Canadian Water and Wastewater Association eBulletin

Budget - We are all still analyzing the budget. Working with our partners at FCM, APWA, CNAM and others, we are trying to confirm the process and the requirements for accessing the federal funds. Meanwhile, FCM is rolling out programs, with funding, to support asset management and climate change efforts. We will keep you posted.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439415&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

As CWWA’s executive director, I am scheduled to speak to water leaders at two national water events this spring. As spokesman for our association, I have been invited to speak on behalf of our utility sector as part of two industry panels.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439428&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

We are thrilled to announce that the agenda of the National Workshop on Strategic Visioning of Urban Water Management is finalized.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439257&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The Window on Ottawa is a unique event – featuring presentations and panel discussions on federal and national policies from the federal departments and national organizations making policy decisions. The event will feature presentations and panel discussion on the most important federal initiatives and programs.This event is not only an opportunity to learn what's happening on the federal scene, but also a chance to influence it.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439287&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

Going into its third year the National Water and Wastewater Conference, is becoming an industry landmark, offering a superb technical program balancing utility management issues, with technical papers on research and treatment issues. Our unique program allows unparalleled networking opportunities with professionals from all aspects of water and wastewater treatment and management, researchers, students and federal and provincial regulators.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439294&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The Alliance for Water Efficiency has been closely following the federal budget discussions in Washington, and it appears that the WaterSense labeling program is in grave danger of losing its funding. The President’s Budget for FY18 lists 50 programs at the US Environmental Protection Agency that should be eliminated, and this list includes valuable programs such as Energy Star. Because the WaterSense program has never been Congressionally authorized, it does not have its own budget line item, and for the past ten years it has been funded only at the discretion of the EPA Administrator. WaterSense issues a recent release confirming that the program is likely to be included in these program cuts.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438910&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

Halifax Water has recently published two videos that do an excellent job of leveraging social media, and mixing humour with important issues!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438911&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The Canadian Standards Association is launching a new standards development program for Wastewater Treatment Plant Design and Construction. They are looking for volunteers to join their Technical Committee for this standards development program and volunteers for a Task Force for one of the program’s initiatives "Climate Change Adaptation for Wastewater Treatment Plants".

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439256&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

For those who attended the National Water & Wastewater Conference last November, you will remember the motivating film presentation by our guest Stephen Szucs, better known as Sustainable Joe. Stephen's mission is to educate us on the urgent issues facing our planet, but he goes beyond scaring us to inspiring each of us to do ‘something’.

He has now launched a fascinating podcast that you might appreciate. Please do check it out here:

Visit http://www.sustainablejoes.com/blog/our-podcast-is-live/ to view the full article online.

We are excited to share in the release of new public education materials from our partners at the Value of Water Coalition. This is a cooperative effort with WEF, AWWA, NACWA and more partners to address the value of water to our communities – our health and our economy. CWWA was proud to be part of the project and we thank Yves Comeau of CAWQ for his assistance as well.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439625&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The Expert Panel tasked with reviewing the Canadian Environmental Assessment process has released it’s report and the federal government is now consulting on the recommendations and the future of the program.

As most of you probably remember the Harper government significantly rolled back the federal environmental assessment process – making it apply only to large projects and limiting the scope of the assessments.

The expert panel was created to review the process and make recommendations to improve the process.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=437851&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

As part of their overall review of the environmental assessment process a Standing Committee also reviewed the 2012 amendments to the Fisheries Act, and a report was tabled on their findings on February 24, 2017.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438876&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The federal government has made a recommendation to add Disperse Yellow 3 – an azo disperse dye – to Schedule 1 (List of Toxic Substances) under CEPA 1999. These dyes are used in textile fabrication, and according to the supporting documentation they frequently end up in municipal wastewater streams, since most textile mills offer little or no pre-treatment.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438889&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) posted online March 20, 2017 Groundwater Sustainability Assessment Approach: Guidance for Application. The document provides a balance of high-level guidance and practical how-to advice, Highlighting issues and actions jurisdictions should take into account when Implementing CCME’S groundwater sustainability assessment approach (GSAA).

Visit http://www.ccme.ca/files/Resources/water/groundwater/Groundwater%20Sustainability%20Assessment%20Approach%20Guidance%20for%20Application.pdf to view the full article online.

The Senate is currently reviewing a private members bill " S-229 An Act respecting underground infrastructure safety" that would:

- require operators of underground infrastructure that is federally regulated or on federal land to register that infrastructure with a notification centre;
- require people who are planning to dig to first make a ‘locate request’ with the relevant notification centre; and
- require operators of underground infrastructure to provide a clear description of the location of the underground infrastructure and to provide an all-clear prior to proceeding with any excavation.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438960&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (Intact Centre) at the University of Waterloo will join forces to develop a new report on best practices for making new residential communities flood-resilient. The partnership comes as a result of the growing number of costly and severe flooding events in various parts of the country.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438907&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The government recently released a consultation document outlining a draft Canada-Ontario action plan intended to meet phosphorus reduction targets agreed to by Canada and the United States in 2012.

The report begins by laying out a series of questions that the government is particularly interested in getting stakeholder feedback on. It then details the history of the phosphorous issues in Lake Erie and a discussion of the current and changing ecology of the lake and the source of phosphorous loadings.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438892&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

The new Ontario regulation Reporting of Energy Consumption and Water Use has officially become law. The regulation outlines what building owners and utilities must do to comply with Ontario’s Large Building Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) initiative.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=438917&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

American Water Works Association Journal

The authors studied the level of people's knowledge about their drinking water source, their level of concern for it, and how this relates to living in a city where lead levels in the water exceed the US Environmental Protection Agency's lead action level. Results show that, depending on how respondents perceived the issue, knowledge level and perception of a problem both are dominating factors in people's understanding of their water source. Using a survey to identify relationships, the study found that those respondents from cities with lead levels that exceeded the action level showed higher concern for their tap water quality; this increased when the respondents could not identify their water source. Looking at these results in the context of the theory of planned behavior (specifically perception, knowledge, and behavior), showed that the more people know about their source water, the less likely they are to express unnecessary concern due to a misperception of an issue.

Visit https://www.awwa.org/publications/journal-awwa/abstract/articleid/62045913.aspx?utm_source=bluehornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=um_JAWWA&utm_term=JAW_0084328&utm_content=read_more to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439130&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

Browse our calendar of member and partner events.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=439286&issueID=47532 to view the full article online.

By Peter Chawaga, Associate Editor, Water Online

In May of 2006, seven leading advocates of the country’s water and wastewater utilities agreed to support those utilities through the concept of Effective Utility Management (EUM). This would provide a roadmap for management success, guiding utilities through emerging obstacles, be they public health concerns, environmental challenges, or economic restrictions. To share those guidelines with the nation’s utilities, these partners created "Effective Utility Management: A Primer for Water and Wastewater Facilities."

Visit https://www.wateronline.com/doc/a-guide-for-effective-utility-management-0001?vm_tId=1994003&user=8716093d-9883-4414-9585-e4e29dddad77&utm_source=et_10759433&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WOL_04-20-2017&utm_term=8716093d-9883-4414-9585-e4e29dddad77&utm_co to view the full article online.

American Water Works Association

AWWA works collaboratively with our members and partners in the water sector to advocate for water and the infrastructure that supports it.

AWWA is a founding partner in the Value of Water Campaign and works closely with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) to develop tools and resources that will help support your efforts to educate and inform consumers, public officials, decision-makers, and stakeholders about the value and importance of water.

Visit https://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/water-and-wastewater-utility-management/communications-and-customer-service/value-of-water/utm_source/bluehornet/utm_medium/email/utm_campaign/um_waters_value/utm_term/infographic/utm_content/learn_more.aspx to view the full article online.

Water Online

While lead pipes were banned decades ago, they still supply millions of American households daily with drinking water amid risks of corrosion and leaching that can cause developmental and neurological effects in young children.

Visit https://www.wateronline.com/doc/preventing-lead-spread-0001?vm_tId=1992059&user=8716093d-9883-4414-9585-e4e29dddad77&utm_source=et_10759433&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WOL_04-11-2017&utm_term=8716093d-9883-4414-9585-e4e29dddad77&utm_content=Preventing+L to view the full article online.

Treatment Plant Operator

Officials in Gwinnett County, Georgia, say "flushable" wipes, paper, grease and other products are to blame for a sewage spill of more than 4,000 gallons into Jacks Creek.

Visit http://www.tpomag.com/online_exclusives/2017/04/news_briefs_worker_rescued_after_falling_into_treatment_plant_hole?utm_source=StreamSend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&utm_campaign=TPO_170410 to view the full article online.

Water Canada

The City of Kingston’s Waterfront Master Plan has won a Canadian Society of Landscape Architect’s (CSLA) 2017 National Award of Excellence. The 14 winning projects from across Canada represent world-class roadside and residences, ambitious plans for waterfront, community greening and poetic places.

Visit http://watercanada.net/2017/kingston-wins-national-award-for-waterfront-master-plan/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=2981435ba7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_04_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-2981435ba7-43017985 to view the full article online.

Treatment Plant Operator

Extreme climate and weather events are occurring more frequently with more intensity. Central to these events are the impacts to water — from drought to floods and much in between. In order to better plan for the future, several of the largest water agencies and organizations, including the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create a water resources dashboard.

Visit http://www.tpomag.com/online_exclusives/2017/03/online_tool_created_to_assist_operators_in_extreme_weather_scenarios?utm_source=StreamSend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&utm_campaign=TPO_170405 to view the full article online.

Water Canada

The City of Charlottetown plans to transition its current wastewater treatment facility, or pollution control plant, to a resource recovery facility that would have long-term financial, environmental, and social benefits for the Greater Charlottetown Area.

Visit http://watercanada.net/2017/charlottetown-upgrades-wastewater-facility-to-resource-recovery-model/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=cf1e9fad66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-cf1e9fad66-43017985 to view the full article online.

Water Canada

Manitoba has given a first reading to its Red Tape Reduction and Government Efficiency Act, 2017, or Bill 24. The changes would impact The Drinking Water Safety Act and The Groundwater and Water Well Act, among others.

Visit http://watercanada.net/2017/manitoba-red-tape-reduction-bill-to-affect-drinking-water-groundwater/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=cf1e9fad66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-cf1e9fad66-43017985 to view the full article online.

Water Online

While emergency responders and police officers typically get the most credit for putting themselves in harm’s way, wastewater utility employees are overlooked for the oft-hazardous positions they face.

Visit https://www.wateronline.com/doc/worker-thrown-feet-in-wastewater-treatment-facility-explosion-0001?vm_tId=1994714&user=8716093d-9883-4414-9585-e4e29dddad77&utm_source=et_10759433&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WOL_04-25-2017&utm_term=8716093d-9883-4414-958 to view the full article online.

By Kiera Outlaw, IBISWorld Procurement Research Analyst. WaterOnline

There’s roughly 32 billion gallons of municipal wastewater produced every day in the U.S., but according to a 2012 water reuse report by the U.S. EPA, less than 10 percent of that water is recycled. While drought and population growth is pushing water resources to their natural limits, cities around the world are seeking out sustainable alternatives to meet their future water needs. As global fears of water scarcity escalate, IBISWorld expects a rise in the development of water recycling programs. As a result, demand for water treatment-related goods and services will increase and push their corresponding prices up, which could raise budgetary concerns later on.

Visit https://www.wateronline.com/doc/reclaiming-water-the-rise-of-wastewater-recycling-to-meet-potable-water-needs-0001?vm_tId=1988851&user=8716093d-9883-4414-9585-e4e29dddad77&utm_source=et_10759433&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WOL_03-23-2017&utm_term=871609 to view the full article online.