Our Opening Plenary session will feature an introduction to our webinar series and our platform followed by a discussion between our Executive Director Robert Haller and Member of Parliament for La- Saint-Louis Francis Scarpaleggia.

“All Things Water at the Federal Level” – Robert will chat with Francis about the federal government’s intentions with regard to major water initiatives including: federal coordination on Source Water Protection, the Canada Water Agency, Flood Risk and Drought, Natural Infrastructure, the National Infrastructure Assessment and more.

David Main, AECOM and CWWA President

Francis Scarpaleggia, Member of Parliament

Francis Scarpaleggia was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004. He has made the protection of Canada’s freshwater his personal priority as a legislator, introducing bills and motions in the House of Commons and in parliamentary committee with a view to bringing attention to key freshwater issues. He has collaborated with numerous water experts in promoting the federal water agenda. Francis is Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. 

Carl Yates, Interim CEO, Atlantic First Nations Water Authority Inc.

Carl Yates has extensive experience in the water utility profession having served as Project Engineer, Chief Engineer and General Manager of Halifax Water from 1988 to 2019.  After retirement from Halifax Water in July 2019, he formed his own consulting company, Yates Water Management, to promote and support sustainable water management.  In June 2020, Mr. Yates was appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer for the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority [AFNWA] which was formed to provide water and wastewater services to First Nations communities in the Atlantic region. The AFNWA represents an innovative approach for First Nations in their pursuit of self-determination and a sustainable solution to pressing water and wastewater problems.

Mr. Yates obtained a Bachelor of Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1984 and a Master of Applied Science from the Technical University of Nova Scotia [now Dalhousie University] in 1992.

Mr. Yates received the AWWA George Warren Fuller Award in 2010 for exemplary leadership and contributions to the waterworks industry.  In 2019, he was awarded the NS Engineers Sexton Gold Medal for exceptional achievements in engineering practice and contributions to society.  In 2021, Mr. Yates was awarded the AWWA Abel Wolman Award of Excellence in recognition of his career in the water profession that exemplifies vision, creativity, and excellent professional performance.

One thing that has become clear as we look at water efficiency programs across Canada is how diverse the experience, drivers and progress are across the country. This session will explore this reality by presenting three case studies of utilities at very different places in their water efficiency journey, to explore the greater themes of what is driving water efficiency, water are the barriers, and what does the future of water efficiency look like.

Presentations

Session Speakers

Ron Burke, Alliance for Water Efficiency

Mr. Burke became the CEO and President of the Alliance for Water Efficiency on March 22, 2021. Ron spent the first twenty years of his career working on environmental policy and programs as an Environmental Scientist for the U.S.  EPA, the Environmental Health Director and Deputy Executive Director for the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, the Associate Director for the Illinois EPA, and Midwest Office Director for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

More recently, he was Executive Director of the Chicago-based Active Transportation Alliance for nine years and ran government relations for Lyft’s bike share and scooter share programs in the Central U.S.  

 Mr. Burke earned an M.S. from Washington University’s Department of Engineering and Policy and did his undergraduate work in life sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. 

Bill Christiansen, Alliance for Water Efficiency

Bill is the Director of Programs at the Alliance for Water Efficiency.  Bill has been in the water industry since 2002 when he got his start working for Planning and Management Consultants, Ltd. in Carbondale, IL.  Bill joined the Alliance for Water Efficiency in 2007. 

Bill’s work has included research related to many facets of water resource management such as policy analysis, water conservation program planning and evaluation, benefit-cost analysis, drought planning, and water rate evaluation.  He has worked with water utilities throughout the United States and Canada and has traveled to the countries of China and Jordan on work related adventures.  Bill’s favorite part of working for AWE is connecting with, and supporting, all its great members.

Neal Klassen, City of Vancouver

Neal Klassen is a Policy Analyst with the City of Vancouver, responsible for water efficiency education and regulation in the residential sector.  He is a veteran in the water conservation industry, with over 25 years working on diverse projects like the City of Kelowna’s Water Smart Program, and the Columbia Basin Trust’s Water Conservation Program, which was the largest integrated water conservation program in British Columbia. 

In Vancouver, Klassen leads the residential water metering initiative as well as developing other demand side management programs.  Klassen has a Masters Degree in Environmental Education and Communication, and is also co-chair of the CWWA’s Water Efficiency Committee.

Dan Meagher, Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Dan is currently the Supervisor, Water Programs for the Region of Waterloo. After graduating from the University of Waterloo, Dan landed with the Ontario Government in a variety of communications and policy roles before joining the Region of Waterloo to help create a communications strategy for the Social Services department. Dan joined Water Services at the Region in 2004 and spent many years as a communications and project manager for Water Efficiency, implementing a permanent Water Conservation Bylaw, school education program, rainwater harvesting program and other community wide initiatives. More recently, he has served as a communications and public engagement adviser on projects including the Biosolids Strategy and water system upgrades. Dan now supervises an amalgamated team of source protection and water efficiency program coordinators and technologists.

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Water and wastewater utilities are looking for ways to use energy more efficiently. This not only has the potential to save significant costs in providing safe water and protect our environment, but also is a keystone in reducing urban carbon footprints. This session will examine the drivers towards utilities becoming “net zero”, ways to achieve this goal from building an energy efficiency plan to the importance of energy audits.

Presentations

Session Speakers

Indra Maharjan, Ontario Clean Water Agency

Indra Maharjan currently leads OCWA’s Innovation, Efficiency and Technology group and delivers solutions around energy, climate change and resource recovery to 220 plus municipal clients across Ontario. His unique ability to work with stakeholders to develop and deliver innovative solutions has resulted in 250 plus energy efficiency projects and 5+ codigestion projects in Ontario.

Indra is passionate about Water Energy GHG nexus and have worked across sectorial industry collaboration to promote this. He is also amid volunteer with WEF, AWWA, OWWA, WEAO, ONEIA, Ryerson Urban Water, OSPE and PEO committees and has been an active mentor/ mentee for YPs and newcomers in this sector.

Rebecca Dziedzic, Concordia University

Dr. Rebecca Dziedzic is an Assistant Professor of the University of Concordia Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Her research expertise lies in developing decision support methods for sustainable infrastructure, particularly water systems. Prior to joining Concordia, Dr. Dziedzic worked as an asset management consultant and now continues to collaborate with industry professionals in order to better respond to current urban challenges.

Morris Liu, City of Calgary

Morris is a senior engineer leading the energy management team at the City of Calgary’s Water Utility. He has been working in the water and wastewater industries and utility for last twenty years. The areas he and his team searched for saving opportunities in energy use, cost and GHG emission reduction for the Calgary Water utility range from rotating equipment efficiency to power quality improvement, from bill monitoring to solar projects facilitating and fund application.

Chris Tse, City of Calgary

Chris is a Planning Engineer with about ten years of experience at Calgary’s water and wastewater utility. He manages the utility’s energy audit projects and various water and wastewater infrastructure planning projects. His priorities are to help the utility make smart energy choices by analyzing energy data, researching industry developments and providing operational support to his peers, along with helping the utility reach a long term goal of operating energy neutral wastewater treatment plants in the future.

Qing Zhang, Epcor Water Utilities

Gary Leatherman, Adivisian

As our world moves increasingly online – from managing aspects of our water system, to customer information and critical systems cyber security is becoming increasingly acute. A 2021 cyber attack on a water system in Florida demonstrated how vulnerable water systems can be. This session will explore the tools available to secure your cyber utility and the executive issues that threaten our systems.

Presentations

Session Speakers

Bryan E. Hurd, Aon Cyber Solutions, Seattle

Bryan E. Hurd is a globally recognized expert in protecting critical infrastructure and has served as a US government executive and industry leader addressing threats of cyberterrorism, cyber breaches, attacks on critical infrastructure, and espionage for over 27 years. Mr. Hurd founded the US Navy’s first ever Cyber Counterintelligence program for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in 1993. He holds numerous certifications in computer security, forensics, and is also board certified antiterrorism officer, and is a graduate of the US Naval Academy.

He was the Chief of Operations for the Directorate of Terrorist Identities for the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and was awarded US Intelligence Community Exceptional Meritorious Service Award his leadership at the national level of watchlisting for the Boston Marathon Bombing and other national incidents. He founded the computer forensics program at EDS (now HP) and was Microsoft’s first ever chief of intelligence for Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit at the Cybercrime Center. He currently leads Aon Cyber Solutions (Stroz Friedberg) Seattle office. Aon Cyber’s teams offer security program and architecture development, computer forensics, incident/breach response, penetration testing, electronic discovery, litigation support, M&A Cyber Due Diligence, and investigative/fraud teams responding to some of the largest fraud cases and cyber breaches in the US, Canada and around the globe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanhurd/

Graham Nasby, City of Guelph

Graham Nasby, P.Eng, PMP, CAP, FS.Eng holds the position of Water SCADA & Security Specialist at City of Guelph Environmental Services, a public water utility located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Prior to joining Guelph Water in 2015, he spent 10 years in the engineering consulting community after completing his B.Sc.(Eng) at the University of Guelph. He is senior member of the International Society of Automation (ISA) and co-chair of the ISA112 SCADA System Standards Committee. He is also active on the CSA P125, ISA18, ISA101 and IEC-TC65A committees. Mr. Nasby is a member of both AWWA and WEF, and currently sits on the Ontario Water Works Association’s Automation Committee. In 2021, he received the Standards Excellence award from the International Society of Automation for his contributions to consensus-based technical standards in the municipal water sector. Contact: graham.nasby@guelph.ca

Thomas Kuczynski, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water)

Thomas Kuczynski is the Vice President of Information Technology for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) and the President of Blue Drop. Tom joined DC Water in August 2013 and heads up an IT team of 60 individuals and a $20 million budget to develop applications that support all aspects of DC Water’s business. As President of Blue Drop, Tom leads the team responsible for generating non-ratepayer revenue from various products and services including Bloom, intellectual property and other non-traditional revenue sources.

Tom has more than 40 years of experience in utility management and operations including nearly 30 years at Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) in two separate terms of employment. As Senior Vice President, Strategic and Information Services for PGW Tom was responsible for managing Strategic Planning, Enterprise Performance Management, Information Services and Internal Auditing. He has significant experience in a wide range of utility information technology solutions including customer information system, credit and collections, ERP, SCADA, GIS, AMI and mobile work management.  Recently he led the development of DC Water’s Pipe Sleuth an AI and machine learning solution for automated defect detection of sewer pipe videos.

He has also worked for Pacific Gas & Electric’s National Energy Group as Director of Technology Strategic Planning and Architecture, and for Delmarva Power in Wilmington, Delaware where he provided IT Strategic Planning Services to the Energy Supply Group.

Tom is a graduate of La Salle College of Philadelphia and the Executive MBA program at University of Maryland University College.

While every Canadian flushes their toilet, the resulting biosolids are not all managed the same across our nation.  This session highlights the diverse approaches taken by presenting six examples from across Canada.  Viewers can gain an appreciation of the diversity and might provide them with ideas that might apply to their communities.   

Session Speakers

Sarah Mason-Renton, Lystek

Sarah’s career has focused on the intersection of environmental sustainability, biological processes, and community and social issues, particularly in the rural and agricultural sector. Sarah brings experience with consultation and engagement processes in the environmental consulting and academic sectors and has focused her work on biosolids resource recovery projects for the last 10 years.  

As Business Development Manager, Sarah works to drive Lystek’s growth across Canada and the Midwestern and Eastern United States. She brings her interdisciplinary expertise to her role at Lystek and is responsible for technical assessments, business case evaluations, communications, and stakeholder engagement. Sarah works with customers and prospects to understand generators’ needs and help to develop resource recovery solutions that best suit each facility.

John Laverly, Sylvis

John Lavery has been involved in biosolids research and recycling since 2001. After obtaining his MSc in Forest Ecology (biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling) from the University of British Columbia, John pursued opportunities in New Zealand, where he developed a strong reputation in land treatment and beneficial use of wastes as the Technical Manager for the New Zealand Land Treatment Collective. Throughout his career, he has undertaken work for, or collaborated with, governments, municipalities, and private industry in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, France, Australia and Chile. His experience is broad and spans all aspects of the residuals management continuum for both liquid and solid residuals.

John has been a key industry practitioner in Canada for over 10 years. At SYLVIS, John is a Senior Environmental Scientist and Business Development Manager. His wealth of experience and knowledge with all aspects of residuals management plays a critical role in SYLVIS’s project success. John has been instrumental in the development of beneficial use programs for the City of Calgary, the City of Prince George, Metro Vancouver, and the City of Edmonton. He is well-recognized for his innovative approaches using residuals as a tool in solve environmental challenges. He is the visionary behind the BIOSALIX program, an innovative mine operational-scale mine reclamation project that utilizes municipal biosolids from the City of Edmonton to amend the existing topsoil and to establish a willow biomass plantation

Blair Benn, Lambourne Environmental

Blair was born in Saskatoon, Sk. but moved with his family to Alberta in 1967.  Blair attended the University of Calgary studying Microbiology for 2.5 years before transferring to the University of  Alberta, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Post graduation, Blair worked in livestock feed sales, and later was nutrient manager for a 30,000 head feedlot, where he directed a large scale composting operation creating valuable class A compost for use on agricultural land.  Currently Blair is President of Lambourne Environmental Ltd, an Alberta based water and wastewater company specializing in beneficial reuse of municipal and industrial biosolids in western and northern Canada.

Darren Keam, WSP

Darren Keam, M.Sc. P.Ag.  Darren is a Regional Manager and Senior Soil Scientist for the WSP Canada Inc. of the Environment and Geotechnical Services in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Darren has over 22 years of experience in agriculture and environmental management consulting.  As a Professional Agrologist he provides agri-environmental advisory services for the land application of biosolids in Manitoba providing guidance to municipal clients for the sustainable and beneficial reuse of nutrients for cooperating farm producers.  Darren also completed his Master of Science in Environment and Management, evaluating the suitability of lagoon wastewater irrigation in the Interlake region of Manitoba.    

Richard MacEwen, Charlottetown Water and Sewer Utility 

Richard MacEwen is the Manager of the Charlottetown Water and Sewer Utility. He has worked with the Utility since 2011. He holds a Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of New Brunswick, and a Masters Degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London. Prior to joining the City of Charlottetown, he worked as an environmental consultant based in PEI, a water resources advisor in Vanuatu and an infrastructure manager in Ghana. Richard is the PEI representative on the CWWA Board of Directors. 

Drinking water quality, and consumer perception of that quality is greatly impacted by numerous factors. Water utilities are finding themselves grappling with new challenges – from the growing threat of algal growth due to climate change to shifting water taste due to changing water chemistry. This session will explore these emerging challenges in water management – from detection to public outreach.

Presentations

Session Speakers

Andrea Dietrich, University of Virginia

Dr. Andrea M. Dietrich is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech with over twenty-five years of experience in teaching, research, and consulting within the interdisciplinary field of environmental engineering and sciences. Her areas of expertise are drinking water treatment, aesthetic issues – taste, odor, color- drinking water, water quality, fate and transport of organic and inorganic chemicals. She has authored over 150 refereed journal articles, reports, and book chapters, plus provided lectures and hands-workshops on tastes-and-odors in water throughout the globe. She is the past chair of the AWWA’s Taste and Odor Committee and the chair of the International Water Association’s Specialist Group on Tastes, Odours, and Algal Toxins in Drinking Water Resources and Aquaculture.

Dr. Dietrich earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology from Boston College, a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Engineering from Drexel University, and a Doctorate in Environmental Science and Engineering at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Sebastien Sauve, City of Montreal

Sébastien Sauvé is Associate Dean of Research and Creation of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the Université de Montréal. He is full professor in Environmental Chemistry at the Université de Montréal and outgoing academic director of the Institut EDDEC (environment, sustainable development and circular economy). He is also foreign correspondent to the Académie d’Agriculture de France. He has studied at McGill University and Cornell University. He directs a group of about twenty students and researchers that work on a variety of subjects going from contaminated soils, circular economy, blue-green algae, ultratrace analysis using mass spectrometry, as well as the impacts of emerging contaminants on health and the environment. He has been invited to many international conferences and has research partners on all continents. He received the AFCAS Michel-Jurdant Prize in environmental sciences.

Sandra Lagauzere, Microbia Environment

Sandra Lagauzere holds the position of Business Developer at Microbia Environnement, a French company offering a novel molecular tool for detecting harmful microorganisms in water, in particular bloom-forming toxigenic cyanobacteria. Graduated in biology and environmental sciences, Sandra has been involved for ten years in diverse research projects in ecotoxicology, biogeochemistry and ecological modelling of freshwater ecosystems, at different French and German institutes. With an additional seven-year experience in the biotechnology industry sector, Sandra has been convinced by the capacity of Microbia Environnement for game-changing anticipation of microbial contaminations. She is now taking the challenge to boost the development of the young company and to spread its solutions for improving water quality surveillance.

This session will be an interactive consultation with representatives from Environment and Climate Change explaining the proposed changes and providing delegates with an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

This session will explore key issues in the Water Resources chapter from Natural Resources Canada’s “Canada in a Changing Climate: National Issues” report along with case study presentations from across the country on adaptation and mitigation on a local level.  Firstly the authors of the Water Resources Chapter in the National Issues Report will provide a summary on the chapter and a national overview on the preparedness of the country to climate change pressures.  This will be followed by case studies from across the country ranging from assessing vulnerability of infrastructure to climate change in Halifax, Nova Scotia, quantifiying GHG emissions from treatment facilities in Toronto, to adapting to climate change pressures in the Okanagan Basin out in the west of the country.

Presentations

Session Speakers

Hayley Carlson, University of Saskatchewan

Hayley co-led the development of the Water Resources Chapter for Natural Resources Canada’s Canada in a Changing Climate series while working for Global Water Futures, a research program focusing on pan-Canadian water issues. She has a BSc. in Environmental and Conservation Sciences with distinction from the University of Alberta, majoring in the human dimensions of environmental management. Her Public Policy Master’s research focused on the influence of stakeholder policy narratives on decision-making about water. She currently works as a Policy Analyst for Prairies Economic Development Canada, is President of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, and a board member with the SES Solar Co-operative.

Dr. Alain Pietroniro. University of Calgary

Dr. Alain Pietroniro is an internationally recognized expert in hydrology and sustainable water systems, who has spent almost three decades studying water resources engineering. A full Professor of Civil Engineering at University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering, Dr. Pietroniro’s research is focused on improving, developing and evaluating hydrologic models, understanding the sensitivity of water resources to climate variability and change, and developing the next generation of hydrological modelling systems. Dr. Pietroniro is the former Executive director for the National Hydrological Service within the Meteorological Service of Canada which included the management of the Water Survey of Canada.

David Blades, Halifax Water

David is the Infrastructure Program Manager within the Asset Management team at Halifax Water.  Responsible for long term infrastructure planning, hydraulic modelling, and corporate flow monitoring programs, David works to provide information to various Halifax Water stakeholders to facilitate data driven decision making in the prioritization of capital and operating needs.

With the exception of a brief hiatus in Fredericton to complete a Civil Engineering degree at the University of New Brunswick, David is a lifelong resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Emily Zegers, City of Toronto

Emily is a Senior Engineer in Toronto Water’s Process, Innovation and Energy group with 20 years of water industry experience.  Her focus areas include wastewater process optimization, instrumentation and data management, water reuse, and GHG emissions.  Emily is past chair of WEAO’s Wastewater Treatment and Technologies Committee and current chair of the OWWA/WEAO Climate Change Committee.  She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University.

Anna Warwick Sears, Okanagan Basin Water Board

Anna Warwick Sears is the Executive Director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board, a collaborative local government agency focused on water science, management and sustainability of the Okanagan watershed.  Raised in B.C., Dr. Sears received a PhD in population biology at the University of California – Davis, returning to Canada in 2006 to work for the Water Board. She currently serves as a member of the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control, appointed by the International Joint Commission.

Plastics have become inescapable in our daily life – from packaging, to clothing and even personal care products – plastics are everywhere. There’s growing research that plastics and microplastics are having lasting, damaging impacts on marine and freshwater environments. This session will explore not only the growing problem, but the municipal wastewater system contribution and what technologies and outreach programs are available to mitigate this growing problem.

Session Speakers

Dr. Shreyas Patankar, Ocean Wise

Dr. Shreyas Patankar is a Research Scientist at the Ocean Wise Plastics Lab. Shreyas works on forensic analysis of environmental microplastics, using infrared spectroscopy, microscopy, and data science tools. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied nonlinear optical properties of quantum materials. Shreyas’ research interests include materials science, energy technology, and science policy.

Stephanie Wang, Ocean Wise

Stephanie Wang is the Lab Manager for the Ocean Wise Plastics Lab. Stephanie’s research focus is on wastewater facilities as major urban sources and pathways of microplastics emission, and on analytical techniques to study urban liquid waste. She holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Queen’s University. Before Ocean Wise, she worked on conservation data mapping of the Ottawa River boundary and on plantation restoration of stormwater ponds in the Ottawa area.

Carrol Nicolls, Metro Vancouver

Carol Nicolls is a Communications Specialist with Metro Vancouver. She has spent the past nine years talking to the general public about wastewater issues, including four behaviour change campaigns. Prior to joining Metro Vancouver, Carol worked as a Communications Officer with the World Health Organization (focusing on HIV/AIDS financing and malaria), and as a city planner. Carol has a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning. 

Dana Zheng, Metro Vancouver

Dana Zheng is the Source Control Program Manager with Metro Vancouver’s Liquid Waste Services and leads a team dedicated to preventing and reducing liquid waste contaminants from entering the region’s wastewater systems. Prior to this role, Dana focused on drinking water policy and planning for Metro Vancouver. She has a Master’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from McGill University.

Banu Ormeci, Carleton University

Dr. Banu Örmeci received her MS and Ph.D. degrees from Duke University (USA). She is the Jarislowsky Chair in Water and Health and the Director of the Global Water Institute at Carleton University. She leads an internationally recognized research program on wastewater and biosolids treatment, and her research has generated several patents and new technologies. Her research on microplastics is funded by the ECCC under the Zero Plastic Initiative, and she collaborates with Canadian technology providers on microplastics monitoring in the environment.

As analytical methods continue to be improved and developed we are finding a wider range of chemical contamination in our freshwater ecosystems and groundwater. For example, PFAS and PFOS termed “forever chemicals” are highly persistent in the environment, and Chemicals used in a wide variety of everyday products are being found in the environment and in organisms. This session will explore PFAS/PFOS and plastics and the latest research on their presence in drinking water, and the efficacy of available technologies in removing them.

Presentations

Krista Barfoot, Stantec

Recognized as a Contaminated Sites Specialist, Dr. Barfoot has 25 years of industry experience with expertise spanning from the technical elements of project delivery to program management, risk management, policy development, and stakeholder communication. A Qualified Person for Risk Assessment (QPRA) (per Ontario Regulation 153/04), Dr. Barfoot’s technical expertise includes strategic site planning, risk assessment (RA), vapour intrusion (VI) assessment, management of excess soil, non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), risk mitigation measures, and emerging contaminants – including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Serving as Stantec’s Emerging Contaminants Program Lead, she is experienced in investigative and analytical approaches, risk assessment considerations, and remediation techniques for PFAS, and has provided multiple PFAS training seminars and conference presentations. Dr. Barfoot has an established industry presence via engagement in numerous industry and regulator associations, including the Ontario Environmental Industry Association (ONEIA), Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN), Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC), and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Excess Soil Engagement Group (ESEG). She currently serves as the Chair of ONEIA’s PFAS Committee, Vice-President of the CBN, and is a member of the ITRC PFAS Regs, Tox, and Risk Sub-group and Training Sub-group.

Sonya Kleywegt, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Sonya Kleywegt is a senior research toxicologist with the Technical Assessment and Standards Development Branch of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. She is responsible for assessing the impact of emerging contaminants in all environmental media (wastewater, drinking water and biosolids) on environmental and human health in Ontario. In particular she is responsible for the coordination and delivery of Annex 2 (Harmful Pollutants) under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health.

Robert Andews, University of Toronto

Prof. Andrews has over 25 years of experience in the field of drinking water treatment, both as an academic researcher as well as a consultant.  He holds a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Senior Industrial Chair in Drinking Water Research at the University of Toronto, Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering.  He regularly collaborates with researchers across Canada, the United States and internationally regarding current and emerging drinking water related issues.

As analytical methods continue to be improved and developed we are finding a wider range of chemical contamination in our freshwater ecosystems and groundwater. For example, PFAS and PFOS termed “forever chemicals” are highly persistent in the environment, and Chemicals used in a wide variety of everyday products are being found in the environment and in organisms. This session will explore PFAS/PFOS and plastics and the latest research on their presence in drinking water, and the efficacy of available technologies in removing them.

Presentations

Session Speakers

Marianne Grimard-Conea, Ph.D student, Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Polytechnique Montreal

Marianne Grimard-Conea is a Ph.D student at Polytechnique Montreal in the industrial chair on drinking water. Under professor Michèle Prévost, she is completing her research project on the impacts of low water demands on the microbiological water quality distributed in large buildings. More recently, she has participated in commenting guidance documents on the safe recommissioning of building water systems after extended low occupancy and stagnation events caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, as well as conducting several demonstrations studies to assess the effectiveness of these guidelines.

Jennifer Clancy, Environmental Science Policy and Search Institute 

Dr. Jennifer Clancy is the Chief Scientist with the non-profit Environmental Science, Policy, and Research Institute based in Philadelphia. She is a microbiologist and water quality and treatment expert with 40 years of experience.  She has worked on Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease since 1980, both in clinical research and environmental investigations.  She was the recipient of the Water Research Foundation Water Research Award in 2012 and received the AWWA AP Black Award for excellence for water supply research in 2014. Her current focus is on improvement of building water quality through research and policy change.

Wendy Krkosek, Halifax Water

Wendy Krkosek Ph.D. P.Eng., is the Water Quality Manager with Halifax Water, where she works with treatment, water quality and distribution operations staff to conduct water quality research, solve water quality and treatment problems, improve treatment methodologies, and develop and implement water quality plans.

Wendy received her BASc in Civil (Environmental) Engineering from the University of Waterloo, followed by a PhD in Civil Engineering at Dalhousie University. Wendy is currently the Technical Director with ACWWA.

Steve Craik, Chair CWWA Drinking Water Quality Committee

Steve is a water quality expert dedicated to public health and environment protection. He has over 22 years of combined utility practice, applied research and teaching experience in the areas of drinking water and wastewater treatment.  He applies his knowledge and experience to solve water quality problems and to help develop strategies to address emerging water quality challenges. He was Director of Quality Assurance and Environment with EPCOR Water Canada in Edmonton for nine years where he led a team of scientists, technologists, engineers and environmental specialists that was responsible for monitoring of drinking water and wastewater quality, regulatory compliance, treatment process optimization, environmental and watershed management and cross connection control programs.   Prior to that, Steve was Associate Professor the Environmental Engineering program at University of Alberta and taught courses and led a research program in the areas water and wastewater treatment.

We’ve talked a lot about how the pandemic has affected the budget and the operational processes, but how did it impact your most important resource bank – your people? How did you address stress and fatigue? Did you lose employees? Did you have to hire new? What training was required and what training was deferred? How did you address collective agreements?

This is a completely interactive and participatory session for water leaders to share stories of how this pandemic has affected their workforce and to share some of their solutions; the ones that worked (and the one’s that didn’t). 

A panel of utility leaders from across the country will set the stage and get us started, but then we’ll go to you, the delegates to turn on your camera and mic and share with your colleagues. 

Panelists

• Ian McIlwham, Region of Durham
• Richard MacEwen, City of Charlottetown
• Michele Grenier, Ontario Water Works Association
• John Presta, Region of Durham
• Greg Archibald, Pembina Valley Water Corporation
• Kalpna Solanki, Environmental Operators Certification Program

The term “natural infrastructure” refers to naturally occurring landscape features and/or nature-based solutions that promote, use, restore or emulate natural ecological processes.

Policymakers and planners can use natural infrastructure to lessen the impacts of extreme weather, such as drought or flooding, while providing other ecological and human benefits as well as provide preliminary treatment and management of stormwater.

 The recognition that  natural or naturalised (green) infrastructure are important parts of our water systems is increasing. Yes, it is good for the environment and supports our efforts to address climate change, but it also makes good business sense.  Our Utility Leadership Committee leads this discussion with national policy makers on recognizing the full value of natural infrastructure, and the current policies and programs which promote its adoption.

Session Speakers

Carl Bodimeade, Hatch

Carl is a Senior Vice President with Hatch Infrastructure, based in Ontario, Canada. He is currently the Chair of the Canadian Water & Wastewater Association’s Utility Leadership Committee and is regularly invited to moderate and participate in expert panels on subjects such as infrastructure funding, the value of water, sustainability and urban resiliency. Carl has over 35 years of experience in project management, engineering and planning for a wide range of projects in the water & wastewater, urban infrastructure and brownfield development, and power sectors.

Marianne Armstrong, National Research Council

Marianne Armstrong is the Initiative Leader for the National Research Council of Canada’s Climate Resilient Built Environment Initiative. From 2016 to 2020, Marianne managed the Climate Resilient Buildings & Core Public Infrastructure Initiative to integrate climate resilience into Canadian building and infrastructure codes, standards and guidelines. This work built upon her rich research background relating to residential energy efficiency at the Canadian Centre for Housing technology, and to climate resilience of building envelopes with the NRC. After a 1-year stint as Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Management with Codes Canada, where she led the research program in support of Canada’s National Model Building Codes, Marianne has returned to her passion to define the next 5 years of research to support climate resilient buildings and infrastructure in Canada. Marianne is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, holds a MSc in Industrial Design from University of New South Wales, Sydney, and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.

Laniel Bateman, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Laniel Bateman is the Director for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Policy at Environment and Climate Change Canada. She joined Environment Canada in 2003 and has worked on a broad range of files, primarily related to climate change and nature. Prior to joining the Government of Canada, she worked for an environmental non-government organization and in the private sector in wetland remediation.  Laniel holds an Environmental Science degree from the University of Guelph.

Roy Brooke, Municipal Natural Assets Initiative

Roy is Executive Director of the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (MNAI).

He served as Director of Sustainability for the City of Victoria between 2011-2013.  Between 2003-2011 he worked for the United Nations, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.  During his time with the UN he was based in Geneva, Switzerland, and later in Rwanda, where he was UNEP’s Environment Programme Coordinator.  Prior to this he served as a political advisor to Canada’s environment minister.