There is a misconception out there that the IWA is “all academic”.  This ‘may’ have been ‘mostly’ true many years ago, but over my 12 year involvement, I have seen the focus on utilities and utility management grow significantly.  The theme of the last World Water Congress in Copenhagen was “Smart Cities” and we hosted a successful Utility Leaders Forum.  For Toronto this summer, we have developed another strong Utility Leaders Forum over 3 days (Mon-Wed). 

The NWWC is coming to Winnipeg! We've launched sponsorship and exhibitor sales and have posted the registration fees, so be sure to check our website to plan your attendance.

The 2024 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) will take place in Toronto, Canada, from 11-15 August 2024. It will be held in the first-class facilities of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

This is one of the greatest global water events, and it is being hosted here in North America by your water associations – CWWA and CAWQ, with the support of WEF and AWWA. As hosts, we need to have a great presence as we welcome the world. The IWA WWCE 2024 therefore presents an opportunity like no other to profile your organization and showcase your technologies, solutions and expertise!

With thousands of attendees expected, The 2024 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition offers unparalleled visibility.  The Canada Pavilion is at the centre of it all. Showcase your latest innovations and solutions to a captive audience eager to discover what you have to offer.

Join us for our Lunch and Learn webinar series. Hear updates from federal departments on programs and initiatives impacting the water and wastewater sector.

These webinars are free to attend, but require separate registration, so make sure you register for any that interest you.

A reminder to our members that the deadline for reporting 2023 data to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) report, June 1, 2024, falls on a Saturday this year, reports will be accepted on time if submitted on or before Monday, June 3, 2024. The Single Window NPRI application is available at https://ec.ss.ec.gc.ca.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee's fourth session (INC-4) concluded in Ottawa, advancing a global agreement to eliminate plastic pollution by 2040. Canada, as host, facilitated consensus-building and established the Ottawa Roadmap, outlining continued work and the formation of a legal drafting group. Canada announced domestic measures, including a Federal Plastics Registry and funding for plastic waste solutions, alongside international contributions to the Global Plastic Action Partnership and PROBLUE for tackling plastic pollution and promoting sustainable coastal economies. INC-5 is set for December in the Republic of Korea, aiming to finalize the treaty. 

Water Canada’s Top 50 Water Projects Report for 2024 is now available! Follow the link to access over $40 Billion in public water infrastructure projects from across Canada. From water delivery, to wastewater treatment; stormwater management to conservation, Water Canada’s Top 50 Water Projects Report is the definitive guide to Canada’s multi-billion dollar water infrastructure sector.

Find out: What projects are in development? How much is being spent? Where the funding is being sourced? Who the key players are? And more.

Continue your tour through the Top 50 Water Projects by attending the upcoming Water Canada Awards Gala – a who’s who from across Canada’s water sector. The annual gala will be hosted at the Second City in Toronto on the evening of August 13, complete with a live improv performance, guaranteeing a fun and memorable night.

ES&E Magazine

A new $4.3-million federal grant will allow Dalhousie University to support  the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA) to successfully deliver its mandate as the first Indigenous-owned water authority in Canada. 

Book by John Seldon review by Paul Drca

Former wastewater-professional-turned-author John Seldon has released his second murder mystery, “Murder in the Aeration”, and again it is set in surroundings that will be very familiar to CWWA members.  After 50 years as a wastewater professional, John took up writing and, as they always say, you should write about what you know!  John did just that with his first novel “Murder in the Primary” and CWWA ran a very positive review of that book a couple years back.

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our colleague and friend, Ewa Madey, on March 15, 2024. Ewa was a cornerstone of the Fertilizer Safety Section at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, dedicating over 20 years of her career there. She was a frequent speaker at CWWA events, and an active member of our biosolids Committee.

We are saddened to share the passing of Aaron Law, an active member of CWWA's biosolids committee and a champion of wastewater in Canada. Over his career as a professional engineer, he worked for the Ontario Ministry of Environment (2007-22), and then at the Ontario Clean Water Agency (2022-24).

Alberta's government is nearing completion of a feasibility study on increasing water storage on the Bow River to address droughts and floods, particularly in Calgary and southern Alberta. Public feedback is sought on two options: expanding the Ghost Reservoir or constructing a new reservoir between Cochrane and Bearspaw Dam.

Alberta faces potential severe droughts due to a warm, dry winter, with snowpacks, rivers, and reservoirs below normal levels. In response, 38 major water licensees in southern Alberta have voluntarily agreed to reduce water usage under drought conditions to benefit communities, the economy, and the environment. These agreements cover up to 90% of water allocated in the Bow and Oldman basins and 70% in the Red Deer River basin. Municipalities, industries, and irrigation districts have committed to specific water use reductions, with adjustments based on bi-weekly water supply forecasts. The Alberta government will support these efforts by monitoring conditions, optimizing reservoir operations, and encouraging smaller licensees to adopt similar conservation measures. Activation of these agreements will depend on five triggers, including snowpack data, water allocations, reservoir and river levels, water demand, and local challenges. 

The Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Nathan Cullen, announced potential drought conditions in B.C. due to an April snowpack level at 63% of normal, the lowest in 50 years. The statement highlighted past drought impacts on communities, wildlife, and industries, and detailed proactive measures such as resilient water infrastructure and a $100 million Watershed Security Fund. The government is investing in the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program, conducting workshops, and forming regional tables for community-based solutions. Conservation efforts are encouraged among all sectors, and the government will continue to monitor water resources, ready to implement further actions if necessary.

Water Canada

Ontario’s lead in drinking water standard remains too high to protect public health. Lead is a serious public health concern, especially for children and older adults. Despite Health Canada’s expert recommendation that the lead in drinking water standard be lowered to 5 ug/L five years ago, Ontario’s standard remains twice that level, at 10 ug/L.

WGME News

After years of spreading wastewater sludge laced with PFAS on Maine farms, it's only recently that the public has started realizing the impact on the health and livelihood of local farmers.

Now one organization claims the federal government isn't doing enough to regulate the issue and may take them to court.

The Hill

Toxic “forever chemicals” are entering the Great Lakes through both precipitation and the air — reaching cities of all sizes along the U.S. and Canadian shores, a new study has found.

Levels of the compounds — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — remain uniform in precipitation across the lakes but vary in the air depending on the location, according to the study, published on Thursday in Environmental Science & Technology.

ES&E Magazine

Montreal is set to build its largest sponge park ever as local officials aim to increase the city’s square footage of green infrastructure to absorb heavier and more frequent rainfall.

ES&E Magazine

While age, material and diameter are most often the culprits when it comes to water main breaks, a pair of Concordia University researchers has analyzed more than 62,000 breaks and found that the types of surrounding soil, or the type of pipe lining, coating or joint, are also notable factors.

ES&E Magazine

Global supply chain issues are once again causing delays around creating the infrastructure necessary for the City of Calgary to reintroduce fluoride into its drinking water.