WINTER 2017

Winter 2017 ~ 15th Edition
SASKATCHEWAN WATER AND
WASTEWATER ASSOCIATION

Winter
The pipeline is produced quarterly by the
Saskatchewan Water and Wastewater Association.
Produced by Campbell Printing Ltd., Prince Albert, SK
For article /photograph submissions or for further
information or content ideas please contact
SWWA Office Manager Calle Behnke
Work: 306-668-1278
Toll Free: 888-668-1278
Email: office@swwa.ca
Box 7831 Saskatoon, SK S7K 4R5
3
20
17
4| Kelly’s Corner
5| Post Conference
6| Education & Training
7| Ice Fishing Safety
8| 37th Annual Conference Invitation
12| Safe Water For All
14| Conference Collage
18| Making a Difference in a Childs Life
19| Conference Sponsors
20| World Toilet Day
22| Conference Collage
26| Don’t Be The Weakest Link
28| Celebrating Clean
Water for Schools
30| Do You Have It?
31| Pipe Up - Board
Game for Water
Awareness
9
17

Every December, I like to take a look back and reflect on things that
happened or I did in the past year. I find it helps me to appreciate and
be thankful as well as keep things in perspective. So in honor of some
reflection here goes my top 10 SWWA moments of the year.
1
Trying to keep a hat on during the golf tournament
2
while avoiding a sun/windburn
Don Webb in the tapping workshop saying he is
just going to sit and listen while Jordan teaches.
7
10
3 4
5
6
The Pipeline going fully digital with apps for both
Android and IOS
The 2018 Calendar, and all those amazing
photos you sent in or had us take for you.
The 2017 tradeshow – had a fantastic time learning
and networking with all who attended.
Attending the Keynote Speaker, Darby Allen, it was
such an emotional and riveting talk. I am not
ashamed to admit the tears were there.
Bruce Davidson, talking about the after effects of
Walkerton and his sharing of the emotional and physical
toll on his own family. How he really made it plain that
training and education is the best tool an operator can
have in their arsenal.
8
9
KELLY’S CORNER
It is post conference; I am sitting at my kitchen table looking out at the crisp morning
and just appreciating the beauty of a Saskatchewan frosty day. Every year, the year
seems to go by so fast, maybe it is a sign of aging or just what happens, who knows all I
know is it was fast.
Did you see how many people were present for the
80’s band at the annual banquet? If you weren’t there
you missed out I have never had so much fun -
Everybody Weng Chung tonight!
Luke Lockhart putting his blond rocker wig on
Aaron Erickson, Kevin Dyck, Alex McGregor, and
Jordan Webb
And the top 10 winner and most shocking thing ever
witnessed by myself - Tim Cox wearing a gold spandex
onsie - #speechless
Once again the photo booth was a huge hit,
Thank you Delco Water for the memories that I
will have a copy of forever. Muh hah ha
Thank you to all of the sponsors of the
conference, you make this event a huge success
every year by partnering with us. Thank you to
all the presenters who worked to make the
sessions interesting and informative, you all did
a fantastic job!
To all of you who attended and participated in
all that was offered, I hope you had a fantastic
time networking and learning. The hydrant and
beverage basket raffles were a huge success
and I know you all enjoy beating each other out
on the silent auction items – someone is still
crying over losing the Star Wars waffle maker.
We raised a phenomenal amount with the
raffles and the 50/50 tickets at the banquet. The
50/50 was the largest it has ever been. Thank
you to Tom Cameron for donating half of the
winnings. Our new WaterAid project is Mali in
West Africa, and it is off to a great start. We all
know the importance of water and sanitation
and we are giving a child and the families of the
projects we support new life when you support
our fundraising initiatives. So from the bottom
of my heart thank you.
2018 is going to bring even more amazing
opportunities for networking and training; I
hope you will take advantage of the courses we
work so hard to offer to you.
So until next year, have a wonderful holiday
season filled with the joy and peace that comes
from this special time of year, embrace those
you love, live each day as if it was your last
taking nothing for granted, and have a blessed
Merry Christmas and Safe and Happy New Year.
SWWA
SWWA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
post-conference 2017
SWWA EXECUTIVE___________________
TIM COX ~ PRESIDENT
City of Swift Current
Work: 306-778-2725 Fax: 306-778-1634
Email: t.cox@swiftcurrent.ca
KELLY KISH ~ PAST-PRESIDENT
Town of Kipling
Work: 306-736-8805 Fax: 306-736-2396
Email: glokel@sasktel.net
RYNETTE MOORE-GUILLAUME ~ VICE PRESIDENT
SaskWater
Work: 306-694-3941 Fax: 306-694-3207
Email: rynette.moore@saskwater.com
KARLIS VAN CAESEELE~ TREASURER
Town of Langenburg
Work: 306-743-2219 Fax: 306-743-2453
Email: karlisvc@sasktel.net
CORY MCMAHON ~ SECRETARY
Town of Biggar
Work: 306-948-5136 Fax: 306-948-5136
Email: corden@sasktel.net
DIRECTORS_________________________
SUSAN DOBROWNEY
City of Saskatoon
Work: 306-975-2534 Fax: 306-975-7906
Email: susan.dobrowney@saskatoon.ca
BLAINE CROWLEY
Town of Nipawin
Work: 306-862-9866 Fax: 306-862-3076
Email: b.crowley@nipawin.com
LUKE LOCKHART
Town of Outlook
Phone: 306-860-7575
email: townofoutlookwater@hotmail.ca
REPRESENTATIVES________________
GOVERNMENT
KELLY NEUERT
Water Security Agency
Work: 306-787-7911
Email: kelly.neuert@wsask.ca
SUPPLIERS
WADE SHUTKO
ClearTech
Email: wshutko@cleartech.ca
Happy holidays
to one and all.
I’d like to personally thank all of the attendees of the 2017 conference for another
successful year. There were a couple of hiccups (there always are) but everyone took
it in stride and made lemonade when given lemons. Thanks to all of our suppliers who
set up shop at the Tradeshow and a special thanks our Gold, Silver, and Conference
sponsors. Without your support, this event can’t happen and we don’t have the
networking opportunities that we do, job well done.
We had new presenters this year for our workshops and technical sessions, of which
we had lots of positive feedback. We hope to continue to provide different material as
well as the old favorites to keep our members up to date with the latest tech and the
best solutions to industry issues.
In all the years I’ve been attending the conference, I have never witnessed a response
to our keynote speaker as I did this year. We’ve had great speakers in the past, and I
certainly don’t want to take anything away from what they provided to our
delegation. This year, Darby Allen not only kept the attendees interested and focused,
but brought out all kinds of emotions from us in his recount of the Fort McMurray
fires of 2016. During his account of the disaster, not only could you hear a pin drop,
but many audience members were wiping away tears. On Friday, Bruce Davidson
updated us on the status of Walkerton, Ontario, and how the town has coped over the
past 16 years. The onslaught of emotions continued as Mr. Davidson explained how
those most affected were dealing with the fallout even today. I had several delegates
tell me, while although they loved the speeches, it was too hard to choke back the
tears and we should keep future keynotes on the lighter side!! It’s too hard on the
emotions!
Congrats to our two Operators of the Year, Wes Niebrugge, from the town of Bruno,
and Allen Hettrick, from Rosetown as this years’ recipients. After the awards banquet,
the 80’s tribute band, ‘Dangerous Cheese’ got everyone on the dancefloor for a
second straight year. Props to those guys for bringing back the best decade of music
in the history of mankind.
So to everyone in the SWWA, thanks for a great November, looking forward to the
holiday season and a fabulous start to 2018! Stay safe, keep the taps running and the
wastewater running downhill!
Merry Christmas.
Tim Cox

education &
training
This month’s Pipeline theme is “Education and Training”. As many of you know, it is one
of my favorite topics in the water and wastewater industry. Since mandatory
certification became legislated in 2002, it is necessary for certified operators to receive
continuing education units (c.e.u.) during the period between renewal dates to keep
their certification. This requirement, as well as writing certification exams, has
provided a learning opportunity for many of our province’s operators.
As the technology in our industry changes the additional information that our
operators receive because of mandatory and ongoing education is a valuable asset to
the industry. I have mentioned before within the water and wastewater industry
operators must comprehend an exceptional breadth of knowledge. The operator
must be proficient enough in pumping theory to understand what is happening when
a pump is failing, have enough electrical knowledge to work safely and preserve their
equipment, operators need to understand microbiology and chemistry, process
control and basic mechanics, not to mention hydraulics and piping specifications.
Even when an operator has completed a 2 year post-secondary diploma there are new
and changing technologies to learn about as well as the hands-on aspects of the job.
There are a variety of superb educators working in the field that can provide training
to fulfill the c.e.u. requirement for certification. Some of the things that I consider
when choosing what courses to attend include:
is there a hands on portion to the training?
is the topic relevant to my current position?
have you heard positive comments about the presenter?
is the topic worth travelling out of town for?
is this topic going to be covered at the annual conference?
•
are the advertised c.e.u.’s approved by the Operator Certification Board?
if it is a safety related course, have I used it for renewal in the past four years?
With the number of training courses that are now in the marketplace operators can
afford to become selective with their educational experiences. Now, more than ever
before, there are training opportunities from a variety of private companies and
several associations.
There are some definite scheduling conflicts that arise from required training. Many
small communities are operating with only one certified operator and some lack a
relief operator to cover when the regular operator is away. This can pose a problem
during the annual conference and during other training periods. Planning ahead is
paramount to being able to attend the training that interests you and assists you in
your work.
Dawn Dierker
WCW President
Ice Fishing
Safety
Winter is upon us, and a lot of people love to do
winter activities. Ice fishing is one of the things
people in this province love to do outdoors.
There are many things that can go very wrong
when you think about this activity. Things like
going through the ice, not something anyone
wants to happen to them. There are many
factors to think about before you head out to
the lake for a nice day of fishing. Do you have
the right gear with you such as ice spikes in
case you go through the ice. Some sort of
floatation device that would help you get out if
you had to. But one of the first things a person
should be aware of is that you know your ice
conditions. When is it the right time to go out
on the ice, is something you should think about
before going on. What thickness of ice should
there be to safely walk or drive on. Most people
don’t think about these things before heading
out to the lake in the winter. These guide lines
will help you when deciding to go and enjoy a
day on the ice.
When checking ice for thickness, use this as your
rule of thumb. Once there is four inches that is
sufficient to walk on. Six inches you could safely
drive a snow machine on, eight to twelve a car
and anything thicker than twelve inches a truck.
Other things to look out for are things like where
you’re fishing. If you are fishing on a where there is slush, remember
that slush has half the strength of blue ice. If you’re fishing on a
river it has 15% less strength value of a lake.
It is common sense that ice freezes at 32 degrees, but at
what rate does it take to make an inch of ice. When the
temperatures are below -20 you should see an average of
one inch per night. That is what I’ve seen in my years on the ice.
These are things you should do before you head on the ice, first ask a
local person about the conditions they live there so they would know.
Second, watch for snow, know where you’re standing when on the ice.
Bring spikes with you at all times, and never ever fish alone. This is the
number one cause of deaths when it comes to ice fishing. Lastly, listen
to your surroundings, if you don’t hear the ice cracking it isn’t a good
thing. When the ice cracks it means that more ice is forming and it
is getting stronger.
The last thing I can say to anyone wanting to go out and enjoy this
Canadian past time is, know you’re capabilities before you attempt to do
it. Once you are comfortable with yourself and your skills, just have fun
with it.
Sheldon Matton, Loraas Disposal Services Ltd.

You Are
Invited
to the
Annual
37th
SWWA
CONFERENCE & TRADESHOW
NOVEMBER
6 - 8 /2018
x
Workshops and Technical Sessions:
Rynette Moore-Guillaume
Rynette.Moore@saskwater.com
Tradeshow and Conference Information:
Calle Behnke – office@swwa.ca
Early Bird Conference x Registration - March 1, 2018
x
LISA VAN ELSAKKER
Sales Representative
Flocor Inc.
503 47th Street East
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada, S7K 5B5
Tel: (306) 242-6788
Fax: (306) 242-5089
Cell: (306) 229-5208
TF: (800) 667-3002
Email: lvanelsakker@ocor.ca
www.ocor.ca
Why advertise in the
Pipeline?
Because it can
EFFECTIVELY
BOOST your SALES!
!"#$%&'()$%*+,()-,%*.)/0'10,(,%
9,/(*++(2,0/(4*)"/'(4*#)"4*)"/(*&-(4*)"/()/"*)."&)(&""-#:(
;&(50#$&"##($&(7"4*&(#$&>"(?@AB(
!"#$%&'($&#)*++*)$,&(*&-(.*)"/$*+(#011+2(3,/(4*#)"(4*)"/(*&-(-$#)/$50)$,&((#2#)".#!
6,/)7(8*))+"3,/-(
"#$%&'(#!)*+,!-(*'%!./$0!
1234!567/86%&!"9%0!
)6(#%:!;3=>>?@!
5(AA!B&%%:@=233=4>?@!
B7C:!;3=;>

BUCKET LIST ADVENTURES
Providing Complete Solutions for
Water & Wastewater Challenges
Dillon Petrucha, Technical Sales Manager
Phone: 306-231-3688
Toll-Free: 1-855-682-6125
E: dpetrucha@sapphire-water.ca
Box 3615 Highway #20 North
Humboldt, SK S0K 2A0
www.sapphire-water.ca
- 2 , 201
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR
Ever stood on the top floor of skyscraper and thought, “Bah,
this ain’t so tall”? Then you might just be Kilimanjaro
material.
Join us as we walk in the footprints of famed explorers and
mountaineers on our way to the top of Africa’s tallest peak
towering at 5,895 metres above sea level. Hike through lush
rainforests and alpine deserts. Cross glaciers by day and
sleep closer to the stars than you ever dreamed possible by
night.
Following a successful summit, Kilimanjaro Climb for Life
team members have the option to visit WaterAid project sites
in Tanzania to see how their fundraising is changing lives.
Activity Level C i
!
Mid Continental Pump Supply Ltd.
Pumps & Valves Fire Protection Municipal Industrial
!"#$%&'%()*+!"#$%$&$
!"#$%&"'()"'*+(,"&"-*.
F5G((((((H304I('(()*+'+
J"KG(((((H304I(,-*)*./'
7*''G(((((H/0LI(+/-),0'0
MA"$'G(N%5&@5".#OA$BC%&DEAD@C%A
/0012/344(!%.#5(16*(7
)"+8"#%%&9():9(();=
???@A$BC%&#$&*&#"'DEAD@C%A
!"#!$%&"'#!!
!"#$%&"'(")*+,'-+./)0%0'■'1112.3.4/.502&*6
Length
Days
The planet is full of life-changing travel experiences.
Get out there and see the world.
MeritTravel.com
Minimum
Fundraising
Commitment
Cost $ 9 C
Inclusions C i i i coo o
i cco o io o
o o o
o io
Exclusions
i c o o occ c
o c i i i io i o
i c cci io
$5 000 C D
(To be raised prior to departure.)
Why advertise in the
Pipeline?
Because it can
EFFECTIVELY
BOOST your SALES!
ADVERTISING •
ON–4499356/4499372 | BC–34799 | QC–7002238

Safe Water
Providing Water & Wastewater Complete Solutions Challenges
for
for All –
Dillon Petrucha, Technical Sales Manager
Box 3615 Highway #20 North
Humboldt, SK S0K 2A0
www.sapphire-water.ca
Phone: 306-231-3688
Toll-Free: 1-855-682-6125
E: dpetrucha@sapphire-water.ca
Ending Canada’s Drinking
Water Crisis
Remote, municipal, and First Nations communities in Canada face
unique challenges every day: sustaining local employment, providing a
good education for children, and maintaining the health and well-being
of all residents. Contributing to the health issues in these communities
is the unsafe drinking water that many have had to live with for
decades. Almost two thirds of First Nations communities in Canada have
dealt with inadequate or unreliable access to safe drinking water in
recent years. 65 of the 70 First Nations communities in Saskatchewan
have faced at least one drinking water advisory since 2004. Through this
drinking water crisis, success stories have emerged that give other
communities hope for a better tomorrow.
Led by Chief Kenny Moccasin, the Saulteaux First Nation in central
Saskatchewan also had to contend with poor quality water quality
negatively affecting the health and well-being of all residents. One of
the biggest health challenges for this community was their drinking
water, which for decades was unsafe to drink. Though the water was
treated, the treatment technology was not effective enough to make
the water safe to consume. Not having access to safe drinking water
turned everyday life into a daily struggle for the community, and took a
toll on people’s health. In 2014, the Saulteaux First Nation adopted a
new technology called Integrated Biological Reverse Osmosis
Membrane (IBROM) that helped them overcome these challenges – but
the journey was far from simple.
Challenges of the Past
Source water quality in rural and remote northern communities in
Canada is typically much worse than in large urban centers. As a result,
treating raw water with technology designed for cities simply doesn’t
work. With an outdated, ineffective water system that was not designed
for the type of water found in the area, the Saulteaux community
suffered.
Saulteaux’s old water plant required the heavy use of corrosive and
irritating chemicals to treat and disinfect the water. While using these
chemicals reduced toxins such as iron, arsenic, and highly poisonous
hydrogen sulfide, they did not eliminate dissolved solids, organics, or
ammonia. In the case of Saulteaux, the composition of the source water
– a key factor in selecting the right
treatment process – was not
considered.
The old water treatment plant also
required large quantities of chlorine
to be added to make the water safe.
This heavy use of chlorine caused
water pipes to leach iron into the
water, so when residents first turned
on their faucets they would end up
with brown water.
“People began to lose confidence in
us. There was no light at the end of
the tunnel. They don’t want an
explanation; they just want to turn
the faucet on without the water
being brown”, said Crystal Okemow,
Saulteaux’s Water Quality
Supervisor. “The smell, even the look
of the water… it just tasted bad. It
was hard water and stained
everything. People wouldn’t wash
their clothes. They complained
about the smell and the way it
looked.” she continued.
To end their water crisis, Saulteaux’s
leaders worked hard to produce
evidence showing the negative
impact the poor-quality water was
having on the health and safety of
the local community. Health Canada
stepped in to do testing through
accredited labs, which armed
Saulteaux’s council with data to
show the need for action. Finally –
there was light at the end of the
tunnel.
Saulteaux Today
In 2014, Sapphire Water
International Corp. began to work
with the Saulteaux community to
replace their existing water
treatment plant with a new
technology that would be able to
effectively treat their water. After
analyzing the composition of the
source water, Sapphire Water
recommended an Integrated
Biological Reverse Osmosis
Membrane (IBROM) system. IBROM
systems employ a multi-stage biofilter
design that remove numerous
contaminants, specifically those that
act as nutrient and energy sources
for bacteria, making the treated
water 100% biologically stable. This
means that after the water is
treated, there is nothing left for
bacteria to eat, effectively
eliminating the possibility of
bacteria growth and water
contamination post-treatment
There are three core treatment
phases in an IBROM system:
biological filtration, reverse osmosis
membrane filtration, and remineralization
to optimize the pH of
the treated water. The biological
pre-treatment step is most
beneficial for the Saulteaux
community because it significantly
reduces contaminants such as
ammonia, iron, manganese, and
arsenic, which are prevalent in their
raw water.
The new IBROM system started
operation in June 2014, and
immediately decreased the amount
of chemicals required to make the
water safe. In fact, the new IBROM
system uses less than 10% of the
amount of chlorine that was
required with Saulteaux’s old water
treatment plant. It now costs less to
operate, and the plant no longer
smells like a swimming pool.
“Compared to
before, the
end-product is
unbelievable.
Before… you
could feel it was
heavy. Water
now is crisp,”
said Okemow. And, she is no longer
reluctant to try the water herself.

delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater
delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater •

delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater
delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater • delcowater

“I like to play with my best friend Lucy.
If I didn’t have to get water, I would play
with my friends all day."
Nancy, 6, Tombohuaun
Making a
difference
in the life of a child.
My favorite job in the world is being an
aunt. I love everything that comes with it.
Having the hugs you get from the nieces
and nephews, the sticky fingers as they
eat on your lap or when they decide your
shirt looks way to clean, the chocolate
covered mouths that think it is funny to
chase you around the house trying to
get you dirty, the kid jokes they like to
tell and then watching them laugh
hysterically at the joke they just made
up.
It is because of this love that I feel for my
nieces and nephews that I care about
children in countries without access to
clean water and sanitation. It breaks my
heart every time I watch videos showing
how children have to give up school to
get water for their families, how young
girls have to walk into areas where they
are not safe so that they can go to the
bathroom.
November 19 marked World Toilet day
across the globe. Some people don’t like
to talk toilets; in my mind it is just as
appropriate to talk about toilets and how
so many still don’t have access to one, as
it is to discuss the latest shopping trend
or food trend. The more you talk about
something the more people who are
unaware of situations can get that
simple things we do can help change the
life of a child and their family.
I love my toilet. I love being able to flush
every time I use it. I like wearing my shirt
that is covered in toilets and hearing
people ask why I wear a shirt covered in
toilets. A conversation
starts and changes happen
when you care. As my nephews like to
say “sharing is caring.”
World Toilet Day is a global day
celebrated because of the sanitation
crisis faced by so many countries still.
Every minute a person dies somewhere
in the world due to lack of basic
sanitation.
This past Tuesday was Giving Tuesday – a
day when charities across the world see
donations come in more than any other
time of the year. I love seeing how people
participate on Giving Tuesday but what I
like to see even more is how much of a
difference you can make year round.
For me, it is simple. I believe in water and
sanitation for all. I believe I have been
privileged to live in the country I live in
and for that I am immensely grateful
which is why I will make it my mission to
give year round to my charity, WaterAid
Canada, which believes as I do that water
and sanitation are key.
This year I am personally doing things a
little different for Christmas, I have so
many friends and family who have so
much that I am going to give the gift of
water rather than gift them. I issue this
challenge to all of you with parents who
have so much you never know what to
get them, children who have so many
toys already, grandparents who have
everything they need – give a gift that
makes a lasting impact on their lives and
the lives of someone across the world.
Give the Gift of Water.
You can show your family what you did
to make the difference in the lives of
someone else through this special gift by
showing them the YouTube videos you
can find easily on the WaterAid channel
that show children, moms and
grandmothers who walk for water. Show
them the videos that show the faces of
these women when they get the gift of
water. Show them how they can be
superheroes in the lives of someone they
have never met. Water is the most
valuable resource we have in our world –
it can save more lives than any other one
thing can. It is truly a gift of love to give a
gift of water to someone who needs it.
Merry Christmas &
happy gift giving.
Calle Behnke
SWWA Office Manager
Thank you
.to our
Sponsors

12 Crazy Toilet Facts That
Will Blow Your Mind!
Created byJack Buzzer
1. More people in the world have mobile phones than
toilets.
2. Your smartphone has about 20 times more bacteria
than a toilet handle.
3. Humans spend 3 months of their lifetime sitting on the
toilet
4. Over $100,000 US dollars was spent on a study to
determine whether most people put their toilet paper
on the holder with the flap in front or behind. The
conclusion: three out of four people have the flap in the
front.
5. Most American toilets flush in the key of E Flat.
6. The average person goes to the toilet about 2,500 times
a year
7. The average desk has 400 times more bacteria than the
average toilet seat.
8. Urine on a toilet seat is a pretty sterile liquid.
9. Televisions are more common in Afghanistan than
toilets.
10. The Pentagon uses about 636 toilet paper rolls per day.
11. The inhabitants of ancient Rome had a Toilet God:
'Crepitus'
12. One-third of Americans flush the toilet while still sitting
on it.
Toilet Themed Restaurants are on the Rise!?
WaterAid Poop Emoji
Creator App
Create hilarious poop emojis while supporting
a good cause. Choose facial features and
accessories, then share your creations with
friends, or add them to your keyboard.
Every share unlocks new accessories, and
helps spread the word about WaterAid,
a nonprofit that provides clean water
and toilets to the world’s poorest
communities.
Bathroom
Silly
Facts
and
Stats

. . . even the dancing was good!

“Don’t Be the
Weakest Link”
Training is Your Best Insurance
Providing a safe and dependable supply of drinking
water to the communities they serve, should be the goal
of professional operators across the country. The
production of safe drinking water from source to tap is
achieved through the use of well-trained operators,
appropriate equipment and strict adherence to
regulations and treatment protocols.
However, history has taught us that despite all of the
regulations, training and equipment, that contamination
of municipal drinking water systems in North America
has occurred on several occasions, with disastrous
consequences. When such tragic events occur, the
media and the public demand answers long before a
comprehensive investigation into the causes has been
completed. The consequences for water workers caught
in this rush to judgement based on perceived
departures from regulatory practices can be
devastating.
Don’t
be the
While well trained operators are extremely likely to avoid
water contamination events by utilizing the skills
required through training and adherence to regulation,
the possibility of an incident still exists. Should a
contamination event occur, it is essential that the
operators not be viewed as the weakest link that failed in
the production of safe drinking water.
When we reflect back on the Walkerton Water Tragedy of
the year 2000, we can see that many factors, beyond
those under the control of the water operators,
combined to enable the disaster. A brief review of events
reveals multiple failures by a number of organizations in
the oversight and regulation of drinking water, none of
which rose to the level of criminal consequences. Factors
contributing to the water tragedy which were not
controlled by the operators included the failure to
purchase and rezone the land directly adjacent to Well 5
which was the access point for contamination into the
Municipal drinking water system. The Public Utilities
Commission, the body responsible for the supervision of
the lead operators, failed to ensure that they were
properly trained to professionally execute their duties.
The public utility officials were unaware of the Ontario
Drinking Water Objectives and the number of hours of
course study required by operators to maintain
certification. The PUC Commissioners failed to act upon
repeated Ministry of Environment reports citing
multiple deficiencies in Walkerton’s water practices.
These gentlemen also had no working knowledge of
water safety protocols or regulations.
The local health unit failed to effectively follow up on the
Ministry of Environment reports citing deficiencies as
they believed this would be duplicating the efforts of
the Environment Ministry. As a result, neither
governmental body effectively addressed the
problematic practices in Walkerton.
The Ministry of Environment also failed to reclassify Well
5 as under the influence of surface water, thus leaving its
vulnerability unchecked. Additionally,
the Ministry failed to
ensure that the Walkerton
operators were properly
trained in the care and
management of drinking water. The
Ministry’s policy of “Voluntary
Compliance” proved to be disastrous as
the water operators in Walkerton were
never forced to comply with standard
water treatment and monitoring
practices.
Sadly, the deficiencies noted above paled
in comparison to the fraudulent and
criminal actions of the operators. These
included operating Walkerton’s main well
without chlorination, falsifying chlorine
residuals and sample locations and
failure to report contaminated water
entering the Municipal water system.
Additionally, an attempt was made to
conceal these fraudulent practices once
the crisis had begun when lives were
directly at stake. So despite the myriad of
poor practices surrounding the
operators, only they justifiably suffered
criminal consequences following the
tragedy.
The question that arises is how would the
Walkerton Water Tragedy have been
impacted or, in fact, avoided if the
operators had the benefit the
comprehensive training. While training
does not guarantee safe water, the
adherence to best practices and
knowledge lays the necessary
foundation vital to solid decision making.
Unfortunately, in Walkerton, the
operators carried out their duties based
on misinformed perceptions of water
safety and insufficient training.
There are three false assumptions that
were apparently held by multiple
organizations involved in the delivery
and regulation of Walkerton’s water
system. The first of these is that one must
intend harm in order for harm to occur.
No one involved intended to harm
anyone, and yet the contamination event
resulted in lethal consequences. The
second assumption is that the ‘next guy
will catch my mistake’. When this belief is
held by many, no one intervenes
effectively to halt the progression
towards contaminated water. The third
assumption based on lack of knowledge
is the fact that the precautions we take
are commiserate with the threats we
perceive. Without the benefit of
comprehensive training and knowledge,
no real threat to the quality of
Walkerton’s drinking water was
perceived or acted upon in the twenty
years prior to the tragedy. Unfortunately,
this ignorance paved the road to disaster
as Walkerton’s water quality continued to
deteriorate.
Lack of training deprived Walkerton’s
lead water operators of the ability to fully
comprehend the threats to the
community’s drinking water. Sadly, when
threats are not taken seriously due to
lack of training, regulations are viewed as
burdensome and unnecessary and
ultimately not followed. Regrettably, the
lead operators in Walkerton believed that
ground water required no treatment;
proper training would have shown them
the critical error of this faulty notion.
Water operators should utilize the
knowledge gained by vital training and
adherence to regulations to ensure the
safety of their communities to avoid ever
being viewed as the weakest link in the
production of safe drinking water. Simply
put, training is the best insurance that
water operators and the communities
they serve can ever have.
Bruce Davidson
Concerned Walkerton Citizens Group
Lack of training
deprived
Walkerton’s lead
water operators
of the ability to
fully
comprehend
the threats to the
community’s
drinking water.
Weakest Link.

Celebrating
Clean Water for Schools
together... we are changing whats normal...
Meet Prudence. She is 13 years old and attends school at St.
Theresa’s Girls’ Primary School in Nairobi. Kenya. St. Theresa’s
Girls’ Primary School is located at the intersection of three of
the most impoverished communities in Nairobi – the infamous
slums of Eastleigh, Mathare and Pangani.
St. Theresa’s used to have access to water only once or twice a
week and had toilets that were dirty and unusable. During the
evening, when the competition from big businesses and
upper-stream areas decreased, the water would flow into the
neighbourhood and to the school. By that time, however, the
school would be closed and the water was not useful for
students or teachers.
In 2015, WaterAid Canada, along with our partner KWAHO,
installed a water holding tank that substantially improved the
school water supply by providing valuable water storage for
times when the grid would run dry. The project also included
the renovation of the school’s existing toilets and ensuring a
toilet is available for each class.
“Then the tank came and now even if there is no water in the
area, our school will have some water to drink, or wash with. So
there is change,” said Prudence. “The moment we step into the
compound, we leave our backgrounds behind and we just
enjoy this clean, safe environment. Personally, being able to
walk around in a comfortable environment is very important
to me. And I am happy to make sure that it stays that way.”
Today, St. Theresa’s school is a safe space for children, providing
a clean environment they can be proud of, where they are free
to focus on learning and where they can play.
Every child, no matter where they are in the world, has the right
to a quality education and equal learning opportunities. But
not every child has the opportunity to attend school in a safe
and healthy environment. Globally, three of every 10 schools
do not have clean water or adequate toilets. This exposes
millions of children to deadly diseases and denying them a
productive, safe education.
For the past 5 years, WaterAid Canada has been tackling issues
just like those found at St. Theresa’s in Kenya one school at a
time! Our Clean Water for Schools Program, jointly
funded by the Government of Canada through Global
Affairs Canada and WaterAid’s generous supporters, is
now complete. While the work may be done, the impact
of that work goes on and will be felt for generations to
come.
Through the Clean Water For Schools Program, WaterAid
successfully reached 170 schools and over 120,000
students and teachers in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia
with access to water, toilets and hygiene promotion.
Through the engagement and collaboration of
community members, senior school staff and
government officials in the areas we worked, we:
Developed child-friendly hygiene and toilet facilities
that respect different physical and mental
developmental differences of students at all ages.
Developed gender-appropriate hygiene and toilet
facilities so girls and female teachers can practice
effective menstrual hygiene management in safe and
private environments.
Taught students about the importance of hygiene using
drama, music, and art.
Engaged children as agents of change, building their
confidence and encouraging them to spread the
message about good hygiene at home and in their
communities.
Thanks to the incredible commitment and generosity of
our supporters along our 5 year journey, communities in
Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda can enjoy and benefit from
healthier school environments where children can learn,
thrive and start preparing for their future.
Together we’re changing what’s normal for millions of
people around the world. For more information on how
you can support WaterAid’s work visit
www.wateraidcanada.com.
In support of
WaterAid
2017 - 2018
CALENDARS
Only $10 .00
each
Email Calle at
office@swwa.ca
To Get Yours Today!

Do you
have it?
Do you have that perfect picture?
Perhaps its a candid shot of your co-workers. . .
or of that crisp, clear morning, with the mist just so. . .
you KNOW the one. . . the one that you
need to SUBMIT to the SWWA for the
2019 Calendar!!
Email your submissions to Calle at office@swwa.ca
A game by American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation
DELIVERING SAFE
AND
CLEAN WATER
IS A BIG DEAL!
Almost everything we do requires water
but did you know there’s only a set amount of water
on our planet? It’s up to all of us to work together to
make sure we protect our water and use it responsibly,
so that it’s available now and way into the future.
Our friends in the water sector are always working to
make sure that we have the safest and cleanest water
possible. They treat our water and wastewater and
maintain the systems that make it possible for us to
use today, and to safely send it on to our neighbors
downstream tomorrow.
Help build the systems that deliver our water and
make sure you, your family and friends have access
to clean water!
O
PIPE UP!
PUZZLE SETUP:
WHAT A DAY!
It’s been a busy day and you’re ready for bed,
but first Mom and Dad insist that you take a
bath and brush your teeth.
PUZZLE SETUP:
1. Place obstacles on the “O” squares.
2. Place broken pipes on the “P” squares.
3. Place the start tile on the “S” square.
4. Place the finish tile on the “F” square.
5. You may only use the number of each type
of pipe shown next to the game map.
HOW TO PLAY:
FOR
AGES
8+
1. Route the water from start to finish by using
your pipe tiles.
2. Fix each broken pipe on the board by replacing
the pipe with any new pipe card.
3. Each pipe tile card may be rotated in
any direction.
4. Pipes cannot be placed on top of obstacle tiles.
5. You must use ALL of your pipe tiles.
Make sure you’ve got the clean, safe water you need to scrub yourself down tonight and be ready to
play again tomorrow! Use the game pieces to build a working system of pipes that gets around those
pesky obstacles and safely delivers clean water from start to finish!
S
P
P
O F
O
1x
1x
START
Start tile
Pipe trash
obstacle
O
S
1x
1x
FINISH
Finish tile
Untreated water
obstacle
O
F
1x
2x
Broken pipe
P
PUZZLE TILE PIECES:
O
Use scissors to cut out the tiles below and place them on the game board as shown on the Puzzle Setup sheets.
No water
obstacle
New Game
Available!
. . . train your kids about the importance
of water, your pipes and how to
treat these resources.
Do you have schools
touring your facility?
You can download and distribute
these to the groups or point them
to the WEF website for more options.
S: Start tile F: Finish tile
P: Broken pipe tiles O: Obstacle tiles
2x
DID YOU KNOW?
Straight pipe
3x
Corner pipe
MORE ‘DID YOU KNOW?’
PIPE UP!
WHAT A DAY!
The Egyptians were the first
people to record methods for
treating water. These records
date back more than 1,500
years to 400 A.D. They indicate
that the most common ways
of cleaning water were by
boiling it over a fire, heating
it in the sun, or by dipping a
heated piece of iron into it.
PIPE UP!
GO GREEN!
It takes 36 gallons of water to fill up the average bathtub. By taking a 5-minute shower
instead, you could save yourself twice as much water!
PIPE UP!
IT’S SOOO HOT!
People can live several weeks
without food, but only a few
days without water. Water
makes up 83% of our blood,
70% of our brain, and 90% of
our lungs. Overall, our bodies
are 70% water.
THANK A WATER HERO!
Write a letter, make a card or send an email to the folks at your
local water/wastewater utility to thank them for the important
work they do every day — making sure you always have reliable
access to clean, safe water!
Source: https://water.usgs.gov/edu/qa-home-percapita.html
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS:
S
O P O
P
O F
WHAT A DAY!
S
O
O
P
PIPE UP!
P
P
THE UNFLUSHABLES
THE UNFLUSHABLES
Wastewater Treatment
Plants are now called Water
Resource Recovery Facilities
to reflect the true nature of
the treatment process. These
“green factories” recycle
used water and responsibly
dispose of waste by producing
valuable resources like clean
water, renewable energy,
natural fertilizer, nutrients and
transportation fuel!
Stormwater is excess rain and snowmelt that can overflow and become polluted as it
travels over surfaces into streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. Rain barrels, rain gardens and
keeping storm drains clear of debris can help prevent flooding and erosion, while proper
disposal of household chemicals, litter and pet waste can help stop pollution!
O
F
F
O O P O
S
IT’S SOOOO HOT!
S
O
O P
F
GO GREEN!
P P P P
O O O S
START
O O O F
FINISH
A game by American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation
DELIVERING SAFE
FOR
AGES
8+
AND
CLEAN WATER
IS A BIG DEAL!

Ready for an
adventure of
a lifetime?
Join the Kilimanjaro Climb for Life
March 14 – 24, 2018
Embrace
your spirit of
adventure
while bringing
clean water
to the world
Join WaterAid as we walk in the
footsteps of famed explorers and
mountaineers on our way to the top
of Africa’s tallest peak – towering at
5,895 metres above sea level. Hike
through lush rainforests and alpine
deserts. Cross glaciers by day and
sleep closer to the stars than you
ever dreamed possible by night.
For more information:
Andrea Helfer, Vice President, Fundraising
ahelfer@wateraidcanada.com
1.800.370.5658. Ext. 229
www.wateraidcanada.com/bucketlist
About WaterAid
WaterAid is an international not-for-prot,
determined to make clean water, decent
toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone,
everywhere within a generation. Only by
tackling these three essentials in ways that
last can people change their lives for good.
Hosted in partnership with: