Canadian Water and Wastewater Association eBulletin

Federal Initiatives

Statistics Canada - 2017 Survey of Drinking Water Plants

In the winter of 2018 Statistics Canada will be conducting the Survey of Drinking Water Plants. This survey is a census of public drinking water plants serving communities of 300 or more people. The survey results produce a national portrait of potable water production, treatment processes and costs.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483632&issueID=57775 to view the full article online.

CCME updates Water Quality Index application and manual

The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has posted the Water Quality Index 2.0 application and CCME Water Quality Index User’s Manual 2017 Update, replacing the Water Quality Index 1.2 published in 2011. The revised and updated index provides a consistent approach to summarizing complex water quality data and facilitating its communication. The user’s manual provides guidance on key calculations and application of the index as well as examples of its use.

Visit https://www.ccme.ca/en/whats_new/article.html?id=84 to view the full article online.

Canada Invests $1.2M in National Water Projects

In December Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Jenny Gerbasi, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) announced funding for 72 initiatives in communities across Canada through three funding programs: the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP), the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), and the Green Municipal Fund (GMF). Funding allocated for national water projects will be used to improve water systems, plan for drought and disasters, and watershed management plans, among other things.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483715&issueID=57775 to view the full article online.

National News

First Nations Water and Wastewater Under-Resourced in Federal Budget

Water Canada

The Parliamentary Budget Officer, Jean-Denis Fréchette, released a report today analyzing federal spending on drinking water and wastewater treatment on First Nations reserves. In it, he suggests that the current government is grossly under-budget to meet the 2015 promise to end long-term boil water advisories on reserves within five years.

Visit https://www.watercanada.net/pbo-budget-sufficiency-first-nations-water-wastewater/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=dc114002e5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_12_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-dc114002e5-43017985 to view the full article online.

Atlantic Canada’s Model for a First Nations-led Water Authority

Water Canada

As First Nations are more actively deploying their own governance locally, regionally, and nationally, a growing body of Canadian leaders are advocating for the federal government to get out of the way. This is equally true when it comes to clean water.

Visit https://www.watercanada.net/feature/first-nations-led-water-authority/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=afb8f44728-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_01_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-afb8f44728-43017985 to view the full article online.

International News

EPA consults with state, local government on lead rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday initiated a 60-day federalism consultation on the Lead and Copper Rule with state and local government representatives, including AWWA. The purpose of the federalism consultation is to give state and local governments a chance to provide input on the anticipated rulemaking and offer observations on effectiveness and impacts. The consultation will feed into Administrator Scott Pruitt’s consideration of the proposed rule, which EPA’s regulatory calendar indicates will be published in August 2018. Questions about the process and AWWA’s participation can be directed to Steve Via in AWWA’s Government Affairs Office.

Visit https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/lead-and-copper-rule-long-term-revisions to view the full article online.

EPA releases potable reuse compendium

The EPA has announced the release of the 2017 Potable Reuse Compendium. This document supplements the 2012 Guidelines for Water Reuse and provides a current look at potable water reuse practices, including direct potable reuse.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483719&issueID=57775 to view the full article online.

IJC says US, Canada falling short on protecting Great Lakes

In its first checkup report since both Canada and the US last updated the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 2012, the International Joint Commission said that inadequately treated sewage, industrial chemicals and farm runoff are still flowing into the five lakes that provide drinking water for about 40 million people. The IJC report calls for improving drinking water and sewage treatment facilities, and strengthening clean-water regulations, particularly limits on phosphorus runoff. Agencies also should work faster to identify newer types of contamination, such as fire retardant chemicals, and develop strategies for limiting them, the report says.

Visit http://ijc.org/files/tinymce/uploaded/GLWQA/TAP_HR.pdf to view the full article online.

Standards News

Water Seen by Children - art and photo contest

ISO TC282 is under development. This Standard will focus on the standardisation of water reuse of any kind and for any purpose.

A website for the technical committee is under development. To promote the vision the group is launching a contest for "Water Seen by the Children", winning submissions of either art work or photos will be published on the TC website each month. Canada is invited to submit artwork by February 14, 2018.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483723&issueID=57775 to view the full article online.

New Work Item Proposal: Community-scale resource-oriented sanitation treatment systems

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is seeking feedback from relevant stakeholders on the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO’s) new work item proposal for the development of a new standard on community-scale resource-oriented sanitation treatment systems. All responses submitted to SCC will serve to generate a Canadian position on the proposal.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=484462&issueID=57775 to view the full article online.

Snippings and Clippings

‘Raw’ water is the latest health fad that could make you very sick

Global News

First it was charcoal-infused juice, then it was unpasteurized milk, now health fanatics are jumping on the "raw" water bandwagon and it has experts worried.

Raw water refers to unfiltered, untreated and unsterilized water that’s collected from a spring or the atmosphere, and proponents believe it’s healthier than tap or bottled water.

Visit https://globalnews.ca/news/3944130/raw-water-fad/ to view the full article online.

Ontario Invests in Water Project to Reduce GHGs

Water Canada

Ontario has announced the first recipients of TargetGHG—a program that helps companies adopt leading-edge technologies in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting entrepreneurs. One of the collaborative projects will target emissions from the water and wastewater sector.

Visit https://www.watercanada.net/ontario-invests-water-projects-reduce-ghgs/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=dc114002e5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_12_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-dc114002e5-43017985 to view the full article online.

Court action taken against two companies over ‘flushable’ wipes

IWA Source

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has begun court proceedings against Kimberly-Clark and Pental alleging that they each made false or misleading representations in relation to ‘flushable’ wipes which they marketed and supplied in Australia.

Visit https://www.thesourcemagazine.org/court-action-taken-two-companies-flushable-wipes/ to view the full article online.

How London won its fight against super gross, sewer clogging 'fatbergs'

CBC News

A plan first hatched in London to help stop the formation of disgusting, sewer-clogging "fatbergs" is now being used in other cities.

Ten years ago, the city of London was spending about $100,000 a year to clear large blobs of grease from city sewers. These masses of fat — called fatbergs — form when grease is dumped down toilets or drains.

See the related article: FluksAqua YOURTURN Program

Visit http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/fatbergs-drain-grease-london-1.4433983 to view the full article online.

Improving Canadian Design Standards & Procurement for Climate Resilience

Water Canada

Much of Canada’s water infrastructure has been in place for many years. Infrastructure designs and associated procurement processes are based on existing climate patterns. With the effects of a changing climate, there is recognition that these designs need to be revisited to improve resiliency, safety, and protection for Canadians. Accordingly, procurement processes must be adapted to facilitate the needs of the future.

Visit https://www.watercanada.net/feature/builttolast-resilience-report/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=85ff4cd466-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_12_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-85ff4cd466-43017985 to view the full article online.

Floodplain Mapping Progresses Under National Climate Change Strategy

Water Canada

Canada and British Columbia announced the first annual progress report on the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the first pan-Canadian plan to address climate change, which highlighted national work on floodplain mapping

Visit https://www.watercanada.net/floodplain-mapping-progresses-under-national-climate-change-strategy/?utm_source=Droplet+E-newsletter&utm_campaign=85ff4cd466-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_12_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c508e472e-85ff4cd466-43017985 to view the full article online.

3 Things My Climate-Skeptic Dad Taught Me About Clean Energy Advocacy

Water Online

As an advocate for the air, water, and economic benefits that clean energy provides, I find some of my most challenging — and maybe most rewarding — work is trying to engage climate-skeptic lawmakers at the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Visit https://www.wateronline.com/doc/things-my-climate-skeptic-dad-taught-me-about-clean-energy-advocacy-0001?vm_tId=2041659&user=8716093d-9883-4414-9585-e4e29dddad77&utm_source=et_10759433&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WOL_12-21-2017&utm_term=8716093d-9883-44 to view the full article online.

Fluoride becomes a TSCA test case

Following EPA’s rejection of a petition seeking a ban on fluoridation under the Toxic Substances Control Act last fall, advocacy groups filed legal action in the 9th Circuit U.S. District Court challenging the decision (Food & Water Watch Inc., et al, v. EPA). For policy wonks, the current litigation is not about fluoridation per se, but about the burden EPA can place on TSCA petitioners and EPA’s authority to target the application of TSCA to specific uses.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/cww-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483688&issueID=57775 to view the full article online.