Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

People encouraged to prepare for floods, wildfire risks due to anticipated heat

People encouraged to prepare for floods, wildfire risks due to anticipated heat

The forecast heat is expected to accelerate the snowmelt at higher elevations, which will increase pressure on the province’s rivers and streams. The River Forecast Centre is monitoring weather patterns and river conditions, and the River Forecast Centre website has updated flood warning and advisory notifications, including a map of areas of heightened flood risk. The RFC is forecasting increasing flooding hazards in the B.C. Interior over the weekend and through next week due to rapid snowmelt. Key areas of concern include the Fraser River from Prince George through the Fraser Canyon, Cariboo Mountains, North Thompson, South Thompson, Shuswap, Similkameen, Kootenay and Skeena regions.

University of Saskatchewan teams up with Saskatoon to trap, analyze trash headed for river

University of Saskatchewan teams up with Saskatoon to trap, analyze trash headed for river

The City of Saskatoon has partnered with the University of Saskatchewan for a pilot project aimed at better understanding the debris and pollution that gets into the South Saskatchewan River. Litter and pollutants enter storm drains on city roads and streets, travelling underground and eventually ending up in the river. Saskatoon Water director Russ Munro said the project will use trash traps to apprehend the debris.

Algae blooms behind Regina and Moose Jaw's musty water: Buffalo Pound water treatment plant

Algae blooms behind Regina and Moose Jaw's musty water: Buffalo Pound water treatment plant

Early algae blooms are to blame for the musty water some people are noticing in Regina and Moose Jaw these days, according to experts at the Buffalo Pound water treatment plant, which services both cities. Blair Kardash, the plant's manager of laboratory and research, told CBC News his team first detected the "odour materials" from the growing algae in Buffalo Pound Lake — where the water comes from before it's filtered — at the end of April.

Quebec City is enforcing tighter water restrictions

Quebec City is enforcing tighter water restrictions

"The challenge is not necessarily our water sources, but rather our ability to produce and deliver it, " said Marie-Josée Asselin, vice-president of the city's executive committee. "When everyone consumes water at the same time, this is when we put ourselves at risk in terms of distribution and production." Quebec City found that watering lawns has put the most pressure on its drinking water tanks in dry weather.

Boil water advisory issued for city of Thompson, Man.

Boil water advisory issued for city of Thompson, Man.

People in the northern Manitoba city of Thompson are being told to boil their water after routine testing revealed a failure in the filtration process. The failure has allowed poorly treated water to enter the distribution system, says a notice posted May 10 by Manitoba Health. Water must be boiled for at least one minute before using it for consumption, which includes drinking, making ice, preparing food or baby formula, washing vegetables and brushing teeth, the advisory says.

Anaergia takes home big wins at 2023 Global Water Awards

Anaergia takes home big wins at 2023 Global Water Awards

Burlington, Ont.-based Anaergia Inc. has been named Net Zero Carbon Champion in the water industry’s most prestigious awards program, the Global Water Awards. In addition, a wastewater project designed, built, and financed through the company’s subsidiary SoCal Biomethane for Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority was named Wastewater Project of the Year.

At last, a federal water agency

At last, a federal water agency

Terry Duguid, Liberal member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, was given the task of turning the notion into reality, a fairly straightforward assignment given the unusual clarity of the promise; at least one would think. Ottawa is spending billions of dollars on water-related programs scattered among more than a dozen departments with co-ordination and common direction lacking for all but a few of these. The guiding policy — federal water policy — was crafted in 1987 and has been a dead letter for at least a couple of decades. An academic study of federal water expenditures conducted in 2020 found it impossible to determine from public records exactly how much Ottawa was spending on water and for what specific purposes.

Saint John dropped from national COVID-19 wastewater monitoring site over data accuracy concerns

Saint John dropped from national COVID-19 wastewater monitoring site over data accuracy concerns

Saint John has been temporarily removed from the national COVID-19 wastewater surveillance dashboard over concerns about the accuracy of its data. Public Health Agency of Canada officials believe "the sampling point and treatment of the sample prior to testing was the origin of the test variance," said spokesperson Anna Maddison. This suggests "the reported values are not reflective of the community burden," said spokesperson Nicholas Janveau.

Ontario man works to remove 'sea of goldfish' from natural wetland

Ontario man works to remove 'sea of goldfish' from natural wetland

Exploding goldfish populations that can successfully survive the winter are wreaking havoc on native fish species across the country, in suburban storm water ponds, in lakes and other waterways. Researchers in B.C. recently warned the invasive fish is moving in schools the size of football fields and spreading from Vancouver to other parts of B.C.

This N.B. town has had chronic flooding problems. A solution is finally getting closer

This N.B. town has had chronic flooding problems. A solution is finally getting closer

A years-long effort to address chronic flooding in Tantramar is a step closer to completion. The southeastern New Brunswick town, which includes Sackville, started work on a multi-phase flood mitigation project in 2017. It involves upgraded drainage systems, a series of holding ponds and an upgraded aboiteau that discharges the water into the tidal Tantramar River. The aboiteau allows water to go out, but not flow back in.

Forecast predicts 'moderate' sized algal bloom for western Lake Erie this summer

Forecast predicts 'moderate' sized algal bloom for western Lake Erie this summer

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a moderate bloom with a severity level of 2-6 on a scale of 1-10 for western Lake Erie this summer. The U.S. federal agency issued a bulletin last week after collecting data of phosphorus discharge into the Maumee River which dumps into the lake. "The range in forecasted severity reflects the uncertainty in forecasting precipitation for late June and July," the NOAA bulletin stated.

At the 'tail end' of 2021 flood recovery, Fort Simpson, N.W.T., looks to the future

At the 'tail end' of 2021 flood recovery, Fort Simpson, N.W.T., looks to the future

On a sunny Tuesday evening in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., Derek and Julia Erasmus cook up a dinner of waffles and sausages as their two young daughters play outside.  Watching them, you wouldn't know just how difficult the past two years have been. They were one of 10 families who lost their house when the community flooded in 2021. "It's kind of just a huge life-changing event," Derek said. "We kind of thought we were going to retire in that house some day … then those plans were all gone after that."

Coastal GasLink hit with more stop work orders over water pollution concerns

Coastal GasLink hit with more stop work orders over water pollution concerns

Coastal GasLink has been issued stop work orders on a stretch of pipeline construction for the second time in just over a week, the latest in a pattern of environmental violations for polluting sensitive waterways. The pipeline project crosses about 625 lakes, rivers, creeks, wetlands, and streams in northern B.C. On Tuesday, the BC Environmental Assessment Office Compliance and Enforcement Branch said it had issued four stop work orders to Coastal GasLink late last week because erosion and sediment were negatively impacting the upper Anzac River watershed, about 130 kilometres northeast of Prince George.

Houseworks: Retrieving a broken water-well pump

Houseworks: Retrieving a broken water-well pump

Your best hope is to fish down and try and catch hold of the old wires or some other part of the pump, then pull it up. Find a stout metal hook, tie it securely to a 1/4-inch cord, then try your luck. You might just connect with a loop or hole on the pump and pull it up that way.

$205 M needed for 26 km of water and sewer lines in Prince Rupert

$205 M needed for 26 km of water and sewer lines in Prince Rupert

Giving a breakdown of costs, Bomben explained $5 million is for engineering and design, $130M is for water works and the remaining $70M is for “similar vintage and condition sewer lines.” “These must be replaced at the same time as the water mains since the failure of the sewer lines could also impact adjacent infrastructure and potentially cause the water system to fail. It would be far more costly and disruptive to the community to excavate the same road system twice to replace these systems at different times.”

People in Arviat, Nunavut, push back on proposed site for fuel tank farm

People in Arviat, Nunavut, push back on proposed site for fuel tank farm

Nooks Lindell was sitting in his home, having tea with his cousin, two summers ago when he saw a group of people working out on the land outside his home. He later learned the people were surveyors looking at the land as the potential site of Arviat's new fuel tank farm. "I was shocked. I was pretty upset," Lindell said of finding out about the potential tank farm location. Lindell lives in the home where he grew up in Arviat. He and his partner are raising their two young children there. "I spent the last two years at home being a stay at home ataata (father) … so I've spent a lot of time looking out the window right where they're going to put that tank farm," he said. 

Water testing to be free for flood-impacted Manitobans, province announces

Water testing to be free for flood-impacted Manitobans, province announces

Flood-impacted Manitobans with private wells and cisterns can test their water supply for free, as the province pushes to waive off fees temporarily. The move will subsidize costs related to water testing. In an announcement on May 8, the province said the push aims to lift some of the financial burdens caused by flooding. It comes into effect Monday and ends on Aug. 31.

https://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/water-quality-advisory-for-kelownas-falcon-ridge-neighbourhood/

https://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/water-quality-advisory-for-kelownas-falcon-ridge-neighbourhood/

A water quality advisory has been issued for residents on the Falcon Ridge water system off Highway 33. An email statement from the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) states that increased turbidity in the Mission Creek water source from the annual snowpack melt has resulted in water quality that might impact children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.

Part of this centuries-old Quebec farm has been swallowed, maybe permanently, by the river

Part of this centuries-old Quebec farm has been swallowed, maybe permanently, by the river

It took Claude Méthot a couple of days to fully comprehend the extent of the damage to his farm in Baie-Saint-Paul, Que. He says the land that he bought three years ago has been cultivated for hundreds of years. The fields that had been ready for another season of wheat, corn or oats are now covered with sand and clay. "We will not be able to farm this field anymore," said Méthot. He figures he's lost about 10 per cent of his land. "It's a primal, visceral fear and shock just to see where there was this gorgeous wheat field last year. Now it's a river."

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