 Industry News
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Ottawa Needs a Fresh Approach to Address Drinking Water Regulations for First Nations
Courtesy Water Canada
Ontario Lieutenant Governor Meets with Teachers to Discuss Great Lakes Education
Courtesy Water Canada
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Upcoming Events
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AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario)
Windsor, ON
August 14-15, 2016
OEMC (Ontario East Municipal Conference)
Kingston, ON
September 14-16, 2016
WEFTEC Conference
New Orleans
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Both the Federal and Ontario governments have made significant commitments in their current budgets to support infrastructure investments in Canadian municipalities and First Nation communities, including $2 billion in dedicated funding for water and wastewater infrastructure through the Federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. OCWA's dedicated team of water and wastewater experts can help your community to successfully navigate the funding application process and assist you with your infrastructure needs.
OCWA has successfully supported many Ontario municipalities and First Nations in updating and enhancing their water and wastewater infrastructure. We have the required knowledge and experience to ensure your application consolidates all of the information required for it to be successful. Our expertise starts with capital planning, where we assess the long-term needs of your community and transfer them into a successful business plan to support the infrastructure funding applications, ensuring all funding criteria are clearly met. Once the funding is in place, we'll work closely with you on your infrastructure projects, helping to ensure a seamless delivery from start to finish.
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Getting to NetZero
On March 22, OCWA and The Southern Ontario Water Consortium (SOWC) hosted a full-day forum, the first of a planned series of events, with industry experts, technology companies and end-users.
 The purpose of the event was to facilitate a structured conversation between researchers, companies and end-users (including wastewater treatment plant operators) on the future of wastewater treatment and the transition to energy neutral, or "net-zero" facilities. The day highlighted specific case studies in both energy reduction and energy production and resource recovery and the challenges that much be overcome to see broader technology adoption. Discussions focused on key challenges and opportunities within the wastewater sector and what can be done to advance the commercialization and adoption of new technologies and approaches.
Over 50 attendees listened to industry experts from OCWA, SOWC, WaterTAP, MOECC and CH2M Hill participate in panel discussions on the current state of the industry and possibilities for a treatment facility to get to net zero, setting the stage for the day. The rest of the day included breakout group discussions and a visit to the SOWC London Wastewater Demonstration Facility.
Stay tuned for more information about the next forum, which is scheduled to take place in September.
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Board of Directors Announcements
OCWA is pleased to welcome three new members to the Agency's Board of Directors.
Jon Dogterom
Jon leads Cleantech Venture Services at MaRS, assisting innovative Ontario-based companies in growing their businesses. He is also part of the Management Board of the Advanced Energy Centre, a public-private partnership that was co-founded and is hosted by MaRS Cleantech with a focus on innovative domestic energy programs and strengthening international relationships to drive exports, and a member of the Ontario Smart Grid Forum. Jon has an extensive background in early-stage and high-growth alternative energy companies. Prior to joining MaRS, he led business development for Hydrogenics Corporation, where he focused on strategic partnerships, product development, and sales and marketing. He was also involved in the introduction and launch of the company's fuel cell and hydrogen generation divisions. Jon also previously worked with The Pembina Institute, leading corporate-consulting services on low-impact renewable energy and energy policy. In 1997 he co-founded Sustainable Energy Technologies, a leading Canadian provider of power electronics for the solar power industry.
Brenda Lucas
 Brenda is the Executive Director for the Southern Ontario Water Consortium (SOWC). Since 2011, SOWC has helped water companies access unique facilities for real world demonstration, find the right researcher match across its 10 academic partner institutions and leverage R&D investments. With support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, SOWC has recently established the Advancing Water Technologies fund for collaborative demonstration projects by southern Ontario water companies. As Senior Policy Advisor to two Ontario Ministers of Environment, Brenda played a key role in the introduction and passage of the Water Opportunities Act. She is a member of the Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW Canada).
Mitchell Zamojc
 Mitchell brings over 40 years of experience within the Ontario engineering industry to OCWA, including 25 years in senior management positions with the Regional Municipalities of Peel and Halton. During his tenure in the public sector, Mitchell managed operational programs and progressive innovation in a wide range of municipal business areas.As Commissioner of Public Works for the Regions of Peel and Halton, he was responsible for a number of portfolios, including water, wastewater, solid waste, transportation, metering, fleet, Public Works facilities and buildings.
We look forward to working with Jon, Brenda and Mitchell and benefitting from their insight and years of experience.
Additions to the OCWA's Executive Management Team
Earlier this year, OCWA welcomed Alicia Fraser to our Executive Management Team as our VP of Engineering, Capital and Support Services. Prior to joining OCWA, Alicia held progressively senior roles with the City of Toronto and in the Engineering and Construction Services industry where she spent the past 10 years as a consulting engineer, designing and project managing water and wastewater plants throughout Ontario. In her new role, Alicia will guide the team providing technical expertise and capital solutions support to OCWA's operations so that they can deliver total solutions to our clients.
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| Congratulations OCWA Jets! | |
Congratulations to the OCWA Jets for placing first overall in the Operations Challenge at WEAO in April! The Jets earned top scores in the Maintenance, Safety, Collection and Lab events. We wish them all the best as they go on to compete at WEFTEC - taking place in New Orleans - in September!
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| OCWA in the Community | |
SCINNOVATION 2016 HELPS STUDENTS TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE!
OCWA lead sponsor in event held on Earth Day at Ryerson University
On April 22, 70 grade eight students from Nelson Mandela Park Public School and Winchester Jr. & Sr. Public School gathered at Ryerson University in celebration of Earth Day to tackle climate change issues and their effect on the Great Lakes. The students, who were there as part of the SCInnovation 2016, were grouped in teams, each of which was paired with a mentor possessing water, science and/or environmental expertise and asked to come up with ideas on things that could be done to adapt to climate change. The teams then pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, in hopes of winning the opportunity to have their idea implemented in their local community. The day opened with a blessing from the First Nations representative, Michelle Peltier, who welcomed participants to the traditional territory. Throughout the day, the students worked with their mentors to pin down their ideas, with help from Microsoft's web research team. They also had the opportunity to hear from Ryerson University's Faculty of Science professors on the implications of climate change and learn about specific areas of focus.
Her Honour Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, addressed the students about the environment and their ability to make a difference in the world. She also stayed to listen to the students pitch their ideas, which ranged from creating public service announcements for water conservation to building rooftop-friendly gardens.
The judges had a hard time choosing a winner, but the honour ultimately went to "Team Water Savers", whose pitch consisted of collecting and using storm water to maintain sports fields and facilities - at the same time- help abate flooding into Toronto homes.
Ryerson's Social Venture Zone will be working with the students to implement their idea in the local community, thanks to seed money provided by IBM.
OCWA was proud to support SCInnovation 2016. This year's climate change and Great Lakes theme aligns with our new education module The Changing Great Lakes, piloted this school year as part of the OneWater® Educational Program.
"We are pleased to once again support SCInnovation - this is a unique event that allows students to be part of an important discussion about the environmental issues we are facing in Ontario - and the world," said Robin Kind, OCWA's Executive Vice-President and General Counsel. "OCWA operators work hard every day to provide clean safe water for communities they serve. They experience firsthand the effect that climate change is having on the Great Lakes. Events like SCInnovation help students, our leaders of tomorrow, become empowered through to take actions in their community that protect water and the environment."
We look forward to seeing the winning idea put into action!
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| | "Team Water Savers" poses with their mentors and the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell after winning the pitch session at SCInnovation 2016 |
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| I Don't Flush Campaign Encourages Proper Toilet Use Habits! |
We are pleased to announce - together with our partner The Clean Water Foundation - the next phase of our I Don't Flush public awareness campaign, which encourages the appropriate disposal of personal hygiene products. Following-up on the extremely successful initial campaign, which dealt with the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals, the new campaign reminds the public that only three things should ever be flushed down the toilet! Thank you to our sponsors: Regional Municipality of York, Town of Mississippi Mills, Niagara Region, City of Barrie and Town of Bradford/West Gwillimbury. launched in May, the campaign has so far generated approximately 14 million media impressions! Visit www.idontflush.ca for more info.
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