In this edition of News Splash, we’re sharing a valuable resource from our partners at the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID). We’re also sharing resources from leading global water research institutes that are part of the Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC), of which Canadian Water Network (CWN) is a member.

Artificial intelligence

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has released an on-demand webcast that examines how artificial intelligence and machine learning can enhance utility performance. View the webcast here.

Biosolids management

UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) commissioned a project to identify, prioritize, and produce action plans for resources that can be recovered from wastewater and bioresources. The full report is available here.

Nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment plants

The Union of Water Authorities, the association of Dutch water boards, has approved a sector-wide strategy to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. More information is available here. Once you open the webpage, right-click on the page and select the option to translate the content to English or French (this option is available in Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome).

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency has published a report examining the types of regulatory methods that can be used to control nitrous oxide emissions from treatment facilities. The full report is available here.

PFAS removal

With new German regulations targeting PFAS levels in drinking water, membrane filtration through hollow fiber nanofiltration (NF) presents a potential future method for PFAS removal. More information is available here.

DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, the German Water Centre, is investigating innovative processes such as foam fractionation and precipitation with PerfluorAd for PFAS removal from membrane concentrates. More information is available here.

A project undertaken by WRF is evaluating and quantifying the enrichment of PFAS in solids dewatering streams at water resource recovery facilities. The research looks at how PFAS precursors transform during anaerobic digestion and how these processes contribute to elevated PFAS levels in dewatering side streams. More information is available here.

Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

A recent narrative review from the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID) explores the status of Target 6.1.1, which focuses on access to safe and affordable drinking water. The review outlines Canada’s federal investments in improving drinking water quality for First Nations communities on reserve from 1990 to 2025. It also discusses how climate change may impact progress, particularly in addressing long-term drinking water advisories. Access the review here.

Water treatment

UKWIR has published a report on sustainable and resilient alternatives to traditional water treatment. A summary of the project is available here. The full report is available here.

Wildfires and drinking water

In response to increasing wildfire risks, WRF has initiated a project to help drinking water utilities enhance treatment resilience against wildfires. More information is available here.