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,...
Wastewater transmission system opens to connect four Alberta communities
Federal and provincial officials attended a commissioning ceremony earlier this month to celebrate the completion of the $71-million North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Transmission...
Combating microbial induced concrete corrosion at wastewater plants
Microbial induced concrete corrosion in sewage and water treatment systems is a "natural enemy" of conventional plants, frequently causing damage to concrete and metal...
Fibre optic SCADA networks now an economical option for small water plant projects
By Connor Campbell and Graham Nasby
In recent years, the cost of fibre optic cabling has dropped considerably. What used to be cost prohibitive is...
AECOM releases first global report on infrastructure
Examining the investment gap in infrastructure, resilient infrastructure and workforce needs, engineering and infrastructure firm AECOM released a global research report titled The Future...
Water-related infrastructure funding announced for Alberta, Quebec
Federal-provincial funding of more than $16.3 million has been announced for four new water and wastewater projects in Alberta.
In the towns of Vermilion, Barrhead and St. Paul, wastewater treatment plant upgrades...
Ontario releases first-ever infrastructure asset inventory
Ontario’s new plan detailing the government's commitment to invest $190 billion over 13 years in public infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, public transit, roads...
Canadian Concrete Pipe & Precast Association releases Environmental Product Declaration
The Canadian Concrete Pipe & Precast Association (CCPPA) presented their newly-developed Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to its membership at their Fall meeting on October...
New procedure developed for assessment of coatings and corrosion conditions
Oxidizing and neutralizing chemicals, as well as misty, wet and damp conditions, contribute to an aggressive corrosive environment in water treatment plants.
Manufacturing new pump parts now an economical option to complete replacement
There are many older pumping installations that are still operating. Reverse engineering/duplicating existing parts is an alternative to pump replacement.
Newfoundland announces millions for municipal infrastructure
Newfoundland and Labrador have announced $38.8 million for projects that will support improvements in municipal infrastructure. The announcement was made by Newfoundland and Labrador...
Ontario to support municipal GHG reduction projects
Ontario announced it is investing in local projects to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipalities. According to the Ministry of the Environment...
Cornell tests smart, resilient underground infrastructure
By Syl Kacapyr
The future looks “smart” for underground infrastructure after a first-of-its-kind experiment was recently conducted at the Cornell University’s Geotechnical Lifelines Large-Scale Testing...
Some Canadian provinces have already met their 2030 GHG emissions targets
Under the Paris Agreement, Canada committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. However, according to the Canadian...
Challenges and opportunities for Canadian Consulting Engineering Firms
ES&E Magazine spoke with Shawn Scott, President and CEO of R.V. Anderson Associates (RVA), to talk about the company’s new look, and opportunities for...
Long-term rehabilitation of a 90-year-old water reservoir
This is an overview of the long-term rehabilitation follow-up work to extend the service life of the water treatment plant reservoir in Peterborough.
Standardization key to updating aging SCADA for water and wastewater utility
In 2016, Strathcona County, Alberta, decided to replace their aging SCADA software system that was no longer supported by the vendor.
How will Saskatchewan’s new siting guidelines impact wind energy developers?
The new Siting Guidelines have been designed to enhance environmental protection, provide certainty to future wind energy projects and promote responsible development of utility-scale wind energy in Saskatchewan.
Sharing sewer protection lessons with Japan
By Barry OrrThe City of London, Ontario (pop. 380,000), has 2,500 businesses and institutions such as restaurants, hospitals and groceries stores in need of...
Recent Canadian infrastructure funding announcements
Alberta
The government of Alberta announced on May 29, 2017, more than $131 million from the Water for Life and the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership...
Funding announced for Canadian water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects
Funding was recently announced for a number of environmental and infrastructure projects across Canada. Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine has compiled these announcements and...
Canadian water and wastewater funding news
Infrastructure funding was recently announced for water and wastewater projects in south central Saskatchewan and Montebello, Quebec.
Saskatchewan funding
The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, along...
Alberta providing support to 31 bioenergy companies
Bioenergy is low-carbon energy or fuel made from agricultural products such as crops and livestock waste. The government of Alberta is committing $60-million to...
Wastewater infrastructure funding announced for NFLD
Newfoundland and Labrador announced millions in funding for two wastewater projects in the province on February 13, 2017.
Gander
Over $22 million in joint funding was...
Rethinking cities in the age of increasing urbanization
When it comes to water, we see the same disparity. North Americans use more than 4,000 litres per person per day, compared with 1,800 litres in India, about 1,200 litres in China, and remarkably, less than 500 litres in Denmark.
Concrete production facility products certified to ASTM Canada and CSA
The Langley Concrete Group of Companies announced October 18, 2016 that their Chilliwack, B.C. production facility has been certified to two of Canadian Standards...
Rising healthcare costs from bacteria in water supply systems
Data from the U.S. reveals that opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens in water supply systems, such as Legionella, are driving up healthcare costs.
What to do when your drinking water reservoir springs a leak
During construction of a new contact tank and clearwell, the existing water reservoir developed a leak, flooding the site and decommissioning the reservoir.
Achieving energy neutral wastewater treatment with biological hydrolysis
Energy neutral wastewater treatment is one area where operators can address growing sustainability expectations, while not risking any economic viability.
Advancing the Smart City movement through big data
The Smart City movement focuses on how digital technology can improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact and enhance livability in urban settings.
Cities face increased water treatment spending when watersheds are developed
A new global study has found that one in three large cities spend 50% more on water treatment as a result of ecological damage to their watersheds.
Small municipalities can no longer afford “big pipe” solutions
Approximately 75% of a municipality’s capital asset inventory is represented by water, wastewater and roads. Financial and regulatory pressure is increasing.
‘Big pipe’ infrastructure solutions may no longer be affordable for smaller towns and cities
Approximately 75% of a municipality’s capital asset inventory is water, wastewater and roads. Yet small and medium municipalities face increasing pressures.
Engineers Canada presents new Infrastructure Resilience certification
Engineers Canada presented the first cohort of professional engineers with the new certification of Infrastructure Resilience Professional (IRP) at a launch on June 9,...
The new breed of professional surveyors
Professional surveyors view the planet on a global scale, using a diverse set of tools such as LIDAR, UAVs, and radar, to deliver information to clients.
Canadian professors and Royal Society of Canada speak out against Site C mega dam
More than 250 university professors from across Canada, including legal scholars, political scientists, water scientists, and environmental scientists, released a statement of concern on...
Concrete cloth is an emerging technology for culvert remediation
In a 2005 study by the National Research Council of Canada, researchers found that social costs can add up to 400% of construction costs. This is particularly relevant when culverts are in high traffic areas or buried deeply.
Micro-tunnelling used for new Bolton trunk sewer
By Bob Chisholm, Neville Morrison and Tim Campbell
The Albion-Vaughan Sanitary Trunk Sewer is a 2.1 kilometre length of 900 mm diameter sewer, constructed through...
How vulnerable are water utilities to traditional and cyber threats?
By Görrel Espelund
In recent years, cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure, such as water utilities, have been on the increase globally. However, growing awareness doesn’t necessarily...
How Ontario can cope with its $60 billion infrastructure deficit
Municipalities are faced with a growing backlog of infrastructure needs, while funding sources remain limited and constrained.
Trenchless technologies allow for more pipeline rehabilitation
Utilizing trenchless technologies reduce the construction footprint can have a huge impact on social, environmental and capital costs.
Fish ladder design helps improve fish migration odds
Perched culverts and similar hydraulic impasses represent a big problem for migrating fish. A fish ladder is intended to help alleviate this difficulty.
Federal climate resiliency investment ‘a very good start’
By Peter Davey
To help reduce emissions and improve infrastructure resiliency at the municipal level, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced, March 2, 2016, $75 million...
Importance of structural wire mesh in accelerated precast construction
Structural welded wire reinforcement offers several other benefits over the use of traditional rebar in precast construction
Unrealistic roughness coefficient could impair pipe capacity
One aspect of sewer and culvert design which may come under scrutiny is how the Manning formula is used to determine size and pipe capacity for design peak flow.
UPS systems keep water facilities operating reliably
It is essential to select properly rated industrial-grade online UPS systems that are designed for use in a treatment plant’s harsh environment.
Shifting the conversation from sustainable to resilient pipeline systems
It is challenging to recommend materials and products for pipeline systems if there are questions about resiliency and sustainability over the design life.
Corrosion control of ductile iron pipe with polyethylene encasement
Polyethylene encasement protection has been the iron pipe industry’s first line of defense against corrosion, preventing direct contact with corrosive environments.
Making it personal: Bringing infrastructure awareness to the public
Too often it seems the public becomes aware of problems with services and infrastructure after a break, leak or tax hike.
Implications of climate change on Ontario’s municipal infrastructure
The IPCC reports are based on modelled data projecting changes in climate variables, including temperature and precipitation. AR5 is based on these newly improved models, with inputs from countries all over the world.
What increasing electric vehicle use means for utilities
A series of reports released by Pollution Probe and partner utility companies presents a strategic approach to enabling electric vehicle technology in ten Canadian...
Helping municipalities save on infrastructure renewal
The cost to replace Canada’s wastewater collection infrastructure is estimated at $70 billion, with pipelines accounting for approximately 79% of that.
Best management practices for waterpower projects
The Ontario Waterpower Association is undergoing collaborative efforts to develop Best Management Practices.
Consultants must respond to climate change impacts on infrastructure design
Canadian engineers designing critical infrastructure are faced with a growing challenge of addressing climate change impacts.
Understanding the true value of infrastructure spending
Ontario is a priority for policymakers. Yet, its future is at risk as it stands to buckle under its own weight, given its infrastructure stock has been facing increasing pressure since the 1980s.
How can we accelerate municipal project delivery?
There are three groups that must engage and coalesce into a single entity in order to meet delivery expectations: the client, the consultant and the contractor.
Joining Ontario One Call means a large learning curve for a small municipality
The Town of Lincoln became a voluntary member of Ontario One Call in June 2013, and experienced a dramatic learning curve.
Welding: What’s really happening behind the mask?
Canada enjoys a long history of world-class standards in the discipline of welding.
Latest Articles
Utilities Kingston shows worker clearing grease, fat in sewer to raise...
A new awareness campaign from Utilities Kingston includes a YouTube video showing just how challenging it can be for workers to clear out hardened...
