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First Nations around Ontario’s Lake Nipigon come together to protect their waters

The Narwhal


Six years ago, Rocky Bay First Nation an Indigenous community of more than 1,000 people just north of Lake Superior began to study the health of their food and water. Worried about the impacts of paper mills, mines and other industrial activities on the water systems that lead to the world’s largest freshwater lake, fishers from the community collected fish for food and to test for contaminants, particularly mercury.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Governance.

Compare and contrast: California’s fire hydrants are running dry just when the L.A. fires need them most

Fast Company


L.A. officials have come under attack for its water management system, but experts say it isn’t the only city to see its public water system stressed as climate change exacerbates wildfires.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Compare and contrast: Rice researchers find dialysis ‘astonishingly effective’ for treating wastewater

EurekAlert!


Researchers at Rice University, in collaboration with Guangdong University of Technology, have uncovered an innovative approach to treating high-salinity organic wastewaters streams containing both elevated salt and organic concentrations by employing dialysis, a technology borrowed from the medical field.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: Rapid return of water from ground to atmosphere through plants

Science Daily


A new study provides the first comprehensive global estimates of the amount of water stored in Earth’s plants and the amount of time it takes for that water to flow through them. The information is a missing piece of the puzzle in understanding the global water cycle and how that cycle is being altered by changes in land use and climate.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Climate and Severe Weather.

Compare and contrast: Tibet quake highlights earthquake risk for dams on roof of the world

Reuters


Some 68 major dams in the Himalayan region exploit the enormous hydropower potential of high-altitude lakes and rivers – just a fifth of which has been tapped, researchers say, but face seismic risks.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: Alien Water Hyacinth is Lethal for Lakes-But it’s Being Turned into Biodegradable Plastic Bags and Plant Pots

Good News Network


Blooming in an ornamental pond, the water hyacinth seems lovely and harmless, but look at how it can take over freshwater ecosystems like Kenya’s Lake Naivasha, and one can understand why the UN set up a program specifically to combat this aquatic plant.   Click here to read the story.

West Nipissing water bill rising 5.6 per cent

Bay Today


Alisa Craddock, West Nipissing’s treasurer, clarified that on average, “The increase is $86 per year for those with both water and sewer.” That amounts to just over seven dollars per month for the typical home. Mayor Kathleen Thorne Rochon said, “As a municipality, we have aging infrastructure. We need to continue to boost our investment into capitol projects so that we can meet future needs of our community.”.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Compare and contrast: Flooding’s Hidden Killers Include Heart Attacks and Infections

Scientific American


A new study found that flood deaths can rise by 25 percent three months after a disaster.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Flood.

Compare and contrast: The Renewable Energy Transition Has Residents of a Small Arizona Town on Edge

Inside Climate News


A plan to mine for vital minerals in the Patagonia Mountains will release millions of gallons of groundwater and could impact the community’s consumable water.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: Border Agency Seeks Solutions With Mexico on Water, Sewage Problems

Inside Climate News


On the U.S.-Mexico border, the International Boundary and Water Commission has the unglamorous job of stopping sewage flows and negotiating water disputes. Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner has earned allies in long-standing border conflicts, a job that won’t get any easier under Trump.   Click here to read the story.

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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.