Last month, I wrote about the potential value of wastewater for heating and cooling buildings. This month, I’m continuing to focus on the value of wastewater but through a different lens: its potential as a source of fertilizer. A global fertilizer shortage, triggered in part by the Straight of Hormuz blockade, is driving up costs and constraining supply as farmers prepare for the spring planting season.
Canadian Water Network’s CEO, Nicola Crawhall, sat down for an in-depth interview with Kim Sturgess, founder and recently retired CEO of WaterSMART Solutions Ltd. Kim has served as president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. She is also a recipient of the Order of Canada for her outstanding achievements, dedication to community, and service to the nation.
In this edition, Municipal Water Program Manager Nancy Goucher speaks with Susan Ancel, senior principal water strategic initiatives at EPCOR. With Susan’s retirement in March 2026, this timely conversation reflects on her path through the water sector, the innovations she helped introduce, and her insights on how utilities can strengthen relationships with the communities they serve.
For decades, the mission of water and wastewater utilities has been defined by high-quality treatment and infrastructure management. But as the clean energy transition accelerates, the role of the wastewater leader is evolving to include being a critical energy provider. At CWN, we see wastewater not just as a flow to be treated, but as a high-value, untapped thermal asset.
Looking back, January 2026 may be remembered as the point when Canadians woke up to the reality of water scarcity, particularly groundwater scarcity, amid climate change and rapid growth. We know that Canada has 20 percent of the world’s total freshwater, but only about seven percent is renewable. This makes security, not abundance, the right frame for the decade ahead.
Across Canada, major reviews and new legislation are prompting calls for sweeping changes to how water and wastewater services are governed. However, the rush to restructure risks may be obscuring what truly keeps communities safe.
Hot off the press! Take a look at Canadian Water Network’s (CWN) 2025 annual report to find out how we supported Canada’s water sector and decision makers.
Canada’s first National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA) was released at the end of November. Its main conclusions will sound familiar to anyone working in water, wastewater, or stormwater at the local level.
Long-term infrastructure decision makers have always faced the challenge of forecasting a future they cannot accurately predict — estimating the timing and location of the arrival of that anticipated future. In more stable times, these challenges were manageable.
Canadian Water Network is headed to Victoria, B.C. next week for the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association’s national conference. There, our team will lead discussions on critical issues shaping Canada’s water future.
