Environmental Science & Engineering - www.esemag.com - May 2003
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Environmental News - May, 2003

New approvals program for NB municipal water systems

As part of the new Municipal Drinking Water Program, 92 certificates of approval will come into effect for municipal water treatment and water distribution facilities in 66 municipalities across the province of New Brunswick. Effective immediately, all municipally owned and operated water systems will now be required to abide by the conditions set out in their certificate of approval to operate, such as ensuring that operators of water systems are trained and certified, and that monitoring and reporting requirements are met.

The certificates of approval, which are developed with the collaboration of the Department of Health and Wellness, range in term from one year to a maximum of five years, depending on classification. The approvals set standards that require all water treatment plants, distribution facilities and system operators to adopt operating practices that ensure safe drinking water.

Infrastructure program directs more than $2.5 million to Saint John

From left: Andy Savoy, MP for Tobique-Mactaquac, NB Premier Bernard Lord, and Shirley McAlary, Mayor of Saint John, announced the investment.

Saint John will receive a $2,550,000 investment to upgrade the city's water infrastructure. The new project is made possible through the Infrastructure Canada-New Brunswick partnership.

The project in Saint John calls for the construction of two standpipes and the demolition of an old existing standpipe. This project will help improve water quality, storage and delivery in the city's water system.

This announcement brings the total announced projects to 52, for a total investment of close to $85.6 million so far.

In New Brunswick, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is responsible for the implementation of the Canada-New Brunswick Infrastructure Program, while the Department of Environment and Local Government, in conjunction with the Regional Development Corporation, are the provincial jurisdictions responsible for the implementation of the agreement. Each of the three levels of government will contribute one third of the eligible costs of the project.

Canadian company to build world's largest ZeeWeed^® plant

The island of Singapore has started its conversion to membrane-based water filtration. Zenon^® Environmental Inc. will supply its ZeeWeed^® membranes to a new 72 million gallon per day (273,000 cubic metres per day) drinking water plant, which will be one of the world's largest membrane-based water treatment plants.

Singapore's Public Utilities Board is in the midst of a major expansion of the nation's water resources, in an effort to become self-reliant for their water supplies. They will upgrade the Chestnut Avenue Waterworks to double the existing drinking water plant's capacity. Construction of the new water treatment plant is expected to be complete by the end of 2003.

The new plant will be the largest ZeeWeed installation to date with an order value of approximately $10 million to Zenon.

Edmonton partners create international centre of excellence in waste management

Edmonton Alberta has become North America’s hub for research in solid waste and wastewater treatment with the incorporation of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence.

Partners in the venture include the City of Edmonton, the University of Alberta, the Alberta Research Council, AMEC, Olds College and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

The Centre’s purpose is to advance research and technology and share waste management knowledge that will improve the sustainability of urban areas throughout the world. Several research projects focusing on composting and advanced technology to improve wastewater effluent are already underway.

“Edmonton’s modern facilities and our combined expertise make this one of the world’s most innovative environments for sustainable urban waste management,” said Dr. Leonard, a University of Alberta professor seconded to the Centre for three years. “I see tremendous opportunity to attract research and also to transfer that research to the real world where waste management is a growing issue.”

Construction will begin this year on two research facilities that will augment existing partner facilities – a $4.4 million solid waste facility at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, and a $4 million facility for wastewater treatment technologies at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. Both are funded through the Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program.
Contact: Dr. Leonard, Tel: (780) 496-6872.

Ontario drinking water testing labs to be licensed

The Ontario government is proposing to make it mandatory that all laboratories that test drinking water be licensed.

Licensing of laboratories will ensure that there are strict standards in place for those who test Ontario's drinking water. In addition, laboratories will be subject to random visits by Ministry of Environment inspectors for the first time in Ontario's history.

The proposed Drinking Water Testing Services Regulation, along with Part VII of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2002, will require mandatory licensing (with a five-year renewal) of all private, municipal and provincial laboratories that test drinking water. It proposes conditions for subcontracting, handling and labeling of samples, and protocols for accepting drinking water samples. It is proposed that the requirement for licensing will take effect October 1, 2003. The proposed regulation will only allow drinking water testing to be conducted at out-of-province labs that meet the equivalent requirements.

Licensing and inspection of laboratories were recommended by Commissioner O'Connor in his Walkerton inquiry report and mandated by the recently enacted Safe Drinking Water Act.

Canadian journalist wins first prize in international competition

Douglas J. Alexander, a London-based Canadian journalist, was awarded first prize in the Third World Water Forum Journalists’ Competition on March 17, 2003. The World Water Forum took place in Kyoto, Japan, March 16 - 23.

One of more than 200 contestants, Mr. Alexander won this prestigious award for his article “Just Add Water”, which appeared in the February 2002 issue of Geographical magazine, published by the London-based Royal Geographical Society. He carried out research for this article in Egypt, as part of a Gemini Journalism Award granted by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). This award also enabled him to undertake an internship with Gemini News Service in London in 1999. The feature focuses on Egypt's water problems and efforts to solve them through massive irrigation and privatization.

Feds contribute $22.5 M for environmental action in BC's Georgia Basin

David Anderson, Federal Minister of Environment, has announced a fiveyear contribution of $22.5 million for clean air, clean water, habitat and species protection, and improved environmental decision-making in the Georgia Basin. The funding, combined with an ongoing annual investment of $8 to $10 million from Environment Canada, will support the renewal of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, to be renamed as the Georgia Basin Action Plan.

The funding will be directed towards actions to:

protect, conserve and restore key ecosystems;
provide scientific research on wildlife, enhance understanding on airsheds and air quality, and assess endocrine disrupting chemicals in wastewaters and other sources;
continue the development and support of stewardship tools, including a variety of best management practices, community actions, and other resources to support sustainable land, aquatic and resource use practices; and
implement innovative approaches to make ecosystem data and information, including indicators, more accessible over the Internet.

Bedell and Hatfield Awards presented at 2003 WEAO Conference

Bill De Angelis

The past president of the Water Environment Federation, Jim Clark, presented the prestigious Bedell Award to Bill De Angelis of American Water Services Canada. Mr. De Angelis is a past president of the Water Environment Association of Ontario.

The Hatfield Award for exemplary service in Operations was presented to Chris Rupke, of USF Canada Inc.

Federal government stance on ocean venting praised

The World Wildlife Fund Canada supported the announcement, March 7, 2003, by the Honourable Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, establishing Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents as the first Marine Protected Area (MPA) under Canada's Oceans Act.

"This is an important step for Canada," said Joshua Laughren, WWF-Canada's Director of Marine Conservation. "With the longest coastline of any nation on earth, and less than 1% of our waters protected, Canada urgently needs a comprehensive system of marine protected areas. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September, Canada committed to finishing a network of marine protected areas by 2012. If we keep this pace up, we can do it. Now let's get on with the others, starting with The Gully, off the coast of Nova Scotia."

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