rise as temperatures heat up, water shortage threat looms again Social Sharing

Sunshine Coast brothers Gord and Geoff Sloan wrestle a 9,000-litre water tank — the size of a small car — into position behind a rural home in Sechelt, B.C., until the empty metal cavern tips into place with a resounding boom. The new owner of this massive metal tank hopes rain will fill it with enough to supply months of water for plants. The brothers' year-old business, RainCatchers, is booming as more hot, dry weather arrives after a parched spring in a region dogged by drought for the past few years.

Canmore, Alta., under non-essential water ban as hot temperatures cause low reservoir

Canmore, Alta., under non-essential water ban as hot temperatures cause low reservoir

Residents and businesses in Canmore, Harvie Heights and Deadman's Flats are facing a mandatory non-essential water ban, according to the Town of Canmore. As of Friday at 11:45 a.m., the town said Epcor is advising all residents and businesses in the three areas to stop non-essential water use.

These 3 men are paddle boarding across Lake Ontario to 'stand up' for the Great Lakes

These 3 men are paddle boarding across Lake Ontario to 'stand up' for the Great Lakes

Corey Adkins, 52, communication and content director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, said the crossing will raise awareness of the Great Lakes. He has followed the group and produced documentaries on their work. Problems on the Great Lakes vary from algal blooms to microplastics, he said. "They are all in trouble in one form or another," he said. "What these guys do is bring awareness of the problems of each lake. The mission that these guys are on is very important."

AECOM appoints VP and operations manager for water

AECOM appoints VP and operations manager for water

Mawani is a design engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in water consulting across Ontario, focusing on municipal wastewater treatment for most of her career. After earning her masters of water resources engineering from the University of Waterloo, she started working at AECOM in 2003, before moving on to Jacobs in 2013 and GHD in 2019.

Blue-green algae bloom advisory issued for Pine Lake

Blue-green algae bloom advisory issued for Pine Lake

As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Pine Lake, at any time. AHS says boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active.

Water Canada Awards Celebrates the Industry's Best in Ottawa

Water Canada Awards Celebrates the Industry's Best in Ottawa

The 14th annual Water Canada Awards were presented at a Gala reception on June 8, 2023 in Ottawa as part of the Water Canada Summit. These highly esteemed awards recognize the people, projects, and technologies that have made significant contributions to Canada's water industry.

Theatre, art, and water security central in international USask exhibition

Theatre, art, and water security central in international USask exhibition

The theme of the exhibition chosen through conversations and interviews with students across Canada is water security. Titled Troubled Water / Eaux Troubles, the project being brought to Prague is a multidisciplinary piece including aspects of sculpture, painting, music, theatre, and more. In addition, Dr. Graham Strickert (PhD) with USask’s School of Environment and Sustainability, and the Global Institute for Water Security, spoke to the students involved with the project about being mindful and thoughtful about the topic their artwork is focusing on.

Asbestos and cement pipes

Asbestos and cement pipes

Following W5’s report, and in an abundance of caution, the City consulted with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. On May 23, 2023, staff collected a sample of water from the Glen Collector System at the Arkell Spring Grounds. Lex Scientific was contracted to analyze the sample and on June 1, 2023, the City received the results of the sample. The Lex Scientific water analysis technical memo  indicated tests showed no detection of asbestos fibres in the raw water groundwater sample.

Vegas water agency empowered to limit home water flows in future

Vegas water agency empowered to limit home water flows in future

In the Las Vegas area, ornamental lawns are already banned, swimming pool sizes are limited, almost all water inside homes is recycled, "water cops" patrol for leaks and fountains on the Las Vegas Strip use reclaimed water. Water agencies in Southern California, Phoenix and Salt Lake City joined last year in widening calls to rip out thirsty turf. The new law pushes the region ahead of other places in the U.S. West in efforts to crack down on water wasters. But it's not a first. A water district serving homes in a celebrity enclave near Los Angeles threatened last year to slow deliveries to a trickle for wealthy customers who find monetary fines no deterrent to busting their water budgets.

Drinking water advisory lifted in Kagawong

Drinking water advisory lifted in Kagawong

"Public Health issued the drinking water advisory because of a temporary loss of pressure in the municipal water system. The water has been tested to ensure its safety," the health unit said in a news release Monday. "The bacteriological quality of the water supply has been tested with no adverse results being reported. Residents in the affected areas may notice chlorine odours and discoloured water," Burgess Hawkins, a manager with the health protection division, is quoted as saying in the news release.

Canada to continue testing wastewater for COVID-19 spread

Canada to continue testing wastewater for COVID-19 spread

Although the COVID-19 spread is no longer an ongoing pandemic in the eyes of the World Health Organization, the federal government will still be monitoring potential spread rates through waste water. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced that the Public Health Agency of Canada is partnering with the Canadian Water Network to monitor Canadian wastewater. Duclos said in a statement how this national wastewater surveillance program will help keep Canadians healthy through guidance materials and wastewater data.

Sunshine Coast given provincial approval for new water-saving measure

Sunshine Coast given provincial approval for new water-saving measure

According to the B.C. Forests Ministry, a water licence has been approved for the Church Road Well. The well was built near Gibsons last year to help support communities that rely on Chapman Lake for water. It will provide an additional three million litres of water per day to the Chapman water system. "Ideally, we would be pumping once the water quit going over the dam, because then we could save more water behind the dam,” said Leonard Lee, chair of the Sunshine Coast Regional District Board.

Broadway fountain pays tribute to First Nation where Winnipeg's drinking water originates

Broadway fountain pays tribute to First Nation where Winnipeg's drinking water originates

A new copper plaque on the boulevard along Broadway at Donald Street aims to educate Winnipeggers about the source of their drinking water and the community surrounding it — Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. "For years Winnipeg members, their citizens, were able to … turn on their tap," said Chief Kevin Redsky of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation at the unveiling of the plaque on Friday.  The plaque pays tribute to Shoal Lake as the source of city water since 1919, when the Winnipeg aqueduct was completed. It explains how the project impacted the First Nation community and its relationship with water. "The 24-year boil water advisory, the sickness created bathing our own children, not being able to drink safe water," Redsky said.

B.C. at high risk of province-wide drought this summer, authorities warn

B.C. at high risk of province-wide drought this summer, authorities warn

"What we've seen now from the past month of heat is that the high-elevation snow is rapidly depleting," said Jonathan Boyd, a hydrologist with B.C.'s River Forecast Centre. "We're on pace to be the earliest snow-free that the province has recorded. "We've had just a phenomenal melt so far, and where it's a little bit scary is … we're moving into this year in a really precarious position."

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