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Compare and contrast: China’s mega water project fostering progress and sustainable development

Global Times


China’s per capita water resources are significantly below the global average and are unevenly distributed across the country. The Yangtze River Basin frequently experiences flooding, while northern regions face severe water shortages, hindering economic development.imfr.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Compare and contrast: Water main break in Edison, New Jersey impacts thousands of homes and businesses

CBS News


massive water main break Thursday in New Jersey is causing problems for thousands of people during the holidays. Crews have been working to repair the water main in Edison and restore full service to thousands of homes and businesses that have been left with little or no water pressure.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Water education is essential to empower children as tomorrow’s stewards of the environment

kawarthaNOW.com


The festival’s interactive approach is what makes it so unique and GreenUP is calling for increased community support of the annual Peterborough Children’s Water Festival, taking place on May 27 and 28″ Children don’t just learn about water; they experience it. They see, touch, test, and observe water in action, from understanding water conservation and pollutants to learning about ecosystems, watersheds, and the cultural teachings of Indigenous knowledge keepers.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: How to detect more antimicrobial resistant bacteria in our waterways

Phys.org


By 2050, Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could cause 10 million deaths annually, according to the UN Environment Program. But AMR is not just a human health issue. It also contributes to a decline in water quality and is exacerbated by water pollution, particularly from sources such as sewage and agricultural runoff.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: Droughts, floods, wildfires: 2024 natural disasters in pictures

Al Jazeera


An array of climate emergencies has killed, injured and displaced thousands across the globe this year.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Climate and Severe Weather.

Compare and contrast: My invention brought clean water to millions. Don’t rewrite the law that made it possible

Salon


Roughly the size of a microwave, the device sanitizes water using UV light to kill harmful bacteria, viruses and molds. It can purify approximately four gallons of water per minute and provide a year’s worth of potable drinking water for just seven cents per person. That’s less than 5% of the 2024 average cost of a single 16.9-fluid-ounce bottle of water in the United States. My goal was to save lives, not make money, so I wanted my invention to be as widely available as possible.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Drought.

Compare and contrast: Panama Canal has big plans to deal with drought

The Western Producer


The Panama Canal is a major international shipping route, but low water levels in recent years disrupted movement through the waterway. It’s hoped a new reservoir will increase the canal’s reliability, but construction would displace hundreds of families who farm, fish and raise cattle in the region.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Drought.

Compare and contrast: A Closer Look: Temperature and Drought in the Southwest

U.S. EPA


Large portions of the Southwest have experienced drought conditions since weekly Drought Monitor records began in 2000. For extended periods from 2002 to 2005 and from 2012 to 2023, nearly the entire region was abnormally dry or even drier.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Drought.

Compare and contrast: Leaves’ resilience to raindrops offer insights into energy harvesting potential

Phys.org


To a leaf, a falling raindrop is equivalent in mass to a bowling ball dropping on a person so how does the leaf survive? New research elucidates the raindrop’s impact and the physical dynamics that help the leaf respond, with potential applications for agriculture and renewable-energy harvesting.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: Baltimore’s wastewater plants have made improvements: Will they bring lasting change?

Phys.org


Water-filled chambers that were once clogged with mucky brown sediment or choked by vegetation now run clear. It’s been over two years since Maryland’s largest wastewater treatment plant reached a low point.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

We provide Canadian educational resources on water practices to promote conservation and sustainability. Our team crafts current and relevant content, while encouraging feedback and engagement.

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Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.