Well, it’s time to put 2016 into the books and I must say CWWA had a pretty great year. The financial numbers are always a good measurement of our administration, but we don’t exist to make money – we exist to serve our members – and I think we did well in that aspect as well.

CWWA is busy starting preparations for our 2017 events. Be sure to save the date to attend the Window on Ottawa (June 5-6, 2017) and the National Water and Wastewater Conference (November 5-8, 2017).

From the CWWA family to yours - Happy Holidays.

Please note, the CWWA office will be closed from December 24, 2016 - January 3, 2017.

by Gowling WLG, November 9, 2016

This article offers a succinct overview of Canada’s Environmental protection regulatory regime, including explanations of: Federal environmental laws; Provincial environmental laws; Municipal measures; and common law and civil law. It would be suitable for those who are new to the field who require a simple overview of issues such as climate change, contaminated sites, environmental assessments, etc.

The reviewed National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) facility data for 2015 was released on December 6, 2016. The reviewed data is available on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s website in multiple formats along with a Fact Sheet that summarizes the reported data. The complete NPRI 2015 Summary Report will be available at this address shortly.

Release of the reviewed data follows the completion of Environment and Climate Change Canada's annual data quality control process, including a review of the preliminary data that was released in July 2016.

For more information or questions concerning the NPRI program, please visit the NPRI web site or send an email to ec.inrp-npri.ec@canada.ca.

The Department of the Environment and Department of Health published in the November 5, 2016 edition of Canada Gazette Part I, Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations, pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

In 2012, Environment Canada under the Canadian Environment Protection Act (CEPA) undertook a review of Triclosan and it was found to pose a risk to human and environmental health and was recommended for risk management. Environment Canada has recently released a discussion document about the proposed approach to risk management.

The BLOOM Centre for Sustainability recently released a new "Water & Beer portal " which it describes as "a must for wastewater management." "With the recently-launched Water & Beer portal, any brewer can be a better water manager," says Michael Fagan, Senior vice-President of BLOOM. The portal claims to offer breweries learning modules on good water and byproduct management practices that will save them money and time, while reducing their carbon footprint.

This could be a valuable resources of our members to refer to new or existing breweries in their city to reference.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change released the Chief Drinking Water Inspector’s Annual Report 2015-2016.

Water Online
In a letter to President-elect Donald J. Trump, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) this week urged the new Administration to make water infrastructure investment a key priority in the coming years. The letter also elevated the issues of cybersecurity, source water protection, the energy-water nexus, affordability and the importance of sound science to guide regulatory actions.

Water Online
Since the industrial revolution, the total amount of waste has constantly grown as economic growth has been based on a ‘take-make-consume-dispose’ model. This linear model assumes that resources are abundant, available, and cheap to dispose of. In the U.S. and around the world, there is a move towards a ‘circular economy’ where products and waste materials are reused, repaired, refurbished, and recycled.

TPO
In this Q&A, AdEdge Water Technologies discusses arsenic treatment options. Find out how a customized treatment solution can solve contaminant problems in your water system.

Water Canada
The Government of Canada is taking action to address the release of triclosan (or 2,4-D) into Canadian waters. The chemical, commonly found in some toothpaste, body washes, soap and clothing, has been shown that exhibit a potential for endocrine disruption. Roughly 1,600 products containing triclosan are sold in Canada, with another 130 personal care products containing the antibacterial chemical regulated as drug products.