Always remembering that our first purpose, the main reason we exist as an association, is to advocate for our water/wastewater sector at the national level, we are busy right out of the gates this year.  As we participate in the federal government process of policy development, there are a few major pieces of policy being released in the next few months. 

In order to build a Conference program that maximizes our diverse delegates and to create a program that will interest everybody we need YOU to share your ideas, concepts, experience and research. We’re planning sessions that will cross all sectors of our industry and connect all of our delegates, but we’ll also feature sessions that will focus on national issues that will appeal to you and your professioal focus.

Submit by March 15, 2019

CWWA with input from our Drinking Water Quality Committee and experts on lead in drinking water has developed a position statement on lead, in response to the upcoming revision to the Guideline on Drinking Water for Lead. The new Guideline will significantly lower the recommended MAC for lead, which will impact some utilities operations and infrastructure renewal plans.

Global News

Massive clogs of grease and debris in sewers – better known as fatbergs –  have made headlines in major international centres, but the problem also hits close to home for smaller Canadian cities.

The Alliance for Water Efficiency is happy to announce the addition of the City of Guelph, Ontario to the AWE G480 Leaderboard.

Flooding within urban centres is Canada’s costliest and fastest growing extreme weather challenge. Insurable claims in Canada have risen from an average of $405 million per year between 1983 and 2008 to an average of $1.8 billion per year between 2009 and 2017 (in $2017), with flooding contributing the greatest proportion of this increase

The Office of Audit and Evaluation (OAE) of the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada, recently distributed a survey to stakeholders requesting input on the government’s current evaluation of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP

 CWWA is reviewing the survey and will respond on behalf of our members. Occassionally substances used directly or indirectly at water and wastewater treatment plants, or that are found in effluent are evaluated under the CMP.

A new report by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think tank, offers optimism over the country’s freshwater quality and improvements to municipal wastewater treatment, while reminding that some work still lies ahead.

On December, 19, 2018, Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks released his first Minister''s Annual Report on Drinking Water. The plan proposes new actions to protect Great Lakes, fish, parks, beaches, coastal wetlands and water by reducing plastic litter, reducing phosphorus that causes excess algae, addressing sources and causes of shoreline bacteria, reducing salt in waterways, and focusing on vulnerable areas such as Lake Ontario.

Saskatchewan recently posted its Climate Resilience Measurement Framework. The Framework includes 25 indicators that will measure progress in meeting the goals of the government’s “Prairie Resilience: A Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy.”

Water Innovations - Water Online

Even as the drinking water crisis draws more attention, the true impact of PFAS exposure may be largely underestimated, necessitating louder calls for action.

Water Canada

Reconciliation means “…that if you are a child living on reserve, you should be able to turn on the tap and have clean water come out. Water that you can drink, and bathe in, without fear.” — Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada in a speech to the AFN on December 6th, 2016

These words of the Prime Minister reflect a dark truth: the mismanagement of water infrastructure for First Nations is a shameful part of Canada’s past. 

Water Canada

The Co-operators Group Limited has announced that it now offers storm surge insurance to homeowners in Quebec and Manitoba. The Co-operators Comprehensive Water insurance provides protection from the most common causes of residential flood and water damage, including storm surge, overflowing lakes, rivers and creeks, and sewer or septic backup.

AWWA Water Utility Insider

The partial shutdown of the federal government may not be having an immediate, dramatic effect on the drinking water sector, but depending on how long it goes on, it could have some long-term effects. Among the legislation being held up in the dispute over fiscal year 2019 funding and a wall on the southern U.S. border is the bill that would fund the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

 AWWA Water Utility Insider

No new news on when the Centers for Disease Control will finalize its recommended operational range of 0.6 – 1.0 mg/L around the optimal target fluoride dose of 0.7 mg/L, but fluoridation is once again a topic of interest this year. Of particular interest is a peer-reviewed research study by Jennifer Meyer, et al, which investigated the effect of ending community-wide fluoridation in Juneau, Alaska. Meyer found there was a discernible increase in cavities in at least this community five years after cessation of fluoridation. Meanwhile, just this week in Kentucky, legislators started the new year introducing legislation (HB97 and SB37) to clearly allow individual communities’ governing boards to choose not to fluoridate. Current Kentucky state law requires fluoridation by all community water systems serving 1,500 persons or more.

ESE Magazine 

A severe storm that damaged Nanaimo''s water treatment plant forced the City to issue an emergency water use order. Residents reduced consumption by 50%. 

Water UK has recently announced the publication of a new official standard identifying which wet wipes can be flushed down toilets safely.