Sometimes the biggest opportunities are hiding in plain sight. Years ago, a sewer trunk line running beside Markham District Energy's Warden Energy Centre was viewed as an inconvenient constraint that would complicate the routing of thermal energy piping. Today, that same infrastructure is the foundation of what will become the largest wastewater energy transfer system [...]
How can municipalities start tackling wastewater emissions? We partnered with GHD to develop a new case study that explores how Canadian municipalities can build their first wastewater greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory — a critical step toward climate mitigation. Key takeaways: Municipalities typically choose between using an existing tool or developing a custom calculator. Publicly available [...]
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a contract based collaborative project delivery model designed to align the interests, objectives, and practices of all project participants — owners, designers, and contractors —toward shared project success. It is a multiparty agreement signed by all key project partners. This brief by Bird Construction provides information about the core principles [...]
Key insights Strategic rate increases can drive infrastructure renewal. Transparency builds public trust. Infrastructure investment must outpace decay. Conservation and financial sustainability can coexist. Clear prioritization of capital projects improves resource allocation. Read the full case study
As communities across Canada look for cost-effective ways to reduce emissions, Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) systems offer an opportunity to reduce reliance on carbon intensive energy sources and leverage existing sewage infrastructure. This primer explores: How WET systems work. Canadian and international examples of WET systems. Key technical, economic, and policy considerations. Read the primer
Key insights Federal funding, effective leadership, and support from senior management were crucial to developing the energy management project roadmap. Securing funding and resourcing was essential to sustaining energy management initiatives. Enhanced coordination across teams and better communication of energy savings helped ensure that the program stayed on track and gained support from various stakeholders. [...]
Key insights Understanding, predicting, and mitigating nitrous oxide emissions is crucial as utilities across Canada strive to reduce their carbon footprint. Monitoring and measuring of nitrous oxide at the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant will inform actions that support safe, cost-effective services that have low emissions. Effective aeration controls are important to support the [...]
Key insights Community-driven innovation: The Capital Regional District’s (CRD) biosolids strategy was shaped by strong public engagement and the board’s responsiveness to environmental concerns. Its shift from traditional disposal methods toward advanced thermal treatment reflects how municipalities are increasingly expected to align infrastructure decisions with evolving community values, such as environmental sustainability and public health [...]
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. 2025 was a year of profound and rapid change in Canada. Shifting political and social priorities, economic turbulence from U.S. trade tariffs, rising costs, and labour shortages created [...]
Key insights The greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory tool developed by the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) and Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO) enables municipalities to assess GHG emissions from their water treatment facilities and support informed decision-making. The tool accounts for both direct and indirect emissions from drinking water treatment plants, which offers a [...]
