TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/16 -- Editors Note: There are images associated with this press release.
With a dramatic increase in wildfires, flooding and drought, cities need to adapt their approaches to water management. The World Economic Forum ranked water crises as the top global risk of highest concern for the next ten years. As extreme weather and urbanization continue, the world must adjust to a 'new normal.' At Canadian Water Network, we believe Canada has the potential to be a global leader in water management and innovation.
"Canada should excel at water management like we excel at hockey," says Bernadette Conant, CEO of Canadian Water Network. "Water hits every level of government - knowledge coordination and collaboration needs to happen if we are going to be world leaders in water."
Replacing aging water infrastructure has become a critical issue in Canada. Ensuring that systems are reliable and affordable in Canada's cities over the next decade will not be an easy task, but Canadian Water Network and its municipal leadership group are up to the challenge.
Canadian Water Network has two key events taking place this May.
Municipal Water Infrastructure Roundtable
In-Camera meeting with representatives from cities across Canada
May 17th, 2016
Toronto, ON
Senior federal and provincial representatives, as well as municipal water executives from 19 cities, will be attending the first-ever Municipal Water Infrastructure Roundtable on May 17th. Canadian Water Network, in collaboration with Infrastructure Canada, will be engaging these leaders to discuss the most effective ways to fund and rebuild Canada's aging water infrastructure.
"Canadians know that water is one of our most precious resources and they recognize that real action is required to protect our water infrastructure for today and the future," says the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. "This is why the Government of Canada has committed $2 billion through the recently announced Clean Water Wastewater Fund for immediate improvements to water distribution and treatment infrastructure. This is just one of the ways we are meeting immediate priorities in communities across Canada as part of an historic plan to invest more than $120 billion in public infrastructure over the next ten years. By working in partnership with every order of government and various stakeholders, we will target smart investments to make sure our communities remain among the best in the world to live."
Blue Cities 2016 Conference
May 18-19th, 2016
Toronto, ON
Over 150 change makers and senior leaders in water management are attending the Blue Cities conference on May 18-19th. This two-day event is focused on finding solutions to water management challenges and identifying opportunities for innovation in order to increase resiliency in Canadian cities.
"Blue Cities is about getting the right people in the room together to have strategic conversations about municipal water issues. Our cities are looking for innovative ways to make their water systems more resilient and financially sustainable. Innovation, big data, collaboration... these concepts will be key when we're looking at the impacts of climate change, or extreme events like flooding or fire," says Bernadette Conant, CEO of Canadian Water Network.
Here are the four themes of the Blue Cities conference:
Impacts and Risk Identification for the New Normal: Extreme weather and unforeseen events impact public, environmental and economic health. How should we prepare?
The Business of Getting to Sustainable Systems: What are the best ways to maximize taxpayers' investments to achieve the goals of sustainability and resilience?
Infrastructure and Planning Approaches for More Resilient Systems: How can we ensure a strong future for our communities as we deal with the challenges of crumbling infrastructure and rapid urbanization?
Communications: Public Concerns, Facts and Tough Decisions: Water managers are often faced with making tough decisions that are not always popular with the public. How can we connect science and decisions to what matters to the public?
About Canadian Water Network
As Canada's premier water knowledge mobilization organization, we put research into the hands of decision makers. We focus on understanding government and industry priorities and ensuring that water research and innovation can support them. Over the past 15 years, our work has protected public health and saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. For more information, visit cwn-rce.ca
Water Statistics
-- Since 2009, insured losses from catastrophic events cost more than $1
billion each year. (Insurance Bureau of Canada)
Extreme Weather Events
-- 2015 Drought in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
-- 2015 Extreme cold and water main breaks in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec
-- 2014 Toronto ice storm ($106 million)
-- 2013 Alberta flood ($4 billion)
-- 2013 Toronto rain storm/flood ($65 million - $850 million in insurance
claims)
-- 2011 Slave Lake wildfire ($700 million)
-- 2010 BC wildfires ($230 million)
-- 1998 Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick ice storms ($3 billion)
-- The Federal Budget has committed to funding $20-billion in green
infrastructure initiatives over the next ten years.
-- In conjunction with 44 universities across Canada, Canadian Water
Network has conducted research on water management.
From the 2016 Canadian Infrastructure Report Card:
-- The cost of infrastructure needing repair or replacement for drinking
water, wastewater and stormwater systems is estimated at over $170
billion.
-- 54% of stormwater infrastructure is in fair to very poor condition,
while 35% of wastewater infrastructure and 29% of drinking water
infrastructure is in fair to very poor condition.
From the 2015 RBC Canadian Water Attitudes Study:
-- Only 1 in 10 Canadians think water systems in their community require
major investment.
-- 46% of Canadians have no knowledge about the condition of water
treatment systems.
-- 50% of Canadians have no knowledge about the condition of stormwater
systems.
-- Over 30% of Canadians have been impacted by flooding due to extreme
weather in their communities.
http://www.cwn-rce.ca/
http://bluecities.ca/
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Contacts:
Melissa Durrell
President of Durrell Communications
519-500-4408
Melissa@durrellcomm.com
