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News Splash
Quarterly Newsletter
Summer Edition
CEO Update
Welcome to the Summer 2024 edition of News Splash. For those of us in the water sector, all eyes have been on the City of Calgary since June 5th. Main breaks are not uncommon, but a break in a feedermain from the treatment plant is particularly critical.
There will be much to learn by all of us from the Calgary situation. Mayor Jyoti Gondek has announced a third-party review tasked with investigating the events that led to the break and providing recommendations regarding the resiliency of supply in the future.
As this has created a water supply issue rather than a water quality issue, this situation did not pose a risk to public health. Nevertheless, it took me back to the Walkerton water crisis in May 2000. It resulted in an in-depth public inquiry that recommended creating a multi-barrier approach to water protection.
CEO Thought Leader Interview
Microplastics are ubiquitous in our lives and in the environment. Canada is currently negotiating an international agreement on plastics pollution, and has joined other countries in banning some single use plastics. Despite the enormity of the problem, understanding how microplastics circulate in the environment and in our bodies is in its early stages.
CWN’s CEO, Nicola Crawhall, sat down with Professor Maria (Maite) Maldonado. She is one of the lead researchers in the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Microplastics, Health and the Environment research cluster as well as a professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences.
Deep Dive
Addressing PFAS – What to know about recent US regulatory action
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are human-made substances that persist in the environment and have been dubbed ‘forever chemicals.’ People can be exposed to PFAS through many routes, one of which is potentially drinking water. During wastewater treatment, PFAS can accumulate in the treated effluent from sources within the urban sewer collection system and discharged into the environment.
Currently, regulatory activities related to managing PFAS in Canadian municipal water management differ from those in the United States. In Canada, municipalities are not yet required to monitor their source waters or treat their drinking waters specifically for PFAS. However, Health Canada has released guidelines for the maximum concentration of Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which are the most common sub-varieties of PFAS (reference).
Career Spotlight
Meet Dave Szeptycki from York Region
In Canada, we're fortunate to have municipal water leaders from diverse backgrounds serving communities across the country. Canadian Water Network (CWN) is launching an initiative to spotlight these leaders. Our goal is to celebrate and elevate their contributions by creating profiles that highlight their career paths, aspirations and perspectives on industry trends.
For our first water leader spotlight, meet Dave Szeptycki, director of sustainability, communications, and innovation at York Region. Continue reading to learn more about how he joined the industry, who has been influential in his career and his take on emerging trends.
CWN Updates
Water and Communities
Insider updates from the Canadian Municipal Water Consortium
The national network is made up of utility leaders who share a common goal of advancing municipal water management. The consortium’s recent activities prioritize navigating growing uncertainty and complexity in delivering municipal water services and making long-term investments. This is particularly in light of aging infrastructure, climate change, and the ongoing housing and affordability crises.
Water and Health
A fresh chapter for the Wastewater-based Surveillance Program
As we bid farewell to the inaugural year of Canadian Water Network’s (CWN) and National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases’ (NCCID) Wastewater-Based Surveillance (WBS) peer learning program, we eagerly step into a new phase with fresh participants and renewed vigour.
Water and Climate
Navigating water and climate dynamics
Our water and climate program area is working to make our communities stronger and better able to deal with the impacts of climate change.
To help do this, we’re undertaking a two-year project with ClimateWest and Prairie the Adaptation Research Collaborative to understand the impact of climate change on water availability and crop suitability across the Canadian Prairies.
Communications
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Upcoming Events
Join us at IWA's World Water Congress & Exhibition
We're excited to share that we'll be attending the International Water Association's (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition that's taking place in Toronto from August 11-15. On August 12, we will be hosting a business forum on a topic related to water and health. We will also be participating in a business forum hosted by Xylem on net-zero emissions. More details will follow in the coming months.
Federal Updates
This section provides some updates on the Government of Canada's activities related to water. Both updates have been provided specifically for this newsletter.
National Freshwater Science Agenda
Environment and Climate Change Canada is leading the development of the National Freshwater Science Agenda. It is an inclusive and coordinated roadmap that identifies the most pressing freshwater challenges across Canada.
Government of Canada passes Bill C-59
Bill C-59, which included the Canada Water Agency Act, received Royal Assent on June 20, 2024. The next steps for the Canada Water Agency (CWA) to officially commence its operations as an independent entity include the issuance of several orders-in-council.
Sector News
Image credit: Dalhousie University.
Atlantic First Nations Water Authority partners with Dalhousie University to deliver world-class water treatment
A new $4.3 million grant will support a partnership between the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA) and Dalhousie University. The partnership will help the AFNWA deliver world-class drinking water and treatment guided by Indigenous knowledge and values.
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