Canada’s Competition Bureau has just ‘flushed’ our hopes for federal support and leadership to address the economic, environmental and health threats of flushable wipes.  We all know how much damage these self-proclaimed ‘flushable’ wipes have wreaked on our systems and our municipal budgets. So on behalf of Canadian utilities, we reached out to the federal government to address these false claims of products being “safe to flush” and “sewer and septic safe”.  But sadly, our requests were dismissed…and without even a cursory review. 

The Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association will be held from 5:15 to 5:45  on Monday, November 7, 2022  at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel (room to be determined) in conjunction with the National Water and Wastewater Conference. 

The 2021 Audited Financial Statement and full agenda package will be available soon on the CWWA Website.

The National Water and Wastewater Conference offers a wide-ranging technical program covering almost all aspects of the municipal water sector, while offering the best networking environment for Canada’s water leaders.  

We've got great sessions planned, including a day in a half examining the importance of utility/academic partnerships in developing new technologies and management processes. 

Learn more about the Conference and technical program

This new guideline establishes a maximum acceptable concentration (MaC) for dimethoate and omethoate in drinking water of 0.02 mg/L (20 μg/L). dimethoate is a broad spectrum organophosphate pesticide. Omethoate is a breakdown product of dimethoate which is also produced during treatment of source water containing dimethoate. The guideline is based on assessments of dimethoate (which included an assessment of omethoate) completed by health Canada’s Pest Management regulatory agency and supporting documents. 

The government recently released Faster and Further: Canada’s Methane Strategy. The measures outlined in the strategy aim to reduce domestic methane emissions by more than 35 percent by 2030, compared to 2020 levels. This will exceed the Global Methane Pledge target of 30 percent that Canada signed on to last year. 

The  government announced an investment of more than $3.9 million over three years in thirty-nine new projects in Ontario through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative. 

The Fish and Fish habitat Protection Program (FFhPP) is consulting on a number of topics including:

• ecologically significant areas; Prescribed Works and Waters regulation; Cumulative effects Guidance;
• Fish habitat offsetting and Banking Policy;
• restoration Priorities for Fish and Fish habitat and
• New Interim Codes of Practice.

CWWA's Wastewater and Stormwater Committee will review the consultation to determine relevance and potential participation.

In a July 22, 2022 release, the government warns that regulated parties should adjust business processes as early as possible to ensure ongoing compliance with new amendments to the Fertilizers regulations. The amended regulations contain a transitional provision that allows regulated parties to comply with either the former ("old") or the current ("new") regulations for a period of 3 years until October 26, 2023.  

Only biosolids products that are sold are subject to the federal Fertilizer Act, but any members selling these products should be aware of the changes, and ensure compliance.

The Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE) Program led by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is launching a fall webinars series focused on sharing experiences on how to build climate change adaptation skills. The webinars series will feature the results of over 20 co-funded projects.

Water Canada's Downstream will join the NWWC this November 9 in Halifax! Water Canada presents Downstream: A speed networking event that brings current and future generations of water industry professionals together to cultivate an inclusive, diverse, and thriving water sector. To find out more about Downstream, visit: https://www.watercanada.net/ready-set-network-downstream/ 

Covering three afternoons, this one-of-a-kind virtual event will help water utilities understand physical and cyber threats and boost security. H2OSecCon will feature critical recommendations, industry subject matter experts, and resources that utilities need to protect their consumers, assets, and the environment. Register today!

The Ministry of Municipal affairs and housing recently received the City of Toronto official Plan amendment 583 for a decision. Official Plan amendment 583 contains new and updated policies on environmental protection, water resources and climate change. It also includes new and revised maps on these themes including the City’s Natural heritage system, Water resources systems and environmentally significant areas. 

The Saskatchewan government recently approved a change to the province’s Trespass to Property Act, so that it could apply to federal officials. Specifically, an addition was made that states “a person” caught trespassing can now include “the Crown in the right of Canada”. The change was made a day after a tweet from a Pense area farmer questioned the presence of health Canada employees who were engaged in collecting water samples on his land. Saskatchewan’s new Trespass to Property legilsation came into force on January 1, 2022. Under the legislation, those wishing to access a rural landowner's property must obtain consent from the owner.

The Hill

A Michigan judge on Tuesday dismissed criminal charges against seven former government officials who were accused of misconduct in the Flint water crisis.

The Hill

“Forever chemicals” have been identified in water systems that serve about 9.5 million people in just six states, according to a new analysis of state data by a congressional watchdog. 

AP News

Lifelong Cleveland resident Steve Gove recalls when the Cuyahoga River symbolized shame — fetid, lifeless, notorious for catching fire when sparks from overhead rail cars ignited the oil-slicked surface.

Water Canada

There is a perception that Canada has an abundant freshwater supply. In some regions of the country, where drought conditions do not exist, this is certainly the case. There are, at times, large volumes of freshwater available.

The Hill

Tens of thousands of sites across the U.S. may be polluted with toxic so-called forever chemicals, a team of scientists argued in a study released on Wednesday.

The researchers said that in the absence of information proving otherwise, contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) should be presumed at 57,412 locations spread across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

CBC News

Three years ago, Friends of the Earth Canada and lawyers from Ecojustice filed a grievance with the bureau saying the makers of 20 disposable wipes were falsely advertising the products as safe to flush down the toilet.

Desert Sun

Indian Wells became the latest city to pony up for a program offering residents money to switch to more drought-tolerant landscaping, as the city council unanimously approved a funding match for a Coachella Valley Water District rebate program Thursday.

Water Canada

In the wake of Hurricane Fiona’s devastation, thousands are rebuilding their homes and communities, and businesses of all sizes are getting back on their feet. The Government of Canada will continue to respond to the immediate needs of people impacted by the storm and support the long-term recovery of impacted regions and local economies.

Water Canada

A new University of Waterloo initiative aims to shape the future of sustainability for the benefit of the environment, economy, and society.

AP News

Officials in Mississippi’s capital city said Wednesday that workers have found lead in water pipes at 16 buildings out of nearly 24,000 checked so far — the latest indication of problems in Jackson’s long-troubled water system.

E&E News

Drinking water disasters across the United States in recent weeks are magnifying vulnerabilities in the nation’s water grid as operators grapple with record-setting drought and floods that can knock out aging systems for weeks.

Water Canada

Beyond a vague sense of thirst, many of us give little thought to the water that flows forth crisp, clean, and translucent bordering on invisible, when we turn on the tap. Unrestrained and with almost reckless abandon we let the tap fill our glass, with at least some evading the glass before swirling into darkness; more, if levels of attention and awareness wane at this most crucial moment.

ES&E Magazine

Montreal-based WSP Global Inc. has finalized its acquisition of John Wood Group’s (Wood) Environment & Infrastructure business that includes some 6,000 professionals.