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Canada's GLV Inc has unveiled plans to sell its Pulp and Paper division and become a pure-play water treatment company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comment on an article about the dispute resolution and avoidance of potential conflict over waster resources in Canada through corralling the water hole in the 2010 Fall issue of the journal. It remarks that the author of article has little evidence to support his allegations that Canada is among the worst water polluters and wasters in the world and its irrigation system is a threat to the survival of communities. On other hand, the author of the article has responded the comment by presenting reports that Canada is second only to the U.S. in terms wasteful water use habits and Canadians score very low when assessing how much water they use each day as well as 70% of water in Alberta are committed to irrigation.

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) in 2022, a Special Issue was proposed to summarize achievements, challenges and future opportunities in themes directly related to Canadian water resources and their management. The solicited papers align with the aim of the CWRA to stimulate public awareness and understanding of Canada's water resources and provide new or increased knowledge on Canada's water. With growing concerns over impacts on water resources from a wide range of stressors, the support of a national conversation, as well as sharing knowledge and perspectives on water resources across Canada, has become increasingly important and urgent. This Special Issue presents seven papers that review and/or provide historical sketches from '75 years' of work conducted in Canada across select sub-disciplines of hydrology and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous food-energy-water-environment (FEWE) nexus studies have primarily focused on technical aspects, such as data analysis and model development. However, to inform policy and the resulting management of resources in politically complex transboundary systems, nontechnical human factors in the FEWE nexus should also be considered. This paper explores the human dimension of the FEWE nexus in the Columbia River basin between the US and Canada. We hosted a workshop with regional government agencies to review and evaluate current policies and management of the institutional aspect of FEWE resources. We then surveyed residents from both the US and Canada, who share transboundary water resources in the region, to evaluate their awareness of the FEWE nexus and its related policies, representing the residential aspect. The outcomes of the workshop showed that (1) a consensus of common metrics for all sectors (food, energy, water, and environment) can provide a uniform basis for cross-sectoral comparison; (2) it is critical to have adaptive management and interagency coordination mechanisms; and (3) the support of local residents is key to successful policy implementation. The survey results suggested that residents understand a strong relationship between water and energy sustainability. Females and renters showed stronger support for policies related to FEWE sustainability. Combining knowledge from the workshop and survey will support the development of a more realistic modeling framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper presents a study of atmospheric climate impacts on community-level sports clubs' (CLSC) in Australia and Canada, their vulnerability and resilience, and organisational responses. Design/Methods: A qualitative methodology was used with a multiple case research design. Data (interviews, documents) was collected from a sample of 23 CLSC organisations managing grass turf sport fields exposed to climatic extremes in temperate regions of both countries. Findings: CLSCs in both nations experienced vulnerability to climate impacts. Direct damage to playing fields resulted from extreme climate events. Indirect impacts include higher injury risks, interrupted and/or cancelled competitions, insurance risks, plus higher operating and capital costs. Adapted management was evident for water resources, playing turf, and organisational policies. Practical Implications: Provides insights into the changing practice of sport management at the community-level. Research Contribution: The results challenge the assumption that climate is a static and benign resource for sport. This study demonstrates impacts of climate extremes on sport in the northern and southern hemispheres, the potential for adapting sport management practices, and developing resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterioration modelling has been a bottlenecking step towards risk-informed asset management of municipal water distribution networks. To close the gap, we proposed a two-time-scale (TTS) point process model on a pipe level for modelling and prediction of water main breaks. This paper presents the characterization, statistical parameter estimation, probabilistic features, and application of the model. Combining Poisson and renewal models into one, the proposed TTS process is characterized by a conditional intensity function of two time variables-one in a pipe clock for overall pipe aging and the other in a repair clock for local renewal. As a result, different aging patterns including the complicated bathtub-type behaviour can be modelled. A novel statistical method that combines data augmentation and Markov Chain Monte Carlo was developed for model estimation to deal with partially missing event histories. A case study using real-life data collected from a regional municipality in Canada was presented to illustrate the application of the proposed model. The modelling process ranging from model estimation, verification, validation, and updating to application in asset management was thoroughly demonstrated. This study also demonstrated that one must use the full distributions of the parameters to obtain an unbiased prediction of mean number of water main breaks. The proposed model was also compared with the Poisson process model in terms of break intensity, survival probability, mean cumulative number of breaks, and mean annual number of breaks. The implications of the different results to asset management were carefully discussed as well. Last, the ability of the proposed model to capture the maintenance effectiveness of pipe repair was proven. This work represents a solid advancement towards holistic assessment of the aging risk of a municipal water distribution network., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper documents the association between water and sanitation infrastructure and health indicators in Canada for First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals living on and off-reserve in Canada. We use two data sources: the Aboriginal Peoples Survey and a survey conducted in a First Nations community in northern Manitoba-St. Theresa Point First Nation. We find statistically significant relationships between water infrastructure and health status in both sources of data. In particular, among individuals living off-reserve, contaminated water is associated with a 5-7% lower likelihood of reporting good self-rated health and a 4% higher probability of reporting a health condition or stomach problem. Those in St. Theresa Point First Nation without running water are four times more likely to report an illness relative to those with running water. Off-reserve, this likely suggests a need for improved public education on the management of private water supplies and more frequent water testing. Our case study suggests that further investment in water/sanitation infrastructure and housing is needed in the community.

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Scotty Creek, Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, has been the focus of hydrological research for nearly three decades. Over this period, field and modelling studies have generated new insights into the thermal and physical mechanisms governing the flux and storage of water in the wetland-dominated regions of discontinuous permafrost that characterises much of the Canadian and circumpolar subarctic. Research at Scotty Creek has coincided with a period of unprecedented climate warming, permafrost thaw, and resulting land cover transformations including the expansion of wetland areas and loss of forests. This paper (1) synthesises field and modelling studies at Scotty Creek, (2) highlights the key insights of these studies on the major water flux and storage processes operating within and between the major land cover types, and (3) provides insights into the rate and pattern of the permafrost-thaw-induced land cover change and how such changes will affect the hydrology and water resources of the study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Storage reservoirs are an important part of the water infrastructure in both the USA and Canada. Their operations are important not only for water supply but also for downstream aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Public agencies operate some of the most important water supply reservoirs in both nations: the federal Bureau of Reclamation in the western USA and the provincial Alberta Environment and Parks in Canada’s South Saskatchewan River Basin. This paper examines legal and policy issues affecting potential changes in reservoir operations as an adaptation strategy in the western USA and southern Alberta and considers the two agencies’ policies and practices on reviewing dam operations. Although both agencies appear to recognize the potential value of reviewing and revising their reservoir operating plans, neither makes a practice of doing so. Thus, there is no program to review the operations of water supply projects; by contrast, hydropower project operations have been reviewed and revised in both nations. The two agencies have similar approaches even though federal laws and institutions are important for reservoir operations in the USA, but have little influence in Alberta. Whether federal or provincial, these agencies have operated their projects primarily to benefit local interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Public Policy is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Municipal water conservation is increasingly promoted as a key dimension of environmental sustainability at the municipal scale. Progress toward municipal water conservation in Canada has, however, been poor. This paper examines the governance dimension of water conservation, and presents evidence in support of the argument that conservation efforts on the part of water utilities (and sometimes municipalities) are often constrained by factors external to their jurisdiction. To explore these issues, this paper presents a case study of municipal water conservation in Canada. The analysis identifies governance-related barriers to water conservation and explores the relationship between these barriers and broader issues stemming from the multi-scalar, fragmented nature of environmental governance in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts can have severe negative effects on the environment, society and economy. The drought of 2001-2002 caused severe strain on economic and social activities in western Canada, particularly on rural communities through changes in water resources. This paper examines physical and social vulnerabilities and associated adaptation measures undertaken and the adaptive capacity in communities in the South Saskatchewan River Basin, Canada. Although all of these communities were exposed to the 2001-2002 drought, they had different levels of impacts, resulting in different types of drought adaptation measures, some due to experience with previous droughts and some in response to the 2001-2002 drought. Communities with unreliable water supply were the most vulnerable to these droughts. This vulnerability resulted in historic adaptations being implemented (e.g., Hanna, Alberta) and re-active adaptations (e.g., Cabri, Saskatchewan). It is important to examine the effectiveness of the current adaptive strategies to cope with more extensive and extended drought situations. First Nation communities, such as the Kainai Blood Indian Reserve, have many social and environmental issues but the impacts from the drought were minor. The Reserve had implemented economic changes in the late 1980s to make it less vulnerable to drought but resulted in negative impacts to the Reserve's social health. It is imperative to determine how vulnerable First Nation communities are and will to improve future adaptive capacity. This paper provides a snap shot view of how Canadian Prairie Communities have adapted to drought and how vulnerable they are to future drought situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A regional hydrogeological study was carried out in the Maritimes provinces, in one of the main aquifer systems in Canada. The study area covers a land surface of 10,500 km2, of which 9,400 km2 is over Carboniferous and younger rocks. The sedimentary fractured bedrock is composed of a sequence of discontinuous strata of highly variable hydraulic properties, and is overlain by a thin layer of glacial till (mostly 4 to 8 m). Depending on areas, 46 to 100% of the population relies on groundwater for water supply. Almost all residential wells are shallow (28 m on average) open holes that are cased only through the surficial sediments. This paper describes a regional hydrogeological investigation based on targeted fieldwork, the integration of a wide variety of existing multisource datasets and groundwater flow numerical modelling. The aim of this paper is to present the current state of understanding of the aquifer system in a representative area of the Maritimes Basin, along with the methodology used to characterize and analyze its distinct behaviour at the regional, local and point scales. This regional hydrogeological system contains confined and unconfined zones, and its aquifer lenticular strata extend only a few kilometers. Preferential groundwater recharge occurs where sandy tills are present. The estimated mean annual recharge rate to the bedrock aquifers ranges between 130 and 165 mm/year. Several geological formations of this Basin provide good aquifers, with hydraulic conductivity in the range of 5×10-6 to 10-4 m/s. Based on numerical flow modelling, faults were interpreted to play a key role in the regional flow. Pumping test results revealed that the aquifers can locally be very heterogeneous and anisotropic, but behave similarly to porous media. Work performed at the local scale indicated that most water-producing fractures generally have a sub-horizontal dip along a north-east (45°) strike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a hybrid wavelet, bootstrap and neural network (WBNN) modeling approach for daily (1, 3 and 5 day) urban water demand forecasting in situations with limited data availability. This method was tested using 3 years of daily water demand and meteorological data for the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The performance of the WBNN method was compared to that of three other methods: traditional neural networks (NN), wavelet NNs (WNN), and bootstrap-based NN (BNN) models. While the hybrid WBNN and WNN models equally provided 1-day lead-time forecasts of greater accuracy than those obtained with other methods, for longer lead-time (3- or 5-day) forecasts the WBNN model alone outperformed the other models. The confidence bands generated using the WBNN model displayed the uncertainty associated with the forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change will have a significant impact on the hydrological cycle. This paper presents the results of a pilot project for the Yamaska River in Québec. The objective of this project is to evaluate the river's vulnerability to low flows attributable to climate change and to analyze a no-regrets adaptation strategy at locations identified as vulnerable. The vulnerability was evaluated using statistical indicators (low flow indices) based on long-term observations at four locations in the basin. A distributed physically-based hydrological model in use in Québec was calibrated and validated against observed streamflow data to properly represent low flows. Hydrological simulations used seven climate projections provided by the north american regional climate change assessment program (NARCCAP) s project. Also, five members of the canadian regional climate model (CRCM), nested with the coupled global climate model (CGCM) under the special report on emission scenarios (SRES) A2 emission scenario, were run for a reference (1971-2000) period and a future (2041-2070) period. Streamflow simulations indicate a degradation of future low flow conditions, particularly in June and August, when compared to the reference period. In addition, the 7-day low flow value with a 2-year return period (7Q2) and the 7-day low flow value with a 10-year return period (7Q10) decrease by 16-64% and 18-45% respectively. A no-regrets adaptation strategy allowing stakeholders to reduce withdrawal according to alert levels was implemented. Simulations of the application of the no-regrets adaptation strategy reduced the number of days where streamflows are below the Crisis level in the future period by at least 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In many parts of the world access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is entwined with gender relations. While there is emerging research on how gender relations intersect with socio-cultural practices and norms to produce gender-based violence in WASH, little is known about how these gender relations are intimately produced, reproduced and embodied in place. Drawing insights from feminist political ecology and gendered geographies of power, this paper uses retrospective narratives of Ghanaian migrants in Canada to advance this scholarship in three significant ways. First, the findings demonstrate how gender relations in WASH produce everyday vulnerabilities differently among women and men. Second, they highlight the complex ways women bargain with patriarchal structures to ensure their safety in WASH spaces. Finally, the findings show how gender relations and roles in WASH transform in transnational spaces in which gendered WASH roles and responsibilities are blurred. The findings draw policy attention to the interconnectedness of WASH and gender equality and the need for policy and practice change to advance gender equity in WASH. • Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) security is entwined with gender relations. • Gender relations intersect with socio-cultural practices and norms to (re)produce gender-based violence in WASH. • Women bargain with patriarchal structures to ensure their safety in WASH spaces. • Gender relations and roles in WASH are reconstituted across space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe activities used to initiate health promotion in the school setting. Design/methodology/approach – Description of successful pilot Health Promoting School (HPS) initiatives in Canada and Uganda and the validated measures central to each program. Evaluation methodologies: quantitative data from the tools used complimented by descriptive/qualitative methods. Findings – Previously validated tools/methodologies used include: The World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts for comparison of children's height, weight, head circumference, and BMI against multi-ethnic standards; a 24-h dietary recall instrument to assess dietary diversity as a proxy measure of nutritional adequacy; urine analysis to evaluate baseline renal function and the effect of supplemental hydration; “photo-voice” to aid discussion of personal and community issues of concern; “role play” to promote dialogue and promote social competence; and fitness training. Each activity can combine the “curriculum content” and “healthy practices” components central to HPS concepts. All activities engaged more than 95 percent of pupils enrolled, generated positive responses, and had the potential to impact behaviors and promote health. Practical implications – All the activities are inexpensive and straightforward to initiate, offer schools interested in health-promotion-driven education a broad range of potential “entry points” that can be matched to the interests/challenges of individual communities, and use validated methodologies aiding objective evaluation. Originality/value – These activities foster a community empowerment (“bottom up”) approach, but are also relevant for policy makers exploring HPS to address disease prevention through lifestyle change (“top down” approach). Engagement of communities and ultimately their “ownership” of the HPS initiative have been achieved with these entry point activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2000 and 2001 Canadians were shocked by water contamination events that took place in two provinces. In 2004 we undertook an internet-based survey across Canada that asked respondents to identify in percentage terms their total drinking water consumption according to one of three sources: tap water, bottled water, and home-filtered water (either some type of container or an in-tap filter device). In this paper we investigate the factors that influence these choices and whether choosing to either filter or purchase water is linked to perceptions of health concerns with respect to tap water. A series of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests suggest that the presence of children in a household and self-reported concern that tap water causes health problems lead to significantly greater consumption of bottled water or filtered water and significantly less tap water consumption. In order to examine these choices in a multivariate framework, we estimate a multinomial logit model. Factors yielding higher probabilities of a respondent being primarily a bottled water drinker (relative to the choice of tap water) include: higher income, unpleasant taste experiences with tap water, non-French-speaking, and being a male with children in one's household. Similar factors yield higher probabilities of a respondent being primarily a filtered tap water drinker. An important finding is that two key variables linking a person's health perceptions regarding tap water quality are significant factors leading to the choice of either filtered tap water or bottled water over tap water. They are: a variable showing the degree of health concerns a respondent has with respect to tap water and a second variable indicating whether the respondent believes bottled water is safer than tap water.

The population is increasing rapidly and the demand for water by cities, industries and agriculture has tended to grow even faster than the population. Wastewater reclamation consists of a combination of conventional and advanced treatment processes employed to return a wastewater to nearly original quality, reclaiming the water. The environmental health aspects associated with reclamation of wastewater include quality aspects and public health aspects. An attempt has been made in the present paper to describe these aspects and to suggest appropriate solutions.

This paper presents a methodology for quantifying the effectiveness of water-trading under uncertainty, by developing an optimization model based on the interval-parameter two-stage stochastic program (TSP) technique. In the study, the effectiveness of a water-trading program is measured by the water volume that can be released through trading from a statistical point of view. The methodology can also deal with recourse water allocation problems generated by randomness in water availability and, at the same time, tackle uncertainties expressed as intervals in the trading system. The developed methodology was tested with a hypothetical water-trading program in an agricultural system in the Swift Current Creek watershed, Canada. Study results indicate that the methodology can effectively measure the effectiveness of a trading program through estimating the water volume being released through trading in a long-term view. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to analyze the effects of different trading costs on the trading program. It shows that the trading efforts would become ineffective when the trading costs are too high. The case study also demonstrates that the trading program is more effective in a dry season when total water availability is in shortage.

The Laurentian Great Lakes of North America are a drinking water source for millions of Canadian and US consumers. These waterbodies have undergone extensive change over the past century as a result of widespread degradation and remediation. Many of the Lakes are prone to taste and odour (T&O), and although these outbreaks have been poorly monitored, evidence suggests that they are increasing in frequency. Tracing and controlling T&O in such large systems presents a challenging task, due to their physical size and complexity. This paper presents an overview of recent investigative and management approaches to T&O in Lake Ontario and its outflow, the St. Lawrence River. We have identified three distinct patterns of T&O in these source-waters, caused by geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol and differing in their planktonic and benthic sources, and temporal and spatial dynamics. Each pattern has required a different approach by scientists and management, in partnership with the water industry. We have shown these T&O outbreaks are caused and moderated by physical, chemical and biological mechanisms over a spectrum of spatial and temporal scales. Canadian municipalities affected by these outbreaks have been key to the investigation of the links between T&O and ecosystem processes with the aim to develop more proactive water treatment and long-term management.

Recent studies from a number of countries have shown that measurable concentrations of both human and veterinary pharmaceuticals can be found in a variety of environmental matrices such as surface and ground water, soils, and sediments. Few data are available that characterize the sources, exposure and effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment and there is clearly a need to define these parameters within a Canadian context. We present in this paper the first report in southern Ontario, Canada on the geographic and temporal distribution of pharmaceuticals detected within seven tributaries receiving primarily agricultural inputs in a typical watershed. Of the 28 pharmaceuticals surveyed, 14 were detected in the streams sampled (n=125). Temporal trends in concentration for five frequently detected pharmaceuticals show pulses occurring between May and November of 2003 at similar but varying times over the seasons, depending on the pharmaceuticals, flow rate, and precipitation. Fluctuations in concentration of ions indicative of agricultural run off, such as nitrate and phosphate, were not found to be useful predictors of changes in pharmaceutical concentration (P>0.4), however a significant correlation between dissolved organic carbon and monensin and carbamazepine concentrations were observed (P<0.013). Exposure profiles illustrating concentration distributions for three of the more prevalent pharmaceuticals detected, including lincomycin, monensin and carbamazepine, showed a log normal distribution, useful for calculating centiles of environmental concentrations. While distributions of estimated total potency of pharmaceuticals detected in the surface waters suggested small risks of environmental effects of mixtures to daphnia, green algae, Lemna gibba, and fish, the significance of non-target effects and impacts due to chronic low level exposures to chemical mixtures remains unclear.

All six ecosystem initiatives evolved from many years of federal, provincial, First Nation, local government and community attention to the stresses on sensitive habitats and species, air and water quality, and the consequent threats to community livability. This paper assesses water quality aspect for the ecosystem initiatives and employs newly developed Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) which provides a convenient mean of summarizing complex water quality data that can be easily understood by the public, water distributors, planners, managers and policy makers. The CCME WQI incorporates three elements: Scope - the number of water quality parameters (variables) not meeting water quality objectives (F(1)); Frequency - the number of times the objectives are not met (F(2)); and Amplitude. the extent to which the objectives are not met (F(3)). The index produces a number between 0 (worst) to 100 (best) to reflect the water quality. This study evaluates water quality of the Mackenzie - Great Bear sub-basin by employing two modes of objective functions (threshold values): one based on the CCME water quality guidelines and the other based on site-specific values that were determined by the statistical analysis of the historical data base. Results suggest that the water quality of the Mackenzie-Great Bear sub-basin is impacted by high turbidity and total (mostly particulate) trace metals due to high suspended sediment loads during the open water season. Comments are also provided on water quality and human health issues in the Mackenzie basin based on the findings and the usefulness of CCME water quality guidelines and site specific values.

Monitoring of stable water isotopes (18O and 2H) in precipitation and surface waters in the Mackenzie River basin of northern Canada has created new opportunities for researchers to study the complex hydrology and hydroclimatology of this remote region. A number of prior studies have used stable isotope data to investigate aspects of the hydrological regime of the wetland-dominated terrain near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada. The present paper compares estimates of groundwater contributions to streamflow derived using the WATFLOOD distributed hydrological model, equipped with a new water isotope tracer module, with the results of conventional isotope hydrograph separation for five wetland-dominated catchments along the lower Liard River. The comparison reveals highly promising agreement, verifying that the hydrological model is simulating groundwater flow contributions to total streamflow with reasonable fidelity, especially during the crucial snowmelt period. Sensitivity analysis of the WATFLOOD simulations also reveals intriguing features about runoff generation from channelized fens, which may contribute less to streamflow than previously thought.

Canadian municipal water utilities have had to face many difficulties in the past few years, not the least of which has been an erosion of consumer confidence in the safety of publicly supplied drinking water. This paper discusses how economic theory is used to develop a methodology for determining consumers' or society's preferences for better quality drinking water and how these preferences are expressed in the trade-offs made between money and two different types of risk reductions: mortality and morbidity. These trade-offs are observed by examining actual consumer behavior and/or in structured (hypothetical) market choices. The information gained can be used to structure more efficient water pricing schemes for municipal water utilities and to aid these utilities in their infrastructure investment decisions.

This paper uses a computable general equilibrium model to assess the welfare cost of changing the method of water allocation in Canada towards one that uses prices to ration demand. We model the introduction of a price on both water that is abstracted as well as water that is consumed (that is abstracted, and not returned to the source). We estimate that reducing water consumption by 25 % would require imposition of a price on water consumption of around $$\$0.21/\text{ m }^{3}$$. Similarly, introduction of a water abstraction charge of about $$\$0.013/\text{ m }^{3}$$ would be sufficient to reduce water abstraction by 25 %. We find that if revenues from water pricing are returned in lump sum to households, the introduction of water pricing would result in a modest welfare loss. When revenues from water pricing are used to offset existing taxes, we find a gain in welfare corresponding to a 'strong double dividend.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality indices (WQIs) have been developed to assess the suitability of water for a variety of uses. These indices reflect the status of water quality in lakes, streams, rivers, and reservoirs. The concept of WQIs is based on a comparison of the concentration of contaminants with the respective environmental standards. The number, frequency, and magnitude by which the environmental standards for specific variables are not met in a given time period are reflected in WQIs. Further, the water quality trend analysis predicts the behavior of the water quality parameters and overall water quality in the time domain. In this paper, the concept of WQI was applied to three selected watersheds of Atlantic region: the Mersey River, the Point Wolfe River, and the Dunk River sites. To have robust study, two different water quality indices are used: Canadian Water Quality Index (CWQI), and British Columbia Water Quality Index (BWQI). The complete study was conducted in two steps. The first step was to organize and process the data into a format compatible with WQI analysis. After processing the input data, the WQI was calculated. The second step outlined in the paper discusses detailed trend analysis using linear and quadratic models for all the three sites. As per the 25 years trend analysis, overall water quality for agriculture use observed an improving trend at all the three sites studied. Water quality for raw water used for drinking (prior to treatment) and aquatic uses has shown improving trend at Point Wolfe River. It is further observed that pH, SO4, and NO3 concentrations are improving at Dunk River, Mersey River, and Point Wolfe River sites. To ascertain the reliability and significance of the trend analysis, a detailed error analysis and parametric significance tests were also conducted. It was observed that for most of the sites and water uses quadratic trend models were a better fit than the linear models.

The paper presents a brief review of the application of WSPs in extreme climates where ice formation occurs during winter. Design standards and methods are compared and different systems are described. Design equations developed by the US EPA and normative standards from the former Soviet Union are compared in a simple example using typical wastewater and performance characteristics. The results are similar except at low temperatures, where the Soviet method can give pond depths outside the prescribed limits. The paper examines construction and operational aspects of extreme climate WSPs, comparing North American, Northern European and Russian standards. It considers why WSP systems have not been widely adopted in Russia and the NIS, and looks at the advantages these systems may have in countries in economic transition.

Efforts are underway at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to develop an integrated, nationally applicable, socioeconomic/biophysical modeling capability in order to predict the environmental impacts of policy and program scenarios. This paper outlines our Decision Support System (DSS), which integrates the IROWCN (Indicator of the Risk of Water Contamination by Nitrogen) index with the agricultural policy model CRAM (Canadian Regional Agricultural Model) and presents an outline of our methodology to provide independent assessments of the IROWCN results through the use of nitrogen (N) simulation models in select, data-rich areas. Three field-level models--DSSAT, N&#95;ABLE, and EPIC--were evaluated using local measured data. The results show that all three dynamic models can be used to simulate biomass, grain yield, and soil N dynamics at the field level; but the accuracy of the models differ, suggesting that models need to be calibrated using local measured data before they are used in Canada. Further simulation of IROWCN in a maize field using N&#95;ABLE showed that soil-mineral N levels are highly affected by the amount of fertilizer N applied and the time of year, meaning that fertilizer and manure N applications and weather data are crucial for improving IROWCN. Methods of scaling-up simulated IROWCN from field-level to soil-landscape polygons and CRAM regions are discussed.

In this paper we present a comparative assessment of drinking-water standards from almost all South American countries, using the USA and the Canadian standards and the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines as references. Similarities and discrepancies between standards/ guidelines were identified through descriptive analyses and, in the case of chemical standards, clustering techniques. In general, one or another of the four consecutive editions of the WHO Guidelines were shown to be quite influential in setting drinking-water standards in the region, but not so much the USA and the Canadian standards. Considerable discrepancies between South American drinking-water standards were found, mainly with respect to chemical substances. Questions are raised about their scientific basis and/or the practicalities for their enforcement. In conclusion, the paper highlights that many drinking-water regulations in South America need updating, taking on the approach of health-based targets in setting these standards, as well as that of a broader risk-based preventive management in the entire supply system to assure water safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water utilities generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when they construct, retrofit, and operate their water distribution systems. The prospect of introducing carbon-abatement strategies such as carbon pricing and using low discount rates for project planning could potentially change the manner in which water utilities plan and design their drinking water systems. The objectives of this paper are to: (i) Review the current issues and controversies surrounding the choice of discounting rate and carbon prices in Canada to reduce the GHG emissions linked to operating water systems in Canada; (ii) Review previous research that has examined the impact of discounting and carbon pricing on design decisions in water supply and distribution systems, and; (iii) Illustrate the possible implications of carbon-abatement strategies (discounting and carbon pricing) on the design of Canadian water systems by way of a real-world case study. The implications of discount rate and carbon price uncertainty on water distribution system design are illustrated with the Amherstview-Odessa water transmission system in Ontario, Canada. The results of the Amherstview study indicated that lowering discount rate led to significant increases in electricity costs. The study results also suggested that for a sufficiently low discount rate of 1.4%, increasing carbon price led to a larger pipe size and pipe cost to offset carbon costs levied on fossil-fuel based electricity to operated the pumps for the life of the system. Additional studies are needed on large-scale water systems to inform decisions on system upgrades taken by water utility managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Potable water treatment is one of the most challenging and complex systems that municipalities need to deal with considering limited resources. A study from mid-90s showed that the continuously deteriorating Canadian water supply system would require $3.1 billion to bring the system at satisfactory level. Drinking water treatment plants (WTP) include several components, such as tanks, basin, and pumps. Operators are able to spend a small portion of the available resources or their plant’s infrastructure and equipment compared to water quality and day-to-day operational activities. The research presented in this technical paper aims at developing condition assessment model(s) for the WTP components. Essential condition parameters of WTP include technical, physical, environmental, and operational aspects. To determine the condition index of a WTP component, value additive multi-attribute theory has been used where average weights and scores are considered for the model parameters. Data on WTP conditions are collected from experts and consultants across Canada and the United States. It is concluded from the model results that the average condition index for settling basins, ranges from 9.6 (best scenarios) to 1.9 (worst scenarios) and from 9.6 to 3.4 for pumps. Analysis reveals that, for tank and basins, design and construction parameter is the most important parameter for WTP condition, while the operational parameter is the most important one for pumps. The developed models are expected to benefit academics and practitioners (municipal engineers, consultants, and contractors) to prioritize inspection and rehabilitation planning for existing water treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bibliometric analysis based on the Science Citation Index was carried out on biosorption technology-related publications during the time span of 1991 to 2004 in water treatment research in the ISI subject categories of environmental engineering, environmental sciences, and water resources. Results showed that yearly production has sharply grown. The US and Canada respectively produced 13% and 12% of the total output. In the five years after publication, 34% of papers were cited more than 10 times, while 5.7% were never cited in the same period. Nine papers of the top 20 most-frequently cited articles were published in Water Research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) is upgrading its unfiltered Coquitlam water treatment system to meet the updated Health Canada guidelines for providing 3-log reduction or inactivation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The existing Coquitlam system, which is designed for peak flows of 1200 ML/d (317 mgd), includes an ozonation facility providing 3 log Giardia inactivation, and a chlorination/corrosion control facility. To meet Health Canada guidelines, a UV disinfection facility will be constructed, which will provide 3-log inactivation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and the ozone dosage will be increased to reduce THM and HAA precursors as well as improve UV transmittance. This paper will focus on the conceptual design of the Coquitlam system and the preliminary bench-scale studies that were completed for GVWD as part of the predesign phase of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure is proposed that enables the estimation of natural baseflow in a gauged watershed through analyses of recession curves and stream hydrographs. The analysis results in a surrogate for the recovery level of a watershed after a prolonged drought and allows the medium term prediction of runoff behaviour for water resources management. The method has been applied for the Upper Battle River Watershed in the northern Prairies of Alberta, Canada. Results show that baseflow is extremely low after a multi-year drought (2001 to 2003). The recession index indicates that one year after the climatological end of the drought the integrated watershed storage that usually sustains the baseflow is abnormally low, with associated negative impacts on available water resources. This paper describes the derivation, classification and application of a watershed specific recession index. Results show that the described procedure is relatively simple, reliable and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research activity described in this report is a comprehensive regional assessment of the impacts of climate change on water resources and options for adaptation in the Okanagan Basin. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop integrated climate change and water resource scenarios to stimulate a multistakeholder discussion on the implications of climate change for water management in the region. The paper describes two main objectives: (a) providing a set of research products that will be of relevance to regional interests in the Okanagan, and (b) establishing a methodology for participatory integrated assessment of regional climate change impacts and adaptation that could be applied to climate-related concerns in Canada and other countries. This collaborative study has relied on field research, computer-based models, and dialogue exercises to generate an assessment of future implications, and to learn about regional views on the prospects for adaptation. Along the way, it has benefited from strong partnerships with governments, researchers, local water practitioners, and user groups. Building on the scenario-based study components, and a series of interviews and surveys undertaken for the water management and adaptation case study components, a set of stakeholder dialogue sessions were organized which focused on identifying preferred adaptation options and processes for their implementation. Rather than seeking consensus on the "best" option or process, regional interests were asked to consider a range of available options as part of an adaptation portfolio that could address both supply side and demand side aspects of water resources management in the Okanagan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]