Canadian Water Network, through its Canadian Municipal Water Consortium (CMWC), has been working to identify key municipal water management priorities as defined by those working in the municipal sector. Within those identified priority areas, the CWMC seeks to provide the critical knowledge and research needed to support decisions and, importantly, to clarify the implications of [...]
Approximately 20% of the Canadian public rely on on-site wastewater systems (OWS) to treat their domestic wastewater with some jurisdictions having even higher percentages (e.g. Nova Scotia ~50%). Many of these OWS are not properly maintained or are improperly designed and constructed, which may pose a significant risk to both surface- and groundwater resources.
Over the past 30 years, the water sector has invested heavily in resources to meet the increasingly stringent regulations for drinking water quality. One major area of growing attention for assuring drinking water safety has been disinfection byproducts (DBPs).
The events in North Battleford, Saskatchewan and Walkerton, Ontario have increased awareness of water quality issues in Canada. Knowing what is in our drinking water is important for health and environmental reasons. Canadians need pertinent water quality information that is easily accessible, of high quality, and available in a timely manner.
In drinking water treatment, a balance must be maintained between the highest microbial safety, while limiting the long term chemical risk from disinfection by-products. To achieve this, Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) models are used to attain a level of acceptability in engineering and public health.
Conventional ways of managing stormwater runoff are no longer sufficient to deal with increased climatic variability and urban densification and there is clear evidence that the flood risk and urban water pollution is increasing. How can we change the traditional stormwater management system to cope with more frequent and higher flood events?
The goal of this research brings to bear the tools of economic analysis in order to learn about the nature of Canadian householdsÂ’ attitudes towards water and in turn, using this knowledge to assist public agencies entrusted with the delivery of water in meeting the significant challenges they face currently and in the future.
Everyone wants to know that their tap water is safe to drink, however, risk will always be present in a complex system, and water treatment and delivery is no exception. Through sound management, risk can be controlled and reduced so that consumers can drink their tap water with confidence.