The Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act, 2010 (WOWCA ) was passed by the Ontario government in 2010 as a new stand-alone act intended to help foster the growth of an Ontario-based industry in water and wastewater technologies and services, as well as to promote water conservation. 

 

To achieve these goals, the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), a Crown corporation, was established to develop new technologies, expand markets, and share ideas to support the water and wastewater sector. In addition, local utilities will be tasked with preparing sustainability plans, encompassing asset management, maintenance,  financing, conservation, and risk assessment for municipal drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services.

 

Further, establishing performance targets related to these services was intended to encourage system improvements and better investments in water and wastewater infrastructure. However, in his recent report, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) noted that the Act fails to address key measures that could have a significant impact on conservation efforts, such as water pricing, industrial water use efficiency, or targets for municipalities that take into account cumulative watershed pressures.

 

Regardless, progress is being made, with stakeholder consultation slated to begin soon by the Province on full cost pricing.  Another bright spot is work being done at The Walkerton Clean Water Centre, which has recently expanded its mandate to include applied research and technology demonstration alongside its expert training for water professionals.

 

Join us for a session that looks at how municipalities are still grappling with questions of how to ensure the safety and delivery of water services as well as planning for future infrastructure needs, all within the context of protecting and managing our finite supply of this vital resource.

 

Keynote: Larry Moore, CEO, Walkerton Clean Water Centre

 

Moderator: Kerry Freek, Editor, Water Canada

 

Expert Panel:

 

Andy Manahan, Residential & Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO)

 

Brent Wootton, Director of Applied Research, Director, Industry Innovation Office, Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment, Fleming College and WaterTAP advisory board 

 

Lee Anne Jones, President, Ontario Water Works Association

 

 

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