Municipalities across Canada are facing numerous challenges, including population growth, aging infrastructure and degraded ecosystem health, while also needing to improve social equity and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and foster economic growth. Climate change is exacerbating these already difficult challenges. Inaction comes at a cost. GHD’s Aquanomics report highlights that floods, droughts and major storms [...]

Canadian Water Network (CWN) is excited to launch a new wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) program in partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID). This program supports public health practitioners serving both cities and Indigenous regions in interpreting the meaning of WBS data for their communities. It also supports public health practitioners in effectively [...]

CWN welcomes Deborah Van Dyk as program manager We’re happy to share that Deborah Van Dyk joined the CWN team as a program manager for our Wastewater-Based Surveillance Program in March 2023. Deborah is leading a 13-month demonstration project to support public health authorities in interpreting the meaning of WBS data for their communities [...]

The Canadian Municipal Water Consortium continues to foster collaboration and innovation within the water servicing sector. Recently, 28 municipal and utility water leaders from across the country gathered for an in-person meeting in Hamilton, Ontario. The meeting provided a platform for valuable discussions, guest presentations, and peer learning around current successes and challenges in [...]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used chemicals that can be found in the environment, water and air. Now, the Government of Canada has discovered PFAS in the blood of Canadians, confirming the need for adequate assessment of sources and impacts of PFAS on the environment and human health. The nature of PFAS [...]

Canadian Water Network (CWN) is pleased to receive funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to deliver a wastewater-based surveillance program in partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID). The program supports the effective interpretation and communication of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) data by public [...]

Xylem Inc., a leading water technology company, recently released a white paper titled The Race We All Win: Mapping the route to water utility decarbonization. The white paper outlines four practical steps for water utilities can take to achieve net-zero targets without taking financing and contracts into consideration. Austin Alexander, vice president of sustainability [...]

Data governance is at the heart of creating a more just and equitable society. This was one of the key insights that Thomas Linder from Open North recently shared with the Canadian Municipal Water Consortium’s Levels of Service Strategic Sharing Group. During the meeting in March 2023, Thomas shared Open North’s perspective on the [...]

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is leading the charge for equitable practices in the U.S. water utility space. At a meeting held in March 2023, members of the Canadian Municipal Water Consortium’s Rates and Affordability Strategic Sharing Group gained valuable insights from SPU representatives Steve Hamai and Leslie Brinson. One of the key lessons SPU [...]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Government of Canada is investing $420 million over 10 years to help protect and restore the Great Lakes. The announcement was made during U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Ottawa on March 24, which highlights the importance of this investment. Funds will be allocated to several initiatives, [...]