WATER NEWS – 11/29

PFAS Water contamination in Torbay, NL

Torbay residents file class action lawsuit against federal government. The lawsuit is in relation to Transport Canada and the off-site contamination of local drinking water wells with harmful, non-naturally occurring chemicals known as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

From the early 1980s until 2004, firefighting training activities would take place on Transport Canada-owned land near St. John’s International Airport, where it was common practice to ignite aviation fuel to allow firefighters to practice extinguishing potential aircraft fires with ‘aqueous film forming foam’, or AFFF.

However, the lawsuit alleges that these foams, which contain high concentrations of PFAS, may not have been properly contained and that insufficient measures were taken to prevent the migration of PFAS into nearby groundwater sources.(Saltwire)

Mississauga, ON home to Canada’s first CSA-compliant smart blue roof

As climate change continues to evolve and more extreme weather patterns occur, cities like Mississauga are looking at innovative and adaptive drainage solutions, like blue roofs, to help with these challenges. 

Blue roofs, designed to capture and detain rainwater. have proven reliable in helping to reduce the risk of flood damage. They are also a cost-effective solution to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change on stormwater infrastructure, promote environmental sustainability and offset water and cooling expenses in buildings with these systems.(mississauga.ca)

Murky water in Green's Creek blamed on nearby Lafarge quarry

Runoff from the sprawling Lafarge Canada property on Bearbrook Road in east Ottawa is being blamed for the sudden "murky" appearance of the water in nearby Green's Creek, both the city and Ontario's Environment Ministry have confirmed.

Residents of Blackburn Hamlet began noticing discoloured water in the creek last week. One wrote in a community chat group that they "saw discoloured water and smelled something strange" while crossing a pedestrian bridge.

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks determined that the unpaved parking lot at the south entrance of the Lafarge site is the source of sediment observed in the creek . adding that no spills or operational upsets within the active quarry area or at the concrete and asphalt production areas ". The city said it's working with Lafarge "to ensure that proper remediation and protections are in place to prevent future occurrences." (CBC)

Musquodoboit Harbour, NS water project produces dry result as drought worsens

For years, The Old School Community Gathering Place Co-operative has been working to produce drinking water from an aquifer beneath Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S.

In April, a grand opening was held for a solar-powered community well that tapped into the water supply, but no residents have been able to fill up since.

"As it turned out, the draw on the well from one solar panel was not enough and so we had to get another one," said Karen Bradley, past chair of the non-profit co-operative's board.

"And that led to needing more inverters and more batteries and so on and so forth. So it just sort of grew all the way through the entire summer."

Bradley said the drilled well is expected to be operational in the spring.