News

WCWC is pleased to launch a new course, Disinfection: Chlorine.

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to launch a new course, Disinfection: Chlorine.

This course introduces basic concepts related to chlorine disinfection. It will cover chlorine chemistry, its application in various forms, and factors that affect chlorine reaction. Participants will examine breakpoint chlorination, CT concept and dechlorination. Hazards associated with the use of chlorine, safety precautions and safety equipment will also be discussed.

This course will be most beneficial to newer drinking water treatment operators with a basic understanding of chlorination.

Participants will receive 0.7 Continuing Education Units.

The first sessions of the course will be offered on March 12, 2020 in London, Ontario and May 13, 2020 in Sudbury, Ontario. The cost to register is $360 + HST.

For further information, or to register, please visit wcwc.ca/registration or contact us at 866-515-0550 or training@wcwc.ca.

Walkerton Clean Water Centre Launches Fundamental Math Course

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to launch a new course, Fundamental Math.

This workshop-style course provides drinking water system operators with the opportunity to improve their math skills related to daily operations. Basic concepts will be reviewed, and participants will practice solving calculations related to flow rates, pressure, detention times and dosages using the ABC’s formula/conversion tables. The content incorporates essential math skills required for Operators-In-Training, Class I and II operators and Limited System operators. Participants will receive 0.7 Continuing Education Units.

The new course will be delivered for the first time in conjunction with the Aboriginal Water and Wastewater Association of Ontario’s 25^th Annual General Meeting, Training & Tradeshow Conference, February 25–27, 2020 in Orillia, Ontario. A second session is scheduled on April 28, 2020 in Peterborough, Ontario. The cost to register is $360.00 + HST.

For further information, or to register, please visit wcwc.ca/registration or contact us at 866-515-0550 or training@wcwc.ca.

Small Systems Hands-On Workshop Coming To Peterborough

For the first time, the Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is offering a 10 per cent early-bird discount for registrants of the small systems hands-on workshop. The workshop is geared especially to the owners and operators of small systems defined under Ontario Regulation 170/03 and Ontario Regulation 319/08 and will provide opportunities for training that can be used to maintain the Trained Person designation.

Participants will choose three of four modules focusing on the operation and maintenance of small drinking water systems, earning 0.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs.) Modules are led by industry experts. Planned modules include:

• Sampling, Testing, Adverse Test Results and Corrective Actions
• Small Systems: Maintaining Chemical Pumps — NEW!
• Ultraviolet Disinfection and Maintenance
• Well Maintenance

The workshop will be held on March 25, 2020, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in Peterborough.

The cost to register is $230.00 + HST until February 12, 2020.

For more information, or to register, please visit wcwc.ca/registration or contact us at 866-515-0550 or training@wcwc.ca.

Four Not-To-Be-Missed Events

WCWC will be hosting a number of special training sessions and be represented at key conferences this spring. Lissa Irwin, Training Support Representative, tells us more about four of the upcoming events:

1. March 25, 2020: WCWC Small Systems Hands-On Workshop, Peterborough. WCWC is pleased to be hosting our Small Systems Hands-on Workshop geared especially to the owners and operators of small systems defined under Ontario Regulation 170/03 and Ontario Regulation 319/08. This workshop can be used to maintain a “Trained Person” designation as defined under Ontario Regulation 170/03 or receive CEUs for Limited System operators. Participants will rotate sessions throughout the day, earning 0.6 CEUs.
2. April 1–2, 2020: Provincial Workshop: Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, Barrie. For the ninth year, WCWC is pleased to host the provincial workshops to continue to support QMS representatives, utility managers, supervisors and staff in their role in the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS). Participants will rotate through breakout sessions over these two-day workshops. Each breakout session will be facilitated by an industry expert and will be highly interactive.
3. April 15–16, 2020: Provincial Workshop: Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, Thunder Bay. 
4. May 4–6, 2020: Ontario’s Water Conference & Trade Show, Niagara Falls. Ontario’s Water Conference & Trade Show consistently attracts over 1,000 delegates from all areas of our industry: operators and owners, manufacturers and suppliers, consultants, academics and regulators. The exhibition has more than 100 exhibitors representing the manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to the water industry. This is a great opportunity to network, and stay informed about technical, regulatory, and equipment developments in the industry. The conference offers a total of eight hours of CEUs for operators. WCWC is proud to be a platinum sponsor.

For more information about WCWC, please visit wcwc.ca, contact us at 866-515-0550 or inquiry@wcwc.ca, or meet Lissa at booth 323 at the Ontario Water Works Equipment Association Exchange.

Lissa at the WCWC booth

Chemically Assisted Granular Media Filtration

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) is pleased to announce a new course, Chemically Assisted Granular Media Filtration. This course will provide participants with an overview of all aspects of chemically assisted filtration concepts including operation, performance monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting of both biological and non-biological filters. Topics covered will include a review of pre-treatment processes as they pertain to filter performance and backwashing and starting of filters. Discussion will include a brief review of waterborne disease outbreaks involving filtration facilities.

This course is intended for drinking water operators and water quality managers who are responsible for chemically-assisted filtration processes, provincial drinking water staff who review plans for such plants or who provide technical assistance to plant operators and consultants who are interested in how filtration plants can be designed to facilitate optimal operating practices.

The first public session of this course will be held on March 24, 2020, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Burlington. The cost to register is $360.00 + HST.

Register now at wcwc.ca/registration or contact us at 866-515-0550 or training@wcwc.ca.

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.