Water News

Water News is a free, subscription-based service that provides the latest information on water news across Canada and upcoming events.
The news is distributed weekly on Mondays via a collated email and Monday to Friday via WaterPortal social media (X was Twitter). Please note that news will not be distributed on Holiday Mondays and will be released the following Tuesday.  
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Compare and contrast: News Release 8-Nov-2024′ Greener and cleaner: Yeast-green algae mix improves water treatment

Compare and contrast: News Release 8-Nov-2024′ Greener and cleaner: Yeast-green algae mix improves water treatment

EurekAlert!


The active sludge method of wastewater treatment requires electricity to ensure the flow of oxygen that feeds bacteria and other organisms that process the water. Adding microalgae to conduct photosynthesis, which produces oxygen, improves energy-efficiency, but low carbon dioxide levels hinder their growth. Enter the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which produces carbon dioxide.   Click here to read the story.

Compare and contrast: Microplastics impact cloud formation, likely affecting weather and climate

Compare and contrast: Microplastics impact cloud formation, likely affecting weather and climate

Phys.org


Microplastics act as ice nucleating particles, microscopic aerosols that facilitate the formation of ice crystals in clouds. This means that microplastics could impact precipitation patterns, weather forecasting, climate modeling and even aviation safety by influencing how atmospheric ice crystals form clouds, explained Miriam Freedman, professor of chemistry at Penn State and senior author on the paper.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Climate and Severe Weather.

New dam protecting Canmore from floods

New dam protecting Canmore from floods

Water Canada


Alberta’s government celebrates the completion of a new dam that will help protect Canmore against the flood hazards faced by the mountain community. Steep mountain creeks create a unique public safety risk during a flood because extreme flows can bring down large rocks, trees and other debris with little or no warning. With so many homes and businesses and so much critical infrastructure sitting along or near Cougar Creek, Canmore, a new dam was needed to keep the area safe.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Flood.

Calgary wants to borrow $1B for water projects to meet demands of growing population

Calgary wants to borrow $1B for water projects to meet demands of growing population

CBC


City of Calgary administration outlined a number of major water projects on Tuesday as part of its proposed budget adjustments for 2025.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Compare and contrast: Welsh Water dumped sewage in conservation area

Compare and contrast: Welsh Water dumped sewage in conservation area

BBC News


Tens of thousands of cubic metres of untreated waste water, including sewage, was dumped in a river in 2023, campaigners have said. 56,000 cubic metres – the equivalent of 17 tankers a day – which should have been going to a sewage treatment plant, was instead going into special conservation area the Western Cleddau.   Click here to read the story.

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.