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: Drinking Water Recall: More Than 150,000 Bottles Pulled From Shelves Over Bacteria Risk

Compare and contrast: Drinking Water Recall: More Than 150,000 Bottles Pulled From Shelves Over Bacteria Risk

Health.com


More than 150,000 bottles of water have been recalled due to the presence of coliforms, according to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notice. In all, 151,397.75 bottles of water are affected by the recall.   Click here to read the story.

Residents want clarity on water quality from West Kelowna council

Residents want clarity on water quality from West Kelowna council

Lake County Calendar


A group of residents is calling for increased transparency and better communication regarding water quality and testing at the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant (RVWTP), citing concerns over manganese levels and potential health risks. Group spokesperson Scott Beaton said his review of the master plan found that the city, and consultant AECOM, supported the decision to select the reservoir despite evidence the consultant provided showing it would not meet the standards it set.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Compare and contrast: New Jersey declares drought warning and urges residents to reduce water use

Compare and contrast: New Jersey declares drought warning and urges residents to reduce water use

NBC News

New Jersey’s governor issued a drought warning Wednesday and said the state could implement mandatory water restrictions if conditions worsen. A record dry spell has led to the driest conditions New Jersey has had in nearly 120 years, prompting a staggering increase in the number of wildfires, state officials said at a news conference.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Drought.

Drinking Water Operator and Municipality Fined a Total of $10,000 for Safe Drinking Water Act Violations

Drinking Water Operator and Municipality Fined a Total of $10,000 for Safe Drinking Water Act Violations

Government of Ontario Court Bulletin


The conviction against Terrance Zapf is for, as the operator in charge of a drinking water system, failing to operate processes in a safe and efficient manner in accordance with relevant operations manuals.” The conviction against the Corporation of the Township of Pickle Lake is for, as the owner of a drinking water system, failing to meet sampling/testing requirements for free chlorine residual.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

Massive infrastructure deficits trigger huge water and wastewater budget increase

Massive infrastructure deficits trigger huge water and wastewater budget increase

The Niagara Independent


Niagara Region will be hitting taxpayers with significant water bill increase after the budget committee voted to approve a 12.27 per cent 2025 budget increase for water and wastewater. The increase is necessary, according to officials, because of deteriorating infrastructure.   Click here to read the story.   Click the following link for more information on Infrastructure.

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.