Net zero water: A national movement for municipal innovation
September 19, 2025
CWN’s quarterly newsletter with the latest news, insights and thought leadership.
Canadian municipalities are on the front lines of climate change. Water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities are under growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while continuing to deliver safe, reliable services. That’s why the Canadian Water Network (CWN) is inviting municipal water utility leaders to join our Net Zero Water Communities of Practice — a national movement to transform water services for a low-carbon future.
From urgency to opportunity: The water-climate nexus
Municipal water leaders are at the forefront of a powerful opportunity to drive climate action. The water-climate nexus is a critical intersection where innovation can lead to real impact.
💧Water services are energy-intensive
From pumping and treatment to distribution and wastewater management, water services consume significant energy since they traditionally rely heavily on fossil fuels.
🌍 The global water sector emits more than you think
Water utility services contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, including fugitive emissions like methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). These have previously been undercounted for and contribute substantially to changing climate conditions.
🔄 Infrastructure renewal is a climate opportunity
Many municipalities are already planning upgrades to aging infrastructure. Integrating low-carbon technologies into these projects can accelerate emissions reductions while improving service reliability.
Why now?
Funded in part by the Government of Canada through its Low Carbon Economy Fund’s Implementation Readiness stream, CWN is creating a peer learning environment where municipal leaders can identify practical actions to reduce GHG emissions related to delivering water services. Whether you’re just beginning to track emissions or implementing advanced technologies, our initiative offers tailored support through topic-specific virtual sessions.
What are the Communities of Practice?
Our Communities of Practice provide a trusted, moderated, and safe space for collaboration and learning. Participants will benefit from:
- Peer-to-peer learning with other municipal leaders.
- Access to technical experts from industry and academia.
- Insights from Canadian and global leaders.
Opportunities to share challenges and solutions openly.
Participation is free. Utilities can choose between two streams based on their current level of readiness.
| Stream 1 – Exploring net zero water
Perfect for utilities just starting their journey to reduce emissions. |
Stream 2 – Advancing net zero water
For utilities with a GHG inventory in place. |
|---|---|
| Building your emission reduction case | Cutting fugitive emissions from scopes 1 and 2 |
| Starting or refining your GHG inventory | Exploring embodied emissions |
| Exploring renewables and energy efficiency | Boosting water and energy efficiency |
| Managing biosolids and biogas | Exploring renewables, biosolids, and the emerging area of biochar |
| Reducing non-revenue water loss | Resource recovery (heat transfer and recovery) |
Insights and knowledge collected from these Communities of Practice will directly inform the development of Canada’s first Net Zero Water Roadmap, a practical tool to help municipal water utilities reduce emissions.
Be part of the change
Net zero doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Join a community of municipalities tackling similar challenges and moving forward together.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through its Low Carbon Economy Implementation Readiness Fund.
