Using air-operated double-diaphragm pumps to optimize filter press operation
For those looking to optimize their filter-press operations, no matter the industry or product, air-operated double-diaphragm pumps offer a number of operational advantages.
How to diagnose and repair automatic control valves
As control valves are often unseen or in remote locations, how do crews know when something is wrong before it causes a bigger problem? What can they do to prevent or reduce the risk? The answers lie in the capabilities of the control valve.
Examine the fate and transport of groundwater contaminants before settling legally
Determining the responsible party of impacted groundwater is difficult. For example, when you have multiple owners of a business over time, multiple potential sources in close proximity, or complex subsurface conditions, there may be some uncertainty about when and where the release occurred.
Tragic week of flooding causes havoc in BC, Merritt WWTP fails
Over the course of just more than a week, several British Columbia communities have been ravaged by more than a month’s worth of rainfall,...
US ocean service outlines new $15M research grants into harmful algal blooms
The largest governmental ocean science service in the U.S. is investing US$15.2 million into new research projects about the biological and financial impacts of...
Iqaluit’s water emergency enters second month
Canadian Armed Forces Operation LENTUS remains active in Iqaluit as the northern city’s state of emergency over drinking water contamination enters its second month.
Some...
PFAS lawsuits continue as California sues 3M for groundwater pollution
California's largest groundwater agency is suing 3M and a series of other companies it believes are responsible for “knowingly” polluting groundwater with perfluoroalkyl and...
Ocean cleanup vessels may burn plastic pollution as ‘blue diesel’
Ocean cleanup vessels may be considering a move away from storing recovered plastics on board to burning it as fuel for the voyage.
Vessels must...
SAIT unveils $1M water, wastewater learning lab in Alberta
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) has unveiled a new $1-million water and wastewater treatment lab with state-of-the-art equipment scaled down for student...
Singapore’s water agency offering $5M prize for net-zero carbon ideas
Singapore’s National Water Agency has launched a “Carbon Zero Grand Challenge” that offers prize funding for innovative solutions capable of removing carbon emissions from...
Lab finds hydrocarbons in Iqaluit’s drinking water
Laboratory tests confirmed that the presence of hydrocarbons at the City of Iqaluit’s water treatment plant was not likely high enough to cause harm...
Nitrates on the rise in Europe’s waterways, new report finds
Little progress has been made over the last decade when it comes to nutrient pollution from agriculture, a new European Commission report shows.
Nitrates from...
Face mask pollution shedding microplastics from UV exposure, study finds
While face mask pollution has been a common sight throughout the pandemic, Canadian researchers are now learning that sun exposure could be making microplastic...
USask study finds rubber tire chemicals impacting river through urban runoff
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Environment and Sustainability say they’ve undertaken the first study of its kind in Canada to determine...
Ontario launches campaign to explain drinking water protection signs
A music video, social media posts and an online mapping application have arrived from Conservation Ontario to help educate the public about drinking water...
MIT has hopes for ‘selective, economical’ shockwave water purification
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers say they have a new application for shock electrodialysis when it comes to the “continuous, selective, and economical”...
CCME issues soil, groundwater quality guidelines for PFOS
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has published soil and groundwater quality guidelines for perfluoroalkyl substances, widely known as PFOS.
The guidelines...
New Tecumseth secures loan to end debt around Georgian Bay water pipeline
The Town of New Tecumseth will be using a $9.5-million loan to finally settle a debt around the Georgian Bay pipeline, which sees Collingwood...
Hamilton restores aging watermain sections following friction loss testing
A large portion of the watermains in Hamilton are unlined cast iron pipe (CIP). While the average age of the city’s watermains are around 44 years, much of this CIP is closer to 83 years.
Managing constituents of emerging concern
The presence of a CEC, such as a pharmaceutical or industrial compound, in surface or drinking water can raise public concerns as to whether the water is safe to use for drinking, recreation, fishing, or other purposes.
Integrating biofiltration into existing water plants to improve contaminant removal
This tailored collaboration project with the City of Columbus, Ohio, aimed to combine much of the biofiltration research and demonstrate extensive full-scale biofiltration optimization and integration into the overall treatment train.
Geomembrane solves waterproofing challenge in difficult underground installation
A large Saskatchewan potash mine needed a waterproofing membrane during maintenance on a service shaft that is used to transport personnel and equipment from ground-level to various depths of the mining operation. The site alone posed a number of challenges. It was 1,300 metres below grade and shaft wash water was expected to be entering the area long term, causing erosion problems.
Aquifer recharge rates can affect landfill leachate plume migration rates
Leachate releases at the bottom of waste impoundments are difficult to control and may be active for years, suggesting the need for ongoing management of associated plumes in groundwater. This study examined the effect of recharge to the water table as a component of natural attenuation for stabilizing narrow contaminant plumes from continuously leaking sources.
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.
Remote B.C. village finally gets safe, reliable drinking water system
Associated Engineering worked with the community to consider several surface water sources surrounding the Village of Kluskus in central British Columbia. Upon examination, the long-term sustainable yield of these surface water sources would not meet the domestic water demands of the community.
Field-testing now complete on mobile district metering project to cut water losses
This project involved the development and deployment of a mobile testing unit to directly measure the minimum night flow (MNF) into temporary and predominantly residential district metered areas (DMAs), which are relatively small, isolated sectors of a water distribution network.
USask researchers publish findings on irrigation, water allocation models
With close to 80% of Canada’s irrigated agriculture operations taking place in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, researchers are taking increased note of paradoxical developments...
Niagara Region increases monitoring after microcystin discoveries
After the first detection of microcystin at a local beach in June, and last week in reservoirs serving the DeCew Falls Water Treatment Plant, Niagara Region officials say they have moved to daily testing
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...
Canada invests $16M for Vernon water filtration system in B.C.
The British Columbia community of Greater Vernon will see the construction of a new water filtration facility at its Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant...
Algal bloom toxicity harming fish year round, U of G study finds
Cyanobacterial toxins can harm fish populations even in the early stages of algal bloom development when humans cannot see it, not just during the...
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...
Historic $8B class-action settlement in works over First Nations water crisis
The federal government has reached a proposed settlement agreement worth nearly $8 billion over class action lawsuits that demand change and compensation after generations...
Latest BC shoreline cleanup nets 425 tonnes of waste
Several Clean Coast, Clean Waters projects in British Columbia recently netted 425 tonnes of shoreline waste during summer cleanups.
Items collected under the CleanBC Plastics...
Quebec team studies new class of electrodes to degrade PFAS in water
A new research project team in Quebec hopes to create innovative solutions to decontaminate waters containing harmful chemical compounds like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances...
A growing Calgary commissions new water pumping station
The City of Calgary has recently embarked on a $35 million project to replace the most critical water pump station in the city.
The unexplored toxic effects of COVID-19 disinfectants on water and wastewater
The increased use of disinfectants, including chlorine-based disinfectants, during the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning for several reasons.
Scientists measure new depths at bottom of hydrologic cycle
For the first time, researchers have mapped groundwater circulation five kilometres deep. This could help make it safer to store contaminants underground.
Different ways to transfer essential data to water and wastewater treatment facilities
Transferring data in the water and wastewater industry is essential and vital to facility operation, with critical decisions made based on simple data.
Pipe restraint resilience plays an essential role in safe water system operations
It is worth examining what criteria should be followed for restraining pipe connections and which techniques to use within particular water systems.
Red Deer’s new water treatment residuals facility earns sustainable infrastructure award
The City of Red Deer’s residuals management facility, currently under construction for its water treatment plant, has earned Envision Bronze verification for leadership in...
Fluoride debate returns to Regina through water treatment plant upgrades
*Update – October 25, 2021: Regina and Calgary have both decided to add fluoride to their water treatment processes. Regina will add fluoride to...
New water treatment plants end drinking water advisories for First Nations in Saskatchewan, Manitoba
The construction of new water treatment plants in two First Nations communities means that Indigenous Services Canada has lifted two more long-term drinking water...
Southern Nevada region bans ‘useless’ grass in bid to conserve Colorado River supply
The Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada will become the first region in the U.S. to ban “non-functional” or “ornamental” grass that can often...
New water tower set to boost pressure, allow growth for Nova Scotia communities
A new $2.9-million gravity-fed water storage tank is set for Nova Scotia’s Osprey Village in Lunenburg County, thanks to new provincial funding.
The Municipality of...
Leaky pipes hurting pocketbooks and sustainability in Ontario cities
A new study suggests that cities such as Toronto could be wasting as much as 103 million litres of treated drinking water daily due...
Ocean groups send ‘Message in a Bottle’ to G7 leaders, advance marine plastic research
On World Ocean Day, June 8, a collaboration of scientific institutions and ocean groups from around the world launched scientific monitoring devices into the...
Water shortages return to Quebec town as conservation pleas sound across Canada
Water supply issues continue to plague the small Quebec municipality of Saint-Antoine-de-Lilly, where reserves have run empty and residents face critical restrictions for water...
Saskatchewan’s Uranium City seeks funding to end 20-year water advisory
Saskatchewan is trying to secure $1.7 million in federal funds to end drinking water issues that have plagued the former mining hamlet of Uranium...
Communities in central N.L. funded for major water, wastewater projects
A series of critical water infrastructure upgrades have been announced for central Newfoundland, including a new ultraviolet disinfection building for Grand-Falls Windsor.
In all, 12...
Halifax Water aims to improve cybersecurity after report raises concern
Halifax Water is working to strengthen its cybersecurity after a consultant report found “significant elevated risk” in the areas of disaster recovery planning and...
Seabins making strides in removing microplastics from Lake Ontario
A pilot project and collaboration between PortsToronto and the University of Toronto (U of T) collected about 85,000 small pieces of anthropogenic debris from...
Canada funds seven microplastic research projects at universities
Canada is investing $7 million over seven projects that it hopes will take marine plastic pollution research to new levels at universities in three...
Treatment options for PFAS contaminated groundwater
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemical compounds that have been used in the manufacturing of a wide variety of consumer products since the 1940s. Due to growing public awareness and an evolving political climate, widespread changes to government regulations and enforcement are imminent.
Strategies to increase existing reverse osmosis unit output
A facility may need to meet an increased reverse osmosis demand from a unit that is already at capacity, with no impact on quality.
Edmonton engineering firm piloting a novel machine learning water treatment process
This pilot project, believed to be the first of its kind, marks the beginning of exploring artificial intelligence and machine learning in everyday infrastructure applications, including water treatment.
Monitoring small watersheds is vital to community safety and water sustainability
By understanding local watersheds, communities are able to plan for a safer and more sustainable future as the effects of climate disruptions increase.
Determining when it is time to replace reverse osmosis membranes
Knowing why reverse osmosis (RO) performance has declined and which membrane elements are compromised will reduce the number of membrane elements that need to be replaced. It will also make it possible to modify RO pre-treatment, or possibly cleaning frequency.
Advantages of using peristaltic dosing pumps for fluids with particulates or chemicals that off-gas
Peristaltic pumps are capable of pumping both fluids with particulates and those that off-gas, without loss of prime or vapour lock.
Saskatchewan city completes third phase of drinking water upgrade
Saskatchewan residents in the City of Estevan can expect “noticeably improved, less hard” drinking water, municipal officials explained, as they unveiled the third and final phase of the community’s drinking water system upgrade project.
Norfolk County commissions condition assessments on its transmission network
Norfolk County in Ontario recently encountered a main break on its 300-mm ductile iron transmission watermain. Learn about the project, the ePulse technology used to assess watermain conditions, and the solutions provided that led to a 10-year capital plan to replace pipes and other sections with poor condition.
Scraper strainers resist clogging and fouling when faced with micron-sized particles
By Del Williams
Strainers are required to remove organic debris and waste from cooling water before it goes into heat exchangers and cooling systems, and...
Walkerton Clean Water Centre launches new drinking water operator ethics course
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) announced the launch of its first on-demand course titled, "Ethics for Drinking Water Operators", on May 31.
Ontario’s drinking water operators...
Denmark exhumes culled COVID mink due to groundwater contamination fear
After the Danish government culled and buried some four million farmed mink in late 2020 due to a COVID-19 mutation, officials have begun to...
Manitoba finds 34% of private wells exceed manganese health limit
A new advisory from the Manitoba government is cautioning the public about elevated levels of manganese in nearly a third of the province’s private...
Canada lifts, adds long-term drinking water advisory for Ontario First Nations
Ontario’s Wahta Mohawks, with support from Indigenous Services Canada, has lifted the long-term drinking water advisory in place since September of 2013 for the...
NWT faces tough spring as ice breakup leads to flooding, evacuations
A number of communities in the Northwest Territories have been under a state of emergency in recent weeks, leading to evacuations for some residents...
BC launches Algae Watch website for citizens to track blooms
It was a rare occurrence in summer 2020 when British Columbia's Shuswap Lake was covered in algal blooms. Now, the province has launched an...
B.C.’s Burns Lake flushing out manganese with new water treatment plant
The British Columbia Village of Burns Lake has a new $5.3-million water treatment plant that will begin to gradually flush out elevated levels of...
Ontario’s Collingwood halts construction as it discovers water demand outpacing capacity
As the Ontario Town of Collingwood pauses local construction for a year to assess its dwindling drinking water and wastewater treatment capacity, local officials...
WWTP biosolids upgrade tops list of major infrastructure funding for Saskatoon
Residents of Saskatoon will soon benefit from $102 million in joint funding for 11 green infrastructure projects, including upgrades to drinking water and wastewater...
RCCAO says Ontario needs dedicated water infrastructure fund
Ontario needs a new dedicated fund to help municipalities “fix their leaky pipes and crumbling sewers”, states a call to action from the Residential...
Saskatchewan First Nation fined for wastewater discharge into lake
The Black Lake Denesuline First Nation of Saskatchewan faces a $10,000 fine after federal officials discovered some 86,000 litres of wastewater had been released...
Great Lakes Region aims to create circular economy to fight plastic pollution
Plastic contamination of water will be the first priority area for a new initiative called Circular Great Lakes.
Circular, as in circular economy, the Council...
Optimizing Kelowna’s water system improves coverage and multi-use
In 2017, the City of Kelowna, British Columbia began the process of separating agricultural and domestic water systems as part of its integrated water supply plan. It calls for an integrated water system that provides the lowest cost, city-wide solution for drinking water, that also maintains agricultural interests.
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.
Digital twins equip utilities to proactively manage and improve water systems
Digital technologies are advancing the development of sustainable water systems. One of the most leading-edge digital solutions today is the use of digital twinning for water systems.
Advanced biological filtration provides multi-barrier approach to complex contaminant removal
Traditional treatment plants were not designed to remove modern organic and synthetic contaminants. Recognizing this, many municipalities are searching for new ways to effectively meet the challenge.
B.C. ends last First Nations long-term water advisory
British Columbia has reached the milestone of clearing every long-term water advisory in its First Nation communities, now that Semiahmoo First Nation has been...
Teck Coal fined record $60M for B.C. river contamination
In the highest fine ever imposed by a court for pollution in violation of the Fisheries Act, Teck Coal Limited has been ordered to...
DFO funds projects to analyze contaminant damage to ecosystems
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has announced nearly $2.9 million to support nine research projects that will analyze the effects of contaminants like microplastics, oil,...
Nearly $90M in funding could jumpstart water work for 37 Ontario First Nations
Canada is investing $69.5 million for clean drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements in 37 First Nation communities across Ontario.
The new funding will...
USask water security exchange program aims to improve life for West African women
A research team from the University of Saskatchewan has secured funding for a new water security and scholar exchange project that endeavours to help...
Canada launches new website to track progress on First Nations water advisories
On the heels of a recent critical report from the federal auditor general, Indigenous Services Canada says a new website will help track progress...
Quebec’s Magpie River first in Canada to be granted personhood
Quebec is the first Canadian province to join a global movement – particularly active in New Zealand, the U.S. and Ecuador – that recognizes...
U of G researcher leads study to monitor UV impact on well water families
A University of Guelph researcher and an Ontario-based water tech company are partnering on a new study that will explore illness-causing microbes in residential...
UWindsor team to monitor harmful algal blooms in real time
University of Windsor researchers are using a $1 million grant to deploy real-time monitoring sensors into Lake Erie to understand more about harmful algal...
Nestlé sells portion of Canadian bottled water operations
Following the attempted sale of Nestlé’s Pure Life water business in Canada, the water giant has now made further efforts to distance itself from...
Auditor general ‘disheartened’ by failure to meet First Nations drinking water targets
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is drawing attention to a new federal auditor general report that warns how little has been done to...
Vernon forced to discharge wastewater to lake as irrigation use derailed
Starting this month, the Vernon Water Reclamation Centre (VWRC) will be forced to discharge reclaimed water through a deep outfall to British Columbia’s Okanagan...
Studying algal blooms, light penetration and oxygen levels in a phosphorus-rich lake
By Robert Bowen
Conditions within high total phosphorus lakes vary significantly over the course of a year as available nutrients allow for the ramping up...
Coordinated response helped quickly restore Fort McMurray’s drinking water
The water system recovery plan was based on similar work following the wildfire in 2016. This latest river flooding caused contaminated water to enter...
Hamilton conducts dead-end watermain flushing program using post hydrants
There are a few ways to ensure water quality is maintained through the system, once it leaves the treatment plant. The primary one is that the water continues to flow through the system without the opportunity to sit stagnant. Dead-end watermains are the enemy in this scenario and unavoidable in old distribution systems.
Looking at key practices for control valve operation
Since it is installed after the pipe is in place, each control valve must be adapted to the specific application. With so many applications being unique to a utility, there are some best practices that every control valve operator should have in their toolbox before trying to tackle some of the more difficult concepts.
Hacker dangerously raises sodium hydroxide levels at Florida water plant
Digital forensics experts in Florida’s Pinellas County are investigating a software hack of the City of Oldsmar’s water treatment plant computer system.
On February 5,...
Alberta reinstates coal mining safeguards after critics warn of polluted rivers
The Alberta government has reversed a coal mining policy decision that critics say eased certain environmental safeguards and threatened contamination of Saskatchewan rivers, in...
Yukon releases quartz mining guidelines to protect water
Yukon’s quartz mining proponents must now submit an adaptive management plan, outlining how they will manage water at hard rock exploration sites.
Officials say the...
Saskatoon launches new water training program for First Nations
Kanātan nipīy, meaning the water is clean, is the name of a new water training program in Saskatoon that aims to foster First Nations...
Colorado professor wins water award for UV research legacy
The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) has awarded its annual Clarke Prize for Excellence in Water Research to University of Colorado Boulder Civil Engineering...
Latest Articles
Moose Jaw eyes $24M in ICIP funding to replace aging wastewater...
The Saskatchewan City of Moose Jaw is pursuing some $24 million in federal infrastructure funding to replace a 61-year-old lift station that lacks the...
