News

2018-2019 Chief Drinking Water Inspector Annual Report and Minister’s Annual Report on Drinking Water 2019 now available

Ontario’s government is taking action to protect the province’s drinking water and water resources as part of its draft Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan to keep Ontarians safe and pass on a cleaner environment to future generations.

Today, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks released the Minister’s Annual Report on Drinking Water 2019 and the 2018-2019 Chief Drinking Water Inspector Annual Report.

The Minister’s Annual Report on Drinking Water 2019 showcases the work Ontario is doing to protect our drinking water and water resources. The Chief Drinking Water Inspector’s Annual Report provides an overview of the ministry’s progress during 2018-19 and includes in-depth information on the performance of Ontario’s drinking water systems and licensed and eligible laboratories.

The reports showcase the province’s strong monitoring, reporting and enforcement activities and programs and how these actions help ensure Ontario’s drinking water is among the best protected in the world.

This includes reporting on the tests results for lead in drinking water. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has not received any reports of lead toxicity in Ontario children that have been linked primarily to drinking water in the last 10 years. At the same time, blood lead levels of Canadians have also declined by over 70 per cent in the past 40 years due to ongoing actions to reduce lead exposure from all sources.

Visit Ontario’s Data Catalogue to see the supporting Drinking Water Quality and Enforcement data. For more information on the drinking water quality and enforcement data, please call the drinking water help line at 1-866-793-2588 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday or email waterforms@ontario.ca.

Scott Carter Joins The Walkerton Clean Water Centre Board Of Directors

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Carter to the board of directors.

Mr. Carter is the Director of Transit Operations for MVT Canada (Barrie Transit) which is a privately held bus and train system serving municipalities throughout North America.

Previously, he was a Senior Engineering Technologist for numerous entities, including the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). During his time at OCWA, he also held positions as the Water Treatment and Transmission Manager (South Peel) and later the Capital Projects Delivery Program Manager (Corporate).

Mr. Carter is a Certified Technologist with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists and holds certification in Project Management and Centre for Maintenance Optimization and Reliability Engineering (C-MORE) from the University of Toronto.

WCWC looks forward to welcoming Mr. Carter as the newest member of the board of directors.

For more information about WCWC, please visit wcwc.ca or contact us at 866-515-0550 or inquiry@wcwc.ca.

More Support Available For Operators Of First Nations Drinking Water Systems

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to announce a new Facebook page dedicated to operators of First Nations drinking water systems. The new resource will help improve the accessibility of information and will provide details on the two courses delivered in partnership with Keewaytinook Okimakanak and the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation, Entry-Level Course for Drinking Water Operators for First Nations and Managing Drinking Water Systems in First Nations Communities.

Clients will also be able to use the page to access information about other resources available, including WCWC’s pilot testing program, helpline and the Drinking Water Resource Library.

WCWC is committed to providing drinking water training and support to help equip First Nations communities to provide safe drinking water. For more information about WCWC’s First Nations training initiatives, please visit www.wcwc.ca/first-nations-zone/ or contact us at 866-515-0550 or training@wcwc.ca, or follow us on Facebook @FirstNationsDrinkingWaterTraining 

Grade Nine Students Step In To Their Future At The Walkerton Clean Water Centre

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is proud to welcome grade nine students to learn more about careers on November 6, 2019 for the national Take Our Kids to Work Day.

Visiting students will have the chance to spend the day job shadowing a parent, friend, relative or volunteer host to explore career opportunities available to them.

Developed by The Learning Partnership in 1994, Take Our Kids to Work Day is an annual event that gives students the opportunity to discover a range of career possibilities and navigate their career interests. The event also gives businesses an opportunity to share knowledge and advice around education, career choices and relevant skills required in today’s workplace. 2019 marks the 25th national Take Our Kids to Work Day.

Take Our Kids to Work Day is Canada’s most recognized career exploration event, with an estimated 200,000 students visiting workplaces every year.

For more information about WCWC, please visit wcwc.ca or contact us at 866-515-0550 or inquiry@wcwc.ca.

WCWC featured as guest blogger on the NCCEH Website: Training and Support for Managing Drinking Water Systems in First Nations Communities in Ontario

As of September 2019, there were 56 long-term drinking water advisories (LTDWA) for public systems on First Nations reserves across Canada. These are either Boil Water advisories or Do Not Consume advisories that have been in effect for more than a year. Of these 56 LTDWA, more than half have been in effect for over a decade and while this is a cross-Canada issue, there is a greater number in Ontario (42) than all other provinces combined.

The Government of Canada has stated a goal of removing all 56 LTDWA by March 2021 but the reasons for the advisories are complex, and can relate to source water issues, system design or failing infrastructure as well as maintenance and operational issues. Building local capacity is one important measure towards ensuring long-term safe drinking water supply in affected communities.

This month, WCWC was invited by The National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH) to blog on the training and support being offered to First Nations Communities in Ontario, as an illustration of one approach to capacity building efforts for improving drinking water quality through training and technical support.  Visit www.ncceh.ca/content/blog/guest-blog-training-and-support-managing-drinking-water-systems-first-nations to view!