Statistics Canada reports that Canada’s waterworks infrastructure had approximately 59 percent of its useful life remaining in 2023, while nearly four out of every 10 kilometres of transmission pipes are in unknown, very poor, or poor condition. With an estimated $270 billion in replacement value of publicly owned potable water assets at stake, Canadian utilities [...]
Municipalities face a critical challenge in meeting carbon reduction goals, as heating and cooling buildings can account for more than half of local emissions. By expanding low- and zero-carbon District Energy Systems, including innovative Wastewater Energy Transfer technology that recovers heat from sewage, communities have a powerful opportunity to cut building-sector emissions and transform a [...]
Adaptive planning is an approach to water management and infrastructure planning that considers future uncertainty to generate multiple solution pathways. Canadian Water Network is leading an adaptive planning project to adapt international best practices for use by Canadian water management professionals. This project is supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program.
Environment and Climate Change Canada contracted Canadian Water Network to conduct a study on pre-treatment opportunities of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs) in landfill leachate while applying a green chemistry lens.
The sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change presents scientific evidence that climate change is expected to continue exacerbating drought and flood risks in the coming decades. At the same time, the report also states that adaptation actions are likely to reduce some of these climate risks while providing multiple co-benefits. To [...]
The overall purpose of this initiative is to explore approaches to advancing digital transformation, including data governance, management, and analysis at water and wastewater utilities. Building on previous conversations from the Levels of Service Strategic Sharing Group, members will have the opportunity to learn about tools, resources, and case studies from experts in the field. [...]
The overall purpose of the rates and affordability initiative was to build municipal/utility knowledge and support decision-making on specific aspects of utility financial sustainability and affordability. Building on past Canadian Water Network initiatives and discussions, the rates and affordability initiative aimed to deliver a report that explores utility water, wastewater, and stormwater rates/fees in the [...]
In June 2021, the Government of Canada committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. In November 2021, almost 200 countries at COP26 committed to the Glasgow Climate Pact that contained four main goals. Water plays a central role in achieving all of them alongside “near-global net-zero” mitigation efforts. Around the same time, Canadian Water Network convened [...]
Investment and operational decisions in water and wastewater management need to be made, despite uncertainty related to climate change, emerging contaminants, regulatory changes and unforeseen challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to realize co-benefits can build resilience across the water sector in the face of uncertainty, now and into the future. Creative approaches that [...]
In October 2020, Canadian Water Network launched a Strategic Sharing Group for members of the Canadian Municipal Water Consortium. The purpose of this group was to provide a space to discuss advancing levels of service for municipal water, wastewater and stormwater systems. During the discussions, a wide range of topics were covered, including how municipalities [...]
