A photograph of an library with many old books in many shelves and alcoves

News Archive
News tags
News tags

Future of First Nations Clean Water Act could be dead in the water with prorogation

National Observer


Under a prorogation, all bills that did not reach royal assent are wiped off the board and must be reintroduced once Parliament returns to sit. Parliament will be prorogued until March 24, and it’s unclear if the First Nations Clean Water Act will be brought back onto the legislative table before an election is triggered.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Governance.

Water monitoring group says pesticides in a northern Ontario river can lead to cancer and other issues

CBC


“We have been studying the river for two years and we have data for year one only,” Hasan said. “Into 2024, we have taken 50 more samples and we are waiting for the data. The key finding is that we detected 23 pesticides in the river. The highest detected pesticide was Atrazine, which was found in 87% of the samples.”.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: New research shows a quarter of freshwater animals are threatened with extinction

The Associated Press


Nearly a quarter of animals living in rivers, lakes and other freshwater sources are threatened with extinction, according to new research published the journal Nature on Wednesday.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: How we classify flood risk may give developers, home buyers a false sense of security

Science Daily


Traditional methods of communicating how likely an area is to flood focus on designating which zones are ‘high risk.’ This study suggests that this framing may give developers and homeowners a false sense of security when settling directly outside of ‘high risk’ zones, believing them to be safe. This phenomenon is known as the ‘safe development paradox,’ and results in an over-concentration of development right next to areas most likely to flood.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Flood.

Compare and contrast: Floods linked to rise in US deaths from several major causes

Science Daily


Over the last 20 years, large floods were associated with up to 24.9 percent higher death rates from major mortality causes in the U.S. compared to normal conditions. A new study demonstrates the sweeping and hidden effects of floods –including floods unrelated to hurricanes, such as those due to heavy rain, snowmelt, or ice jams.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Flood.

Compare and contrast: Reducing irrigation for livestock feed crops is needed to save Great Salt Lake, study argues

Science Daily


The Great Salt Lake has lost more than 15 billion cubic yards of water over the past three decades, is getting shallower at the rate of 4 inches a year, and an analysis of its water budget suggests reducing irrigation is necessary for saving it.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Drought.

As bird flu concerns grow, Alberta researchers hope to launch wastewater monitoring for livestock

CBC


Alberta researchers are working to expand wastewater surveillance into the agriculture sector in an effort to identify early warning signs and protect against potential threats, including H5N1 avian influenza.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Compare and contrast: New research reveals groundwater pathways across continent

Science Daily


Researchers have created a simulation that maps underground water on a continental scale. The result of three years’ work studying groundwater from coast to coast, the findings plot the unseen path that each raindrop or melted snowflake takes before reemerging in freshwater streams, following water from land surface to depths far below and back up again, emerging up to 100 miles away, after spending from 10 to 100,000 years underground.   Click here to read the story.

Meet the researcher who thinks about water so you don’t have to

Water Canada


From drinking-water safety to wastewater testing for infections like COVID-19, Dr. Gagnon and a cross-disciplinary team of researchers work every day to help solve a wide range of water-related science and technology problems.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: Hydrological-hydraulic modelling to assess Nature-Based Solutions for flood risk mitigation in an urban area of Catania (Sicily, Italy)

ScienceDirect


Journal article: Traditional interventions, based on grey infrastructure approaches, have demonstrated ineffectiveness in managing stormwater in urban environments under the pressures of climate change and urbanization. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and related measures such as Green Urban Infrastructures (GUIs) have emerged as advantageous solutions for climate resilience that contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation by minimizing water quantity and improving water quality.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Flood.

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.

The Canada WaterPortal is a registered charity, #807121876RR0001

Facebook Youtube Linkedin X-twitter Instagram
Land Acknowledgement

We recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples and communities on whose land our work takes place.

Keep In Touch
1500, 850 2nd St SW
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0R8
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Donate
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

© 2025 All Rights Reserved.

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.