OSWCA wants Ontario to ensure municipal water services fully recover costs
The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) is asking the provincial government to pass legislation that would require municipal and regional governments to...
BC begins new soil relocation system to encourage sustainability
*The following regulatory news article is intended to be a preview of the legislation and not a replacement for the actual guidance from the...
Ontario’s Whitesand First Nation secures long-sought funding for biomass plant
After lobbying for the project since 1992, the Whitesand First Nation in northwestern Ontario has finally secured $35 million in federal funding for its...
First remote monitoring drones to take flight for OPG dam inspection
In a first for Canada, Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) has been approved to use drones for facility inspections without human observers on-site, according...
Demystifying cybersecurity for smaller water utilities
When it comes to the water industry, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to protect critical infrastructure information.
Seneca College rolls out new avenue for asset management education
Billed as Canada’s first post-secondary program in asset management, Seneca College students will learn how to advise municipalities and understand the risks faced by not managing and investing for the long term when it comes to maintaining critical municipal infrastructure.
Best practices for pipe repair and replacement programs
This comprehensive guide covers pipe maintenance, including inventory management, using the right tools, training, approved contractors vs. in-house, choosing the right materials, and optimizing the distribution system.
New lift stations set for WWTPs in Nova Scotia, British Columbia
Two small Nova Scotia communities and the British Columbia District of Sechelt have received funding for wastewater upgrades, Infrastructure Canada has announced.
In both Kings...
Extreme rainfall could add $700M per year to maintain Ontario’s storm, wastewater assets
Without further adaptation to climate change, a new report warns that more extreme rainfall in Ontario could add $6.2 billion to the costs of...
Canada unveils first-ever adaptation strategy for climate change
As climate change continues to increase the frequency of wildfire, flooding and devastating storms, the federal government is trying to face up to the...
Ontario’s changing landscape – how does land use planning affect municipal infrastructure?
Ontario municipalities are now faced with a constantly moving target when it comes to land use planning and, in turn, infrastructure planning. To reasonably project future infrastructure needs, we must understand future land use plans, including where, when, and how much growth will occur. Land use planning affects water and wastewater servicing capacity, location and timing.
Conservation Ontario fears push for new housing may create environmental risks
As Bill 23 moves quickly through the Ontario Legislature before many new municipal governments have even convened, questions are circling around whether the push...
Water infrastructure spending, construction on the rise, says StatCan
New Statistics Canada data for 2020 shows that capital expenditures and the pace of construction for water infrastructure has accelerated in recent years.
According to...
Connected approach helps City of Calgary improve natural asset management
The City of Calgary has been focusing on process to improve the management of their natural assets, developing a more holistic view of the services that use and impact them, with the goal to build a more resilient city and create an environment that is more resistant to the effects of climate change.
Feds invest $77M to make new Lytton buildings fire-resistant
After reaching a Canadian record high of 49.5°C last June, wildfire spread through and decimated the British Columbia Village of Lytton. Now, the Canadian...
Extreme heat in Canada should be fought with grey, green infrastructure, says UWaterloo report
A new report from the University of Waterloo is recommending a combination of grey and green infrastructure to combat the increasing frequency of extreme...
Sarnia uses microtunnelling for new trunk sewer pipeline
Phase 3 of the City of Sarnia's Bedford Pumping Station Replacement specified microtunnelling installation for a new sanitary trunk sewer.
Alberta wins court appeal on Impact Assessment’s jurisdictional overreach
Following the Alberta government’s claim that the federal Impact Assessment Act was a “Trojan horse” that intruded on provincial jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal...
Ottawa extends sewer insurance partnership after strong enrolment
Despite some marketing hiccups, a new City of Ottawa memo suggests that its sewer insurance program has been a success and will be renewed...
Ontario positioned to build first grid-scale SMR under new nuclear plan
Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta are planning to expand the nuclear industry in Canada through the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
The strategic...
The problem with water and wastewater capital project deliveries
The delivery of large infrastructure capital projects has long been plagued by delay, extra cost, and less than optimal deliverables. For just as long, fingers have been pointed at the owner, client, project manager, consultant, contractor, supplier, or purchasing department.
Nova Scotians weigh in on Coastal Protection Act
The Nova Scotia government says its Coastal Protection Act contains the tools to adapt to the impacts of climate change and erosion, and now...
Metro Vancouver finds new contractor for delayed North Shore WWTP
After terminating its contract with Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP last fall, following the stalled construction of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, Metro Vancouver...
ONEIA report offers action plan for climate-resilient infrastructure
The Ontario Environment Industry Association, better known as ONEIA, has released a new report that recommends ways to create climate-resilient infrastructure within the province.
ONEIA,...
Winnipeg weighs push for diverse workforce on massive sewage plant upgrade
The City of Winnipeg is considering signaling to bidders that it wants to see Indigenous workers and other under-represented groups as a key part...
Ontario launches registry to track excess construction soil, limit contamination
Ontario has launched a new website registry to ensure excess soil dug up during construction and excavation is properly managed and not illegally dumped...
Capturing the value of converting records to digital formats
As how we use digital tools to assess, design, engineer, construct, operate and maintain our built and natural environments evolves, we realize how valuable those same documents would be in an accessible format, informing our decisions, and leading to smarter, stronger assets.
Choosing right delivery model more important than ever for large infrastructure projects
The “pure alliance” approach relies on a mutual agreement that covers risk sharing, setting a cap on financial exposure, and no litigating. If a problem occurs, it is everybody’s problem and all parties work together to solve it. An alliance approach makes a fundamental shift to a shared or collective set of obligations, and a shared approach to risk and opportunity.
Consulting engineering awards celebrate 20 Canadian projects
The 53rd Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards, co-organized by The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada (ACEC) and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine, held a...
Lignin pilot projects in Canadian cities pave way for greener roads
The northern Ontario City of Thunder Bay is looking to become the second Canadian municipality to pave its roads with the complex organic polymer...
New B.C. guidelines help engineers, geoscientists to integrate natural asset management
Newly-published professional practice guidelines from the provincial regulator aim to ensure that British Columbia’s engineering and geoscience professionals are considering natural asset management in...
Emergency response planning necessary to protect corporate assets
Cyberattacks have become increasingly established as external threats that could negatively impact business operations. So this means companies must adopt secure cybersecurity measures that will prevent cases of unauthorized access to information and loss of data.
A new approach to construction allows for smaller valve vaults
With the M11 harness, there are multiple areas that can fail, and when failures occur, they are costly. The question that must be addressed is: “How is it possible to economize space in valve vault construction in a way that is both safe and effective?” The answer is to provide efficient thrust restraint for the pressure piping that passes through the vault in a way that does not require a harness.
Canada’s first climate adaptation strategy on track for fall 2022
The federal government says it is progressing successfully towards developing Canada's first National Adaptation Strategy to fight climate change since it began engaging stakeholders...
B.C. water infrastructure set for $110M in upgrades
British Columbia and the federal government are investing $110 million in a series of drinking water, stormwater and wastewater upgrades that range from filtration...
Ontario infrastructure has $52B repair backlog, FAO report finds
Forty-five percent of Ontario’s municipal infrastructure is not in a state of good repair, suggests a new report from the Financial Accountability Office of...
Four water treatment plant upgrades funded across Canada
Water treatment plant upgrades have received funding for projects in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories.
The biggest ticket item among them includes $5.9...
Canada opens new disaster funding as wildfires, floods take toll
The federal government has opened $1.37 billion in new infrastructure resilience funding to strengthen stormwater systems, restore wetlands and protect against dangers posed to...
Green Municipal Fund investments announced for N.L. communities
An investment of $104,800 through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
Green Municipal Fund (GMF) was announced on July 20, 2021 to help reduce greenhouse...
Alberta wastewater innovation and energy use projects highlighted through new pilot funding
Seven Alberta communities will soon be receiving money through the Green Municipal Fund to improve water and wastewater services that range from new lagoon...
Alberta’s flood-mitigating reservoir moves closer to approval
Alberta’s $423-million Springbank off-stream reservoir flood mitigation project has been approved by the federal Minister of the Environment, following a greenlight as the first...
New Natural Infrastructure Fund will offer cities $20M for green projects
A new $200-million Natural Infrastructure Fund is set to invest in large-scale projects that use natural or hybrid approaches to protect the environment.
As part...
Major water, wastewater upgrades set for Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan communities
First Nations residents in Nova Scotia’s Inverness County, as well as several Saskatchewan communities, will soon benefit from substantial water and wastewater infrastructure funding...
New funding means sewer upgrades planned for southeast Labrador
A series of wastewater upgrades continue in southeast Labrador, where the federal government has recently allocated more than $1.5 million for modern water infrastructure.
In...
Canada’s budget boosts infrastructure to combat pandemic’s economic fallout
While infrastructure is not the defining centrepiece of Canada’s 2021 federal budget, spending on items like Canada’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment, women in engineering,...
ECO Canada releases report on financial compensation of environmental workers
According to ECO Canada’s latest labour market outlook, employers will need to hire approximately 172,700 new environmental workers by 2025 due to sector growth and retirement. This represents nearly 25% of 2020 environmental employment levels (about 620,100). Around 74,400 of these will be new green jobs resulting from sector growth.
Accelerating digital transformation in the water industry to improve efficiency
Tech-savvy water utility managers understand that centralizing operational data into one unified system can help achieve both goals, while boosting efficiency and improving long-term asset performance.
Florida cyberattack raises public awareness of threats to water plants
As utilities increasingly take advantage of the automation available through modern SCADA technology, they will also need to upgrade their cybersecurity measures to protect their more technologically-advanced systems.
Ottawa’s Zibi waterfront development planning carbon-neutral energy system
The federal government is giving $23 million to Hydro Ottawa to create a district energy system for Ottawa–Gatineau’s planned carbon-neutral waterfront development dubbed Zibi.
The...
CIB makes billion-dollar move to spur private investment in First Nations infrastructure
The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has launched the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative, which plans to invest at least $1 billion to support access to...
Asset management funding approved for 55 communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan
Canada is investing more than $1.1 million in 25 new Alberta infrastructure projects and $1.3 million in 30 new Saskatchewan infrastructure projects for small...
Challenging wastewater lagoon cleanout for a remote Yukon community
There are no surface roads to Old Crow, located north of the Arctic Circle in Yukon Territory, so all equipment needed to be flown in. This provided a challenge as most dredges are too large to be transported by air.
Project delivery in the Arctic hasn’t changed much since the Klondike Gold Rush era
More than a century after what many consider to be the greatest “event” in the history of the Arctic, the Klondike Gold Rush, it is interesting to compare the delivery of projects during that era to today. Dawson City, and in fact much of the Arctic remains a project delivery challenge.
London protects its critical watermain network with pipe condition assessment
Many water asset managers are adopting a pyramid approach to pipe condition assessment. On a selected group of assets, the concept uses cost-effective methods to collect information where possible, and progress to high-resolution and high-cost inspection options where needed.
Enviro advocacy groups demand public input on Small Modular Reactors
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s review process of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is taking place behind closed doors and allows private sector companies to...
AIR Intake filter recycles waste heat to prevent WWTP equipment from freezing
Just as winter always arrives, intake filters for blowers and compressors always have the potential to freeze in cold, humid climates. In nearly all of Canada, filter freezing and early morning high differential pressure alarms can be a fact of life for plant operators.
The Internet Of Things is transforming wastewater collection system maintenance
Utilities began to realize that they were “cleaning clean pipes”. With the advent of the IoT technology, maintenance departments now have tools that can predictively assess remote conditions and provide indications when to clean.
Alberta and B.C. big winners at FCM’s 2020 sustainable community awards
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is celebrating its Sustainable Community Award winners for 2020, with Alberta and B.C. leading the green charge.
Through FCM’s...
Swift Current rejected under ICIP for WWTP upgrades
The mayor of Swift Current says the Saskatchewan city was left “on the outside looking in” when it realized available infrastructure funds in the...
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities say stimulus water restoration projects can kick-start economy
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative says that up to 40 jobs could be created per million dollars spent on erosion control and infrastructure.
A look at the history of freeze protected water systems in the Canadian Arctic
The use of piped water distribution systems in the Canadian Arctic is a century old practice that began with an installation in Dawson City, Yukon, in 1905.
Water resilience: The missing piece in dealing with climate change
What has been missing from the discussion is the idea of resilience, defined as how easily and quickly a system can recover from extreme weather events, whether these events involve too much water or too little.
Removing a large water intake and concrete pier poses environmental challenges
Now in its seventh year, the Keeyask Generation Project has managed a number of location-specific challenges. One such challenge occurred when water in a 60 cm pipe in the intake froze, damaging a 2.5 metre thick concrete pier. To minimize impact to the overall project, Keeyask managers opted to use hydrodemolition to remove the damaged section.
Ontario’s AG to investigate process that passed Bill 197 to streamline EAs
Twelve environmental groups are sounding the alarm on newly passed Ontario legislation that made sweeping changes to environmental laws without public consultation in the...
Alberta grants $150M for 55 water, wastewater projects in small municipalities
$137 million is allocated for improvements to water supply, treatment facilities, upgrades to wastewater services such as lagoons, berms, sewage treatment.
Using ROVs to image underwater infrastructure for structural integrity
Imaging civil infrastructure underwater for structural assessments and reporting is achieved by an ROV in a very efficient and safe way. Engineers do not have to worry about hiring a dive crew and the health and safety implications and liability that can pose.
What role can infrastructure play in the global economic recovery?
Michael S. Burke, chairman and CEO of AECOM, looks at how infrastructure plays a key role in the global economic recovery from the coronavirus, and draws from past examples that can serve as inspiration.
Michigan dams fail in wake of violation history, lost license
After a massive rainstorm surged through Michigan last week causing two hydro dams to fail, residents engulfed in a flooding emergency are gradually learning...
New funding round underway for FCM asset management program
With nearly 600 municipal road, building and wastewater projects under its belt since 2017, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Municipal Asset Management Program...
Virtual open houses underway for Selkirk’s spring water construction projects
Virtual open houses are a creative solution for residents of Selkirk, Manitoba, to get a socially-distanced glimpse of the nearly $3-million worth of water...
Growing chorus joins FCM call for $10B in COVID-19 emergency funding
From turning arenas into safe shelters to deferring property taxes or user fees, new data from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) shows that...
Canada releases document highlighting essential roles in infrastructure
A new non-binding federal guidance document is helping to inform the public and employers about infrastructure services and functions deemed essential as Canada attempts...
Okanagan region facing six-fold increase of scorching summer days, report warns
New climate modelling projections are forecasting warmer summers, warmer winters and increased precipitation all year round in British Columbia’s Okanagan region for the decades...
It is important to monitor the condition of aging asbestos cement watermains
Relying only on thickness measurement may mean condemning pipe prematurely when it still has substantial strength that will allow additional service life.
Protecting a northern mine leachate spillway with concrete canvas
Concrete Canvas® is a new class of construction material called geosynthetic cementitious composite mats. Used for a wide range of erosion control applications, Concrete Canvas has numerous benefits that make it an attractive product.
Lessons learned while replacing aging watermain
City of Vaughan, Ont., and Chisholm, Fleming and Associates maximizes use of trenchless construction to replace two-kilometre section of badly deteriorated watermain.
Northern communities could benefit from renewable energy systems
Program assists Canadian First Nation communities wanting to replace diesel, but cost curves of diesel versus clean energy stack the cards against change for many small and cash-strapped communities.
Addressing Iqaluit’s water emergency with innovative engineering, ecosystem protection
At risk of an over-winter water shortage each year, Iqaluit, Nunavut, has begun to study the feasibility of additional sources and storage of water, with the aim of implementing a permanent additional supply to Lake Geraldine by 2026.
Scientific assessments of climate change in northern regions
Large parts of northern Canada are warming faster than other parts of the planet, causing local impacts and requiring engineering strategies to address them.
Understanding what affects pump pressure head loss
This article looks at the fundamentals of pumping in relation to pump pressures, head loss and the effects of pumping different fluids.
Infrastructure report card paves way for post election discussions
The Canadian Infrastructure Report Card 2019 found that “a concerning amount of municipal infrastructure is in poor or very poor condition”. With the federal election now finished, the associations who produced the Report Card will now be focused on getting infrastructure funded and built.
New report finds Canada’s public infrastructure ‘at risk’
A recent report from a number of infrastructure-related associations shows a significant amount of public infrastructure in Canada is aging and in poor condition....
Study finds ‘Goldilocks’ resolution for presenting flood risks on large-scale models
A new study claims to have found that moving from a low resolution to an optimal resolution for presenting flood risk information on large-scale...
Risk modelling for critical pipeline assets
As water distribution assets continue to deteriorate and cities continue to grow, more utilities are using risk models to plan their water pipe replacement programs. A growing trend is to measure risk in a quantitative way to allocate program funds.
Canada funds wastewater upgrades in Yukon, Manitoba and Nova Scotia
Infrastructure Canada announced funding last week for a range of water and wastewater projects in Manitoba, the Yukon and Nova Scotia.
Manitoba
The federal government is...
Canada Infrastructure Bank invests up to $20M in Mapleton water and wastewater project
The Township of Mapleton, Ontario is set to receive up to $20 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank for water and wastewater infrastructure.
Contech releases a free new reline design tool
Contech Engineered Solutions’ has released the Design Your Own Reline (DYOReline™) tool to help engineers and contractors determine the viability of relining a culvert or drainage system based on site specifics.
Wastewater collection systems are under attack from peak flow I & I rates
New growth and development means many communities’ infrastructure is under pressure to accommodate this additional demand.
Implementing a proactive approach to force main asset management
The failure of most force mains equates to a high cost financially, operationally, environmentally and socially for utilities.
Ontario releases proposed excess soil and brownfield amendments
On May 1, 2019, the Ontario government announced it plans to introduce changes to the management of excess construction soil and brownfields redevelopment.
The Ministry...
Federal government promoting new project assessment process of Bill C-69
The federal government has been busy touting the benefits of proposed Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act. Here is a look at what specifically...
Excess soil is a valuable resource that should not be wasted
Each year, an estimated 26 million cubic metres of construction soil must be managed in Ontario.
How innovative sewer solutions are helping raise Ottawa’s skyline
Ottawa’s city council recently approved the development of a mixed-use complex along the Albert Street Corridor.
Quebec’s Hull Water Treatment Plant preps for boil water advisory ahead of upgrades
Continuing modernization upgrades at the Hull Water Treatment Plant in Quebec means at least a five-day boil water advisory for about 70,000 residents, which...
New video series highlights issue of excess soil from construction projects
Two Ontario construction and watermain groups launched a new video series as part of a campaign to have excess soil treated not as waste, but as a resource.
Private side standards for sanitary and stormwater sewer infrastructure are woefully inadequate
Unacceptable amounts of inflow and infiltration (I/I) in new construction have been identified as a significant issue, particularly with the advent of more frequent and more intense rainfall events.
New water mains granted funding for Quebec City region municipality
An investment of nearly $1.2 million will be used to replace water mains in the Quebec City region of Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, according to a new...
Wastewater projects funded, completed in Quebec and New Brunswick
As the federal government releases new funding for water and wastewater projects in Quebec, officials in neighboring New Brunswick have announced the completion of...
PEMAC chosen to provide municipal asset management training
The Plant Engineering & Maintenance Association of Canada (PEMAC) announced on June 28, 2018 that it will be working with municipalities to improve infrastructure...
Ontario First Nations test toolkit to protect infrastructure against climate change
Ontario First Nations leaders will now have access to an information toolkit that allows them to assess climate change risks to their critical infrastructure,...
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World Water Day talk highlights the use of sweeteners to find...
In celebration of World Water Day, the University of Guelph welcomed a federal research scientist to share his work on tracing artificial sweeteners to...
